1. Where is Go Ken Pagoda?
Go Ken Pagoda is located right next to National Highway 22B, in Long Thanh Trung Commune, Hoa Thanh District, Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam. It is about 5 km south of Tay Ninh city center and about 95 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.
2. How is Go Ken Pagoda unique?
Go Ken Pagoda is also famous as Thien Lam Co Tu. They built this pagoda on a high mound of land with an area of about 6,000m2. It surrounded by immense green rice fields with a lyrical and poetic natural landscape. It makes anyone who visits feel moved and moved.
In particular, this pagoda owns the largest statue of Buddha Quan The Am in the Southeast region of Vietnam. If you want to have a meaningful trip to Tay Ninh, don’t miss this pagoda.
3. When is the best time to visit Go Ken Pagoda?
If you want to admire the fresh and rich beauty of nature, you should visit Thien Lam Tu every time Tet comes to Spring. At this time, the pagoda complex is both covered by the green of the fields. And it is decorated with fresh flowers, colored paper, and red parallel sentences. The vibrant scenery brings you excitement for a good new year and produces extremely special check-in photos.
In case you are a devout Buddhist, you should not miss the Buddhist festivals held at Go Ken Pagoda. For example, the Quan The Am festival and releasing flower lanterns, the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva festival, the Vu Lan festival of filial piety, etc. These events are often concentrated in the fourth and seventh lunar months every year and attract many Buddhists from all over the world to gather.
Thus, according to the experience of traveling to Go Ken Pagoda of previous tourists. The ideal time to travel here is in the dry season, from October to April of the following year. During this time, the air is cool and pleasant, the weather is sunny and there is little rain. It creates favorable conditions for traveling, sightseeing, exploring nature and worshiping the temple.
4. How to get to Go Ken Pagoda?
Go Ken Pagoda is not far from the center of Tay Ninh city. So you can choose to travel by motorbike, passenger car or bus depending on the actual conditions.
- By motorbike or passenger car: From the city center, you follow the 30/4 route and go straight to Highway 22B at Cau Noi intersection. After traveling about 5km, you turn left onto Long Thanh Trung Street until you see the three-door gate with Chinese characters of Thien Lam Pagoda. You enter the gate and go another 250m to reach the main campus of the pagoda. The entire journey takes about 15 minutes.
- By bus: You can directly take bus number 703 from Saigon to Moc Bai border gate. Then, you transfer to bus number 05 to go to the center of Tay Ninh city. Here, you can continue to take bus number 7 to Xa Mat border gate and remember to tell the driver to let you off at Go Ken Pagoda. Although this method takes more time, it will help visitors save significantly on travel costs.
(*) Note: Bus route 703 Ben Thanh – Moc Bai has been temporarily suspended since August 15, 2023 and it is unclear when it will resume operation. Before departure, you should check the information on the website of the passenger transport companies to have a suitable form of transportation.
5. History of the formation of Go Ken Pagoda
Go Ken Pagoda is one of the earliest religious constructions in Tay Ninh province. It witnessed the history of fierce and painful wars in Vietnam. In 1904, monk Thich Tri Luong built the pagoda with materials collected from bamboo and rattan to create a place to practice and nurture the spirit.
Therefore, in the beginning, the construction only had the appearance of a simple thatched hut hidden in the dense forest. It was not until 1914 that the first disciple of abbot Thich Tri Luong, Thich Tri Phong, decided to rebuild the thatched hut. And turned it into a spacious pagoda, completed according to the design sent from Paris.
The revised construction was completed after 12 years, at that time called Thien Lam Tu. However, because the name “Thien Lam” was so popular, local people often used another, more familiar name, Go Ken Pagoda. The origin of this name comes from the fact that the pagoda was built on a high mound, surrounded by many cocoon vines. This is a rare climbing plant with red fruit and a strange sweet and sour taste.
Go Ken is still considered the official name to this day even though this plant no longer grows around the pagoda. This is enough to show that people highly value the memorable memories related to this place.
