Truc Lam Ban Gioc Buddha Trace Pagoda
Cao Bằng(Chùa Phật tích Trúc Lâm Bản Giốc)
Overview & history
Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda is built on the slope of Phja Nham mountain at Ban Gioc, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province, on about 3 ha of land overlooking the majestic Ban Gioc waterfall. It is the first pagoda ever built on Vietnam's northern border and is regarded as a spiritual landmark of the frontier.
History
Construction began on 15 June 2013 and the pagoda was inaugurated on 15 December 2014, designed in traditional Vietnamese architectural style. It belongs to the Truc Lam Zen school founded by the Buddhist king Tran Nhan Tong.
Architecture
The complex comprises a three-entrance gate, bell and drum towers, stone steles, a tower of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the main Tam Bao hall, patriarch and Mother Goddess halls, and a shrine to the 11th-century hero Nung Tri Cao — leader of Cao Bang's ethnic communities — as well as altars honoring President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap. Its highlight is the Thien Bao bell tower with a 1.5-tonne bronze bell. From the courtyard visitors enjoy a full view of Ban Gioc waterfall and the borderland scenery.
Photos
📷 Contribute photosVisiting tips
- Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
- Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
- Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
- Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
- Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.
Read more & references
Useful links to learn more before your visit: