Son Tay is a town directly under the capital Hanoi. It has many famous scenic spots, historical and cultural relics such as Dong Mo lake, Son Tay ancient citadel , ancient Vietnamese laterite village , Va temple festival, and especially Mia Pagoda. It is one of the 10 oldest pagodas in Vietnam and the temple with the most beautiful statues in Vietnam.
Mia Pagoda (also known as Sung Nghiem pagoda) is located in Duong Lam commune, Son Tay town, Hanoi. In the past, this area was Cam Gia, Nom name was Mia, so this pagoda was known as Mia pagoda. The pagoda is considered to be the temple that keeps the most artistic statues in Vietnam (287 statues).
History books also record that the temple was built a long time ago. In 1632, the concubine in Trinh Trang’s palace, Ngo Thi Ngoc Dieu, saw that the temple was abandoned, so she rebuilt it with her family and people in the villages of Cam Gia canton (ie Tong Mia). Concubine Ngoc Dieu was originally from Nam Nguyen village (Nam An) in Tong Mia, so she was affectionately called “Ba Chua Mia” and sculpted to worship in the temple and also has her own temple. Later, the pagoda was restored many times, but up to now, the scale of the restoration of the Lady of Mia’s time seems to have been preserved intact.
Sitting quietly on the stone benches in the campus of Mia pagoda, listening to the echoes of the temple bells – Photo: thachvannhu
It is a highlight in the national relic of Duong Lam ancient Vietnamese village. And is one of the famous tourist attractions of the capital Hanoi, attracting a large number of tourists to visit.
Duong Lam village gate – Photo: Trong Tuan Nui
Duong Lam and the old houses were built of laterite. – Photo: ThangSoi
From the village gate through the old village road to the Mia market, you will see the Mia pagoda, the three pagodas hanging with an ancient bell cast in 1745 of the Le dynasty and a bronze Khanh cast in 1846 of the Nguyen dynasty.
The three tours of the Mia pagoda are crowded with visitors – Photo: Joerg Reschke
Right next to Tam Quan is an ancient banyan tree hundreds of years old with a cumbersome canopy, luxuriant branches and roots that stick deep into the ground.
“Several centuries of rain and sun
Still standing calmly guarding the Zen door”
The ancient banyan tree is hundreds of years old – Photo: Collectibles
In the original banyan tree is a cool, quiet and heavenly garden that is far from the mundane scene. As the old saying goes:
“The ancient temple is solemn, only receiving smoke from the clouds as a traveler
The forest garden is spacious, only the flowers and grass know spring and autumn.”
The garden is beautiful and airy with the highlight of the beautiful rockery – Photo: Collectibles
Outside, the market is crowded and crowded, “meeting all year round” is like that, in this scene of the mysterious Zen scene is like that, it is really “just a step away from the world.”
The temple overlooks the three gates – Photo: hainguyentuan
From the three entrances, looking to the right, visitors will see the majestic Nine Products Lien Hoa Stupa. The new tower was recently built to worship the Buddha’s relics, and is also the sacred pen that keeps the context in this ancient village of Duong Lam.
The Nine Products Lien Hoa Stupa – Photo: Hoang Tuan Ninh
The unique architecture of the Cuu Pham Lien Hoa stupa – Photo: thachvannhu
From the three entrances, follow an ancient brick path, covered with green moss, to Bat Nha Mon to enter the inner palace – Photo: Bui Thuy Dao Nguyen
The obvious thing when visiting Mia pagoda is the inherent serenity of this place. As the saying goes:
“Follow the old way to visit Zen Monastery
Listen to the birds chirping and look at the flowers and grass.”
Passing the Bat Nha Mon is the main hall of the Mia pagoda – Photo: Dorenobi
“The glittering castle is more magical
The mine bell rhythmically draws you.”
The inner palace includes Tien Duong, Dai Hung Bao Dien, Thuong Dien, etc. It is structured in the style of “foreign interior and exterior” with the majesty of the Buddha hall.
Mia Pagoda was built in the Tran Dynasty, restored in 1632, and now has been 400 years.
The pagoda has precious wooden pillars hundreds of years old. – Photo: thachvannhu
Although it has undergone many restorations, Mia pagoda still retains its ancient features with old architecture.
The altar of Lady Chua Mia – Photo: thachvannhu
Mia Pagoda is famous for its 287 large and small statues of top art, including 6 bronze statues, 106 wooden statues and 174 terracotta statues painted with gilded lacquer. Each statue is a legend, a story praising the good qualities and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people.
Dharma Protector Statue – Photo: thachvannhu
Eight sets of Diamonds on the left – Photo: thachvannhu
Arhat statue on the right – Photo: Dzung Viet Le
At Thuong Pagoda, there are many Buddha caves and many statues. In which, there is a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, a statue of Tuyet Son and especially a statue of Quan Am Buddha, which is very delicately and beautifully sculpted.
Tuyet Son statue in Mia pagoda – Photo: Ngokhong
The statue of Quan Am Tong Tu is often called the statue of Ba Thi Kinh. – Photo: Collected
In addition, the mossy, ancient temple is also the most impressive thing for visitors. – Photo: La The Quang
Every year on public holidays, the New Year of the Mia pagoda is always one of the occasions that attracts people around the region and tourists to visit and worship at the temple.
Source: Collected internet.