In particular, Go Ken Pagoda has gone through the wars against the French and the Americans with the people, enduring the chaotic artillery shells of the enemy. In 1970, the project was officially restored and renovated. Finally, in 2007, Venerable Thich Thien called for donations and rebuilt the pagoda with a more spacious and majestic appearance.
6. Discovering the unique architecture of Go Ken Pagoda
Usually, it is very difficult to harmoniously combine the architecture of Western arched churches with the dragon and phoenix carvings of Eastern pagodas. Yet the magical intersection between the ancient and the modern is excellently expressed in the design of Thien Lam Tay Ninh Pagoda.
Go Ken Pagoda has an area of 450m2 with a tiled roof, the main door is arched and opens on the gable wall. The pagoda evokes the imagination of a Christian church nestled in the middle of a space filled with Buddha statues and solemn pavilions. Discover the unparalleled charm of Go Ken Pagoda, where tradition meets uniqueness, offering a spiritual journey unlike any other. Let us help you craft the perfect spiritual tour in Vietnam, blending serene experiences with cultural discoveries.
The pagoda’s architectural complex is divided into many areas such as the Main Hall, Bell Tower, Teaching Tower, statue areas, gardens, etc.
6.1 Main Hall Area
Inside the Main Hall, there is no horizontal design, no layers from front to back following the old Southern pagodas. Instead, there are two rows of vertical columns running long, each row has 6 columns, dividing the space into 3 separate parts but still airy and spacious.
After passing through the entrance to the Main Hall, you will see 14 ancestral altars with exquisite and beautiful carvings. In particular, the 3m high Buddha altar is decorated with parallel sentences, large characters, and brilliant golden panels. In addition, the Bell Tower and the Teaching Tower are also highlights of Thien Lam Pagoda. With a design combining stone and wood, it creates a feeling of both rusticity and simplicity, yet solidity and majesty.
6.2 Temple yard area, statue garden
In front of the temple yard, the image of Buddha Shakyamuni meditating under the cool green Bodhi tree brings visitors a sense of peace and serenity. On the other hand, the 25m high statue depicting Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara riding a dragon is solemnly placed on a white lotus throne in the middle of the lake and the sacred 25m long Nirvana Buddha statue.
They have become rare landscapes, not only attracting many Buddhists to visit but also stimulating the curiosity of visitors from near and far. It seems that the gentle color of nature contrasting with the majesty of the temple has highlighted the statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Considered to be the largest statue in the Southeast region, it makes anyone passing by this coordinate admire.
7. Some key festivals at Go Ken Pagoda
When coming to Go Ken Pagoda in Tay Ninh, you will not only be amazed by the unique architecture and cultural exchange. But you will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the festival atmosphere and meaningful religious and social activities held here every year. For example:
7.1 Quan The Am Festival
Taking place every full moon of July, this is an opportunity for Buddhists from all over to gather and pray. Each shimmering flower lantern carries the wishes of visitors to shine, strengthening the belief in a bright tomorrow, with smooth sailing. The space of the ancient temple is therefore even more splendid, honoring the beauty of local cultural beliefs.
7.2 Buddha’s Birthday
If you visit Go Ken Pagoda on the full moon of April, you will be able to participate in a great Buddhist festival. Where the abbots share the inspirational story of Buddha Shakyamuni on the path to finding the truth of goodness, living a good life, and upholding the religion. According to traditional rituals, the senior monks perform the Duc Moc (bathing Buddha) ceremony to pray for a bountiful harvest and peace for everyone.
In addition, Go Ken Pagoda also organizes many charity programs throughout the year such as donating to people in difficult circumstances. Such as: building solidarity houses for poor households, free medical examination and treatment activities, etc. This has become a noble gesture, promoting the motto of “the good leaves cover the torn leaves” among the Vietnamese people.
8. Admiring the beauty of Go Ken Pagoda
With a long history and the dedicated investment in construction by the abbots of each generation. The unique beauty of Go Ken Pagoda is reflected in both the day and night scenery.
