Van Gia Pagoda, Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City

Van Gia Pagoda, Son Tay Ward

Van Gia Pagoda, also known as Vien Quang Tu, is currently located in Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City. The name “Van Gia” was taken from the name of Van Gia village.

The pagoda faces south. Built on beautiful feng shui land, the pagoda features “pillowing on the mountain and stepping on the water,” leaning against the mountain while facing the water, creating a harmonious landscape and profound spiritual meaning.

Van Gia Pagoda is a Buddhist structure with long-standing historical and cultural value, tied to the development of the Son Tay land. Over many centuries, the pagoda has not only been a center of faith for local people but also played an important role in preserving traditional cultural and artistic values. The artifacts currently kept at the pagoda all bear Nguyen dynasty marks, reflecting the development of Buddhism during this period.

Van Gia Pagoda is a diverse architectural complex whose main structures include a bell tower, the main pagoda, the ancestral house, and a guest house. The pagoda’s main structure was built in the “đinh” character layout with a Front Hall and an Upper Hall. The three-entrance gate is a unique structure bearing Nguyen dynasty characteristics, consisting of three bays and two lean-tos, designed with two tiers of curved roofs, creating a dignified and solemn appearance. The main pagoda’s roof is made in the “công” character layout with two ridges and four curved roof corners; the roof ends are decorated with dragon and Makara images, demonstrating exquisite carving art. Inside, the roof-supporting trusses are designed in the “upper stacked beams, lower brackets, and cantilevers” style with decorative motifs of stylized flipped leaves and clustered clouds, strongly reflecting Nguyen dynasty architectural art.

With distinctive historical, architectural, and cultural values, Van Gia Pagoda was ranked as a historical-cultural relic in 2006 by the People’s Committee of Ha Tay Province (now Hanoi).