Phat Tich Pagoda

Phat Tich Pagoda (Chùa Phật Tích) is located on the slope of the Phat Tich Mountain, in Phat Tich Village, Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province (about 30km north of Hanoi). It is considered as the cradle of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Also known as Van Phuc Pagoda (Chùa Vạn Phúc), Phat Tich Pagoda was built between the 7th and 10th centuries. The name "Phat Tich" (it means in Vietnamese "the Legend of the Buddha") was given after a Buddhist tower built there in 1066 collapsed, which revealed a gold-gilded Buddha statue. The pagoda was destroyed during the war in 1947 and it was rebuilt in 1958.

The giant statue of Buddha on the peak of Phat Tich Mountain is 27m tall and weighs 3,000 tons

The Bell Tower of Phat Tich Pagoda

Stone animals (horses, buffaloes, rhinos, and lions) on their knees in front of the main hall are among a few vestiges of the ancient pagoda

The main hall of Phat Tich Pagoda

The altar with the Buddha statue from the 11th century

The statue is 1.8m in height and is considered a treasure of Buddhism in Vietnam

Arhat statues behind the main hall of Phat Tich Pagoda

The back yard of the Phat Tich Pagoda