The temple has the largest reclining Buddha statue in Vietnam

Som Rong Pagoda in Soc Trang City has the largest reclining Buddha statue in Vietnam, magnificent architecture, attracting many tourists to visit and worship every year.

The pagoda, also known as Botum Vong Sa Som Rong, is located on Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 5, Soc Trang City, attracting many visitors because of its majestic beauty and strong Khmer culture. The pagoda was built in 1785 with wood and simple thatched roof. After many restorations, the pagoda has become more spacious.

According to locals, the pagoda has been named Som Rong - a wild plant - for hundreds of years because there used to be many of this species growing around the pagoda.

The pagoda is famous for the largest statue of Buddha in Vietnam, measuring 63 m long, 22.5 m high, and weighing 490 tons, placed on a pedestal 28 m above ground level with two main colors: white and light blue. Below the statue is a residential area for monks to live and study. Construction began in October 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2021.

Venerable Ly Minh Duc - Abbot of Som Rong Pagoda said the large statue of Buddha Shakyamuni has the typical features of the Khmer people. "The project creates a highlight for the pagoda, attracting many Buddhists and tourists from inside and outside the province to visit," the Abbot said.

The head and body of the Buddha are exquisitely crafted, with a benevolent and kind face. Because it is placed on a high pedestal and is of "giant" size, visitors can see the statue from Soc Trang City.

Ms. Nhu Phuong from Can Tho City said she had visited the temple about 20 years ago but was surprised to see that the place had changed a lot. "The reclining Buddha statue is so beautiful, plus the open space and more spacious buildings," Ms. Phuong said.

A child in traditional Khmer costume takes a souvenir photo with the reclining Buddha statue at Som Rong Pagoda.

Som Rong Pagoda is about 5 hectares wide, ancient but no less magnificent, standing out with walls stained with time. The temple grounds are airy, surrounded by the shade of many ancient star trees.

In 2013, with the desire to make the place for Buddhists to worship more spacious and spacious, the Abbot built a sala building with an area of over 1,000 m2, with a total cost of nearly 16 billion VND. By the end of January 2017, the sala was inaugurated, creating great joy for the people and Buddhists who came to worship.

The project has a ground floor and first floor, bearing the traditional Khmer architectural features, combining tradition and modernity through unique color schemes. The highlight of the new sala is the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni standing on nine dragons, symbolizing the Buddha's salvation of all living beings.

Next to the new sala is the old sala of the pagoda, now repainted, becoming a library with more than 1,500 books serving monks, students, people and local Buddhists.

The building is decorated with many symbols such as the Naga snake god and the Krud bird god.

The temple grounds are divided into many areas, notably the stupa located right at the entrance. The tower began construction in December 2010 and was completed in March 2012, covering an area of 100 square meters, 11 meters wide, and about 25 meters high, with a total cost of over 1.2 billion VND, contributed by benefactors and Buddhists.

The stupa has four directions corresponding to four paths, representing love, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The two sides of the path leading up to the tower are decorated with the image of the Naga snake god and ancient Khmer patterns. The gray paint color of the tower is different from the yellow color in Khmer religious buildings, exuding both modernity and majesty and antiquity. The stupa is a destination not to be missed by young people when visiting the temple.

On the opposite side of the sala buildings is the main hall.

The entire main hall is supported by six rows of pillars, the roof has a special structure consisting of three overlapping roof systems. The corners of the roofs are decorated with Khmer dragons. The roof adjacent to the pillars is decorated with the goddess Keynor and the sacred bird Krud.