The beauty of a 130-year-old Khmer pagoda in Bac Lieu

With its sophisticated patterns and unique architecture, Xiem Can Pagoda is considered the oldest and most beautiful pagoda in the Khmer pagoda system in the Southwest.

Xiem Can Pagoda is located in the coastal area of Vinh Trach Dong Commune (Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province), about 12km from the center of Bac Lieu City. The pagoda was built in 1887, covering an area of about 5 hectares.

The entrance to Xiem Can Pagoda is designed with a three-door gate with motifs and patterns imbued with the style of traditional Khmer culture.

At first, the Xiêm Cán Pagoda had the Khmer name Komphisako, which represents the erudition and depth of Buddhist wisdom. The name Xiêm Cán of the Pagoda comes from the Tiêu language (the language of the people of Chaozhou, China, currently living in many places in Bac Lieu) which means "bordering water" because the terrain of this land was formerly next to the coastal alluvial temple.

The architectural complex of Xiem Can Pagoda includes many items facing East, built in the typical Southern Buddhist school but bearing the strong imprint of Angkor-Cambodia architecture.

From the main gate to the inside of the temple, on the left visitors will admire the reclining Buddha statues, on the right is the main hall.

The main hall of Xiem Can Pagoda. The main hall is built in a rectangular shape, with the main facade facing East. There are 18 steps leading up to the main hall, above which is a relief of Buddha Shakyamuni.

The walls, ceiling, and pillars of the main hall are elaborately decorated. The walls and ceiling inside the main hall are covered with colorful and vivid murals depicting the life of the Buddha from his birth, his practice, and his attainment of enlightenment.

Inside the main hall are paintings of the life of Buddha.

In addition, inside the Pagoda there are also impressive architectural works including: sala (lecture hall), monks' houses, Khmer language teaching house, cultural living space...

The pagoda has more than 100 statues of incarnations of Buddha Shakyamuni, a stone stele inscribed with ancient Khmer characters and a bronze bell dating from 1887.

For Khmer people, pagodas are places for community cultural activities.

Not only is the temple famous for its unique architectural style and art, Xiem Can Pagoda is also known as a place that preserves and forms many cultural beauties in the spiritual life of the Khmer people.