Overview:

Phat Hoc Pagoda is located at 11 Hoa Binh Boulevard, Ninh Kieu District, right in the center of Can Tho city. Although located in the center, it is always noisy and bustling, but when entering the temple, it is a quiet and peaceful space different from the outside. The pagoda has a long history, formerly the headquarters of the South Vietnamese Buddhist Association of Can Tho province, built by the Buddhist Association in 1951. In the past, the pagoda had only 3 floors, relatively simple architecture. In 2012-2014, the pagoda was overhauled into a 5-storey building, located majestically in the heart of the city, opposite the Khmer Munirensay pagoda. The temple has undergone many generations of abbots. Most Venerable Thich Thien Phuoc has been the abbot of the temple since 1965. The Venerable Master passed away in 1993. Venerable Thich Minh Thong succeeded the abbot and continued to make many contributions and promote the role of the temple in local Buddhist activities. The architecture of the pagoda is similar to many typical pagodas in the South, with a large main hall, many doors, surrounded by a spacious and airy corridor. From the outside looking in, the temple gate is built high, a small courtyard with shady old trees and decorated with many Buddha statues. The pagoda consists of a spacious main hall for worshiping Buddha, a pavilion for worshiping the ancestors, an auditorium (Chinh Tri) in which there is a statue of Thien Thu Thien Nhan and a room for the remains of past Buddhists. With each floor, the pagoda is decorated dignified and worships different Buddhas: Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha and Medicine Buddha. Coming here, people will let go of worries and sorrows in life, sincerely turn to Buddha to pray for family and relatives.

Location:

• Address: No. 11, Hoa Binh Boulevard, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, City. Can Tho
• Opening hours: 8:00 – 22:00 daily
• Can Tho Buddhist Temple is located in the heart of Tay Do city, 500m from Ninh Kieu Wharf and opposite Khmer Munirensay Pagoda. Visitors can easily and conveniently walk to the pagoda in their Can Tho travel itinerary to enjoy the scenery and feel the rhythm of life here.

History:

The reason why the pagoda is called Phat Hoc is because it was formerly the headquarters of the Nam Viet Buddhist Association in Can Tho. The temple was built with the purpose of being a place to practice for Buddhists, having gone through many abbots and many historical periods:

• 1951: The pagoda was built by the South Vietnamese Buddhist Association with 3 floors and has a fairly simple architecture.
• 1965: Most Venerable Thich Thien Phuoc held the position of abbot and administrator of Can Tho Buddhist Temple. He made many contributions to the temple and was the longest-serving abbot.
• 1993: Venerable Thich Minh Thong took up the position of abbot of the pagoda after the death of Venerable Thich Thien Phuoc.
• Period 2012-2014: Phat Hoc Pagoda was restored and upgraded to 5 floors as it is today with majestic and unique architecture.

Festival:

• In terms of festivals, the pagoda annually organizes the Buddha’s Party, Vu Lan festival… on New Year’s holidays, on these days the pagoda is decorated beautifully and splendidly, the full moon day attracts a large number of tourists to Can. Poetry and Buddhists from many places flock to the pilgrimage to worship Buddha
• The original aspirational temple was a Buddhist temple. For good men and women from all over the world to return to practice Buddhism. This place often holds many conferences on Buddhism. In particular, the Buddhist temple regularly organizes various charity programs. The temple often cooks vegetarian rice for free for the poor, or gives gifts to students in remote areas. On university exam days, the temple often makes free vegetarian rice for the candidates.
• Can Tho Buddhist Temple is the leading place in many activities and the organization of annual Buddhist festivals. The temple regularly organizes the recitation of prayers and prayers, lectures and many agendas on Buddhism for Buddhists to practice.
• On the full moon days, major festivals such as Buddha’s birthday, Vu Lan festival, … the temple is decorated splendidly and beautifully and holds solemn ceremonies to attract a large number of Buddhists to pilgrimage and worship Buddha. In addition, the pagoda regularly launches many charity programs, organizes vegetarian parties, distributes free vegetarian rice, gives gifts to disadvantaged students, remote areas, etc.

Mekong Travel, Tours, Cruises:

• Mekong River cruises
• Mekong tours
• Mekong