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| The Gate of Giac Lam Pagoda in HCM City’s Tan Binh District. — VNS File Photo. |
Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — Giac Lam Pagoda on Lac Long Quan Street in Tan Binh District is the oldest pagoda in HCM City.
Built in 1744 by a hermit, Ly Thuy Long, who raised money to build the temple to worship the Buddha, the pagoda was originally called “Cam Son”, “Cam Dem” or “Son Can”. In 1774 it was renamed “Giac Lam” during the time of Venerable Monk Vien Quang.
Hundreds of precious Buddhist idols, artefacts and old documents on Buddhist philosophy are still preserved in the pagoda.
The highlights at the 274-year-old pagoda though are the architecture, sculptures and cultural facets of Buddhism in southern Viet Nam.
Giac Lam was acknowledged as a national relic in 1988 by the Government.
It is frequented by not only local pilgrims but also foreign tourists interested in exploring Vietnamese history and culture.— VNS
OVietnam