Ngoc Than Pagoda

Ngoc Than Pagoda was ranked at national level under Decision No. 3094/QD-BVHTT dated September 23, 2014, of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Ngoc Than Pagoda is located in the center of the village, following a modern architectural style of the 'inner công - outer quốc' type, consisting of a main pagoda with 5 bays and 2 wings, with a large rear sanctuary. Ngoc Than Pagoda was ranked as a Historical and Cultural Relic in 2011. Through surveys of the pagoda's rare values, in 2014 the pagoda was ranked by the State as a national-level Architectural and Artistic Relic. The pagoda has existed with Ngoc Than village since the Later Le dynasty and has undergone many restorations and repairs: in the Minh Mang era (1822), Thieu Tri era (1844), and a major restoration in the Bao Dai era. However, through two great wars of national resistance against the French and the Americans, the pagoda was devastated by the enemy and fell into a desolate, ruined state. This is because the pagoda was once a meeting place for revolutionary cadres from central to local levels. Inside the pagoda there is also a secret tunnel used to shelter cadres and hide weapons, making a significant contribution to the resistance for national salvation until total victory.

Ngoc Than Pagoda worships Buddha, following the Northern School, a sect that entered Vietnam along the path of ancient Chinese monks. For the people of Ngoc Than, the pagoda is a place that uses Buddhist teachings to encourage goodness, eliminate evil, and educate people's compassion. Therefore, it can be said that Ngoc Than Pagoda is a place that preserves and promotes good traditional values for present and future generations. Not only a place of Buddha worship, Ngoc Than Pagoda also worships people who have contributed to the village and commune; it has an ancestral hall, a Mother Goddess hall, and several forms of folk beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese that have been passed down and still exist today. Ngoc Than Pagoda also has scientific and historical value because it worships Buddha according to the Mahayana school, a religion that entered our country very early and influenced the spiritual life of our people. Thus Ngoc Than Pagoda is evaluated as a pagoda with cultural value due to its Zen-like, otherworldly setting, which greatly influences a gentle, moral way of life and respect for peace. Through Buddhist teachings, it always encourages people toward truth, goodness, and beauty.

The architecture of Ngoc Than Communal House is considered very open, harmoniously combined with nature, elegant in appearance yet still imposing and solemn. The precious artifacts in the communal house are carefully preserved and safeguarded. Ngoc Than Communal House worships two village guardian deities, both national heroes. One is Ly Bi, who rose in rebellion to end the Second Northern Domination period (544–548) and defeated the Lam Ap army in the south, bringing peace and establishing an independent state named Van Xuan. He proclaimed himself Emperor in the Giap Ty year (544). The second hero honored as a guardian deity is the brave general Pham Tu, a famous general of Ly Bi, who headed the military officials and was appointed Grand Preceptor of the Ly dynasty. In the Dinh Mao year (547), he led troops to relieve General Trieu Tuc at Van Don but was surrounded by Liang forces. He died heroically in battle. In the 17th year of Canh Hung (1757), the king issued a decree allowing Ngoc Than village to worship the former Ly emperor Nam De (Ly Bi) and the famous general Pham Tu.
During the resistance war against the French, Ngoc Than Communal House was also a place that sheltered and hid part of the central government, ministries, and district government, along with part of the Government Office. In 1947, after reading a New Year poem at Tram Pagoda, Uncle Ho stopped here. During the resistance war against the Americans, Comrade Hoang Quoc Viet also visited the training class held at the communal house several times.
It can be said that the complex of Pagoda - Van Chi - Communal House of Ngoc Than village has precious historical, cultural, and architectural value.