Kieu Moc Pagoda

Kieu Moc Pagoda, also known as Thien An Tu, is a deeply quiet destination that preserves the cultural space of the ancient Phong Chau land. Located in Kieu Moc village, Tan Lap hamlet, once called Moc Hoan Trang, the pagoda is not only a place for the community's religious activities but also holds many layers of history, art, and memory of the Vietnamese countryside.

Thien An Tu was formed long ago, tied to the process by which residents came to reclaim land, establish villages, and build traditional cultural institutions. Over time, Buddhism here blended with folk beliefs, helping nurture a spirit of goodness, love for the homeland, and community cohesion. During the years of resistance against the French colonialists, the pagoda was destroyed, and many structures and artifacts were lost. Nevertheless, the people of Kieu Moc made efforts to preserve and move the remaining relics to the ancient shrine in the middle of the village so that the heritage stream would not be broken.

The pagoda's current architecture consists of a front hall and an upper sanctuary, arranged in the character Nhi layout. Notable is the two-story, eight-roofed incense hall, along with a system of trusses, beam ends, and eave brackets finely carved with motifs of clouds and leaves, lotus flowers, the four sacred creatures, paired horses, and crabs and fish in a lotus pond. In particular, the pagoda still preserves 12 Buddha statues, including the Three Ages set, Amitabha, Guanyin, Mahasthamaprapta, the Jade Emperor, and the Nine Dragons throne. A Bat Trang eel-skin-glazed incense bowl still contains 15 ancient coins from many dynasties, opening fascinating stories about the history of the region.

Visiting Kieu Moc Pagoda, travelers not only find tranquility but also touch a part of the nation's memory. Every roof tile, statue, and carved line here invites viewers to listen to the story of time.