Dong Ngan Pagoda (Hoang Kim Tu)

Dong Ngan Pagoda has the Sino-Vietnamese name Hoang Kim Tu and is also called by the village's vernacular name, Long Tuu Pagoda.

Based on the inscription on the bell currently preserved at the pagoda, which is named “Hoang Kim Tu Chung” (the bell of Hoang Kim Pagoda) was cast on the 10th day of the 12th month of the At Ty year, the 5th year of the Thieu Tri reign (1845), and it clearly records: “The village (Long Tuu) has a pagoda at the head of the village. The pagoda leans its back to the north of the village, faces south, with the Nhi Ha River in front and the Tam Dao range behind. It is truly a famous scenic relic site from ancient times…” Based on the above evidence, it can be inferred that Dong Ngan Pagoda was built before the 5th year of the Thieu Tri reign (1845). To date, the pagoda has undergone many renovations and repairs: in 1982 the Mother House was repaired, in 1995 the main pagoda was repaired, and in 2005 the Ancestor House was rebuilt.

The current layout of the pagoda includes: the three-entrance gate (Tam Quan), the main pagoda, the Mother House, the Ancestor House, and the guest house.

Tam Quan with architecture of 3 gates opening 3 doors into the Buddhist realm. The central gate is large and two smaller gates are on either side; all three gates are built with two-tier overlapping roofs with curved corners, opening into three arched doorways, decorated with the four sacred creatures and four precious plants, and the gate pillars bear inscriptions of parallel sentences. Connected to the gate pillars is a surrounding wall decorated in Buddhist style. The inner Tam Quan was built in the late 20th century, quite large, with a two-story bell tower structure. The top story has two roof layers covered with tubular tiles made with lime mortar and slightly curved corners, with rectangular openings at the front and back. The second story opens four round doors facing four directions, surrounded by pillars and a balustrade-like enclosing wall. Inside hangs a bronze bell cast in the At Ty year, the 5th year of the Thieu Tri reign (1845). The first story has three arched doors at the front and back, a large central door and two smaller doors on either side. Above the main door are three large Chinese characters “Dao Doc Ton” (the Way is most revered). Above the two small doors, two Chinese characters are also inscribed: “Te Tuc” (reverently offer sacrifices) and “Ton Nghiem” (hold solemnity in high regard).

The main pagoda has a floor plan in the shape of the character “ding” consisting of the front hall and the upper sanctuary. The front hall has 7 bays and 2 side bays, with a gable-end style and handrail-like beams with ornamental pillars; in the central bay on the roof ridge is a large plaque bearing the pagoda’s name “Hoang Kim Thien Tu”. The two ends of the roof ridge are decorated with Buddhist stupa finials; the roof border has kneeling unicorns, ornamental pillars, lantern compartments with the four sacred creatures, and the pillar bodies bear parallel sentences. In front is a wide veranda fitted with folding doors covered with solid panels, carved in relief with the four precious plants. The architectural decoration mainly consists of stylized cloud patterns, flipped leaves, chrysanthemums, lotuses, molded edges, and painted lines. On the right is a statue of Duc Ong, and on the left a statue of Thanh Tang, two guardian deities together with the Eight Vajra Deities. The upper sanctuary consists of 3 bays and 1 side bay running lengthwise and connected to the central bay of the front hall, forming a floor plan in the shape of the character “ding”, built in the gable-end style with handrail-like beams and simple decoration. Inside, a stepped platform is built for arranging worship statues. The statue tiers are arranged in order: the Three Worlds set; the Amitabha set in the center, with Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta statues on either side; the Shakyamuni Holding a Lotus statue; the South Sea Guanyin statue; the Nine Dragons throne with the infant Shakyamuni statue. Against the rear wall of the upper sanctuary are statues of Guanyin

Thi Kinh and Ksitigarbha. Along the corridors next to the gable walls are placed the Ten

Kings of Hell, Earth God…

Behind and to the right of the main pagoda is a wide corridor displaying the Eighteen Arhat statues, which are beautifully made with each figure having its own posture. The Mother House is to the left of the main pagoda. The Mother House of Dong Ngan Pagoda is a three-bay, two-side-bay building with a roof covered in fish-scale tiles; its trusses are structured in the gia chieng style, mainly smoothly planed and fitted. The floral and leaf decorations on the architecture are concentrated at the ends of the beams and purlins. The Ancestor House is behind the main pagoda, consisting of 7 bays with gable-end walls, newly built in 2005 as a place to worship the Ancestors and receive guests. The Ancestor House has an architectural structure similar to the main pagoda; in the central bay on a high platform is a statue of Patriarch Bodhidharma, and in the two side bays are worship thrones on high platforms. In addition, Dong Ngan Pagoda also has a stupa garden on the right side where the tombs of former abbots are located.

The pagoda still preserves 32 statues in the artistic style of the 19th–20th centuries; 4 horizontal plaques, 3 parallel sentences, 1 bronze bell from the 5th year of the Thieu Tri reign (1845), 1 bronze bell cast in 2003 hanging in the front hall, some bronze ritual objects including incense burners, offering trays, lamp stands, candlesticks… along with some ritual artifacts in blue-painted ceramics…

Dong Ngan Pagoda (Hoang Kim Tu) was ranked as a city-level historical and artistic relic under Decision No. 2407/QD-UBND dated December 4, 2008.