8.1. Admiring the beauty of the pagoda during the day
It can be said that during the day, the ancient pagoda puts on a majestic appearance, full of the spiritual energy of a place to cultivate the mind and spirit. The sunlight of the early morning seeps into each Bodhi tree, illuminating the traces of time on the sacred reliefs. The gilded arches are carved with dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and leaves. The temples and monuments capture the full view of those who want to place their faith in the Buddha’s temple, as well as meet the exploration needs of tourists.
8.2. Admiring the beauty of the pagoda at night
After shaking off the blazing sun of the day, Go Ken Pagoda immediately puts on a new, shimmering coat with the vibrant flower lanterns of the night. In particular, every full moon day, the bright moonlight and the bustling stream of worshipers make the atmosphere of the ancient pagoda even more bustling.
9. Enjoying Tay Ninh specialties when visiting Go Ken Pagoda
In addition to famous tourist destinations, the beautiful landscapes of the holy land of Tay Ninh. This place also attracts visitors from all over the world by its unique cuisine with delicious Tay Ninh dishes that you must try. Such as: Tay Ninh mountain snails, Trang Bang rice noodles, Tay Ninh beef, Tay Ninh rice paper dried in the dew, Tay Ninh shrimp salt, … and many other attractive dishes.
10. Accommodation when visiting Go Ken Pagoda
When visiting this spiritual place, you can refer to some of the following accommodations:
- Song Lam Hotel. Address: 353 30-4 Street, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Phuong Mai Hotel. Address: 1b Kp1 30/4 Street, Ward 3, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Lien Nga Hotel. Address: Ninh Tan, Ninh Son, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Thien Ngan Hotel. Address: 815 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ninh Thanh Commune, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Dong Phuong Hotel. Address: 47 Le Loi, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Quyen Hotel. Address: Ninh Phuoc Hamlet, Ninh Thanh, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh.
- Melia Vinpearl Tay Ninh. Address: 90 Le Duan, Ward 3, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh Province.
- Sunrise Hotel Tay Ninh. Address: 81 Hoang Le Kha, Ward 3, Ward 3, Tay Ninh City.
- Tama House. Address: 35/2 Le Duan, Ward 3, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh Province.
- LA’s Farmstay. Address: Group 2, Loc Trung Hamlet, Hung Thuan Commune, Trang Bang Town, Tay Ninh City, Tay Ninh Province.
11. Some other famous tourist attractions near Go Ken Pagoda
11.1 Ba Den Mountain
Ba Den Mountain is about 20km east of Go Ken Pagoda. This mountain is nearly 1000m above sea level and is famous as the “roof of the Southeast”. This is one of the extremely interesting check-in locations for tourists who are passionate about exploring and love adventure.
11.2. Cao Dai Temple
Only about 10 minutes by car from Go Ken Pagoda, Cao Dai Temple is a prominent religious structure with the most impressive architecture in Vietnam today. When visiting here, you will discover the beauty of many civilizations in the world. And participate in fun activities and festivals held annually.
11.3 Dau Tieng Lake
Dau Tieng Lake is famous as the largest artificial lake in Tay Ninh. The scenery around the lake is poetic and picturesque. This is a suitable place to organize picnics and overnight camping. Exploring the beautiful scenery around the lake and watching the sunset. This will be one of the meaningful experiences you should not miss.
12. Some important notes when visiting Go Ken Pagoda
To make your visit to Go Ken Pagoda enjoyable and complete. You need to refer to some of the following necessary notes:
- Choose polite and discreet clothing to maintain the solemn atmosphere of the place of worship.
- Keep the general hygiene when visiting Go Ken Pagoda.
- Do not make noise, affecting the sacred place of practice.
- Do not touch or press on the feet of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara statue at Go Ken Pagoda.
Embark on a journey to the over 100-year-old Go Ken Pagoda, a must-visit spiritual site in Tay Ninh. Let Origin Vietnam, your trusted partner in tour Vietnam, guide you with valuable travel tips for a complete and unforgettable experience!
