Cam Bao Pagoda

Commonly known as Cam Bao Pagoda (An Hung Tu), Cam Yen Hamlet, Thach That Commune - Hanoi, about 40 km from the center of Hanoi city, with convenient road access by motor vehicle. It is a national-level Architectural and Artistic Relic, ranked on December 28, 2002, under Decision No. 52/2001/QD-BVHTT.

Cam Bao Pagoda is an ancient pagoda in Cam Bao Village. No documents have been found regarding the date of its construction, but based on a stele dated the first year of Phuc Thai (1643) and other relics such as the Buddha statue pedestal and incense table dating to the 17th century remaining at the pagoda, it can be affirmed that the pagoda already existed at that time. Later, in the 24th year of Chinh Hoa (1698) and the 10th year of Minh Menh (1829), the pagoda was repaired several times, with the largest restoration in the 30th year of Tu Duc (1876). The pagoda faces southeast and has a Cong-character layout: Tien Duong, Nha Muong, and Thuong Dien on elevated ground. The carving art of the pagoda is shown through the system of statues and wooden relics arranged in the Tam Bao; at the highest position is the Quan Am Chuan De statue, flanked by Tam The; the second tier is the Amitabha statue flanked by Quan The Am and Dai The Chi statues carved standing on lotus pedestals. The third tier is the Anan and Ca Diep statues, the fourth tier is the Shakyamuni Attaining Enlightenment statue flanked by the Two Heavenly Kings, the fifth tier is the Maitreya statue... The Nine Dragons Shakyamuni Newborn statue is placed last in the Buddha Hall; in the left corner of Thuong Dien is the Quan Am Toa Son statue, and in the right corner is the Tuyet Son statue. At present, the pagoda still keeps one four-sided stele erected in the 24th year of Chinh Hoa (1703), and one rectangular stele dated the first year of Phuc Thai (1643); the tops of both stelae are decorated with two dragons flanking the moon. Cam Bao Pagoda is a relic preserving many unique precious relics of the folk art of the Doai region, especially the system of statues in the pagoda including 42 statues, lotus incense tables, and some stelae recording the restoration of the relic dating from the Nguyen Dynasty under Minh Menh 30 (1829), Tu Duc 30 (1876), and Tu Duc 32 (1878). The largest pagoda festival is the Thuong Nguyen festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month), considered the village's festival. Throughout its existence, Cam Bao Pagoda has contributed significantly to preserving traditional cultural values and nurturing compassion and love for fellow human beings among local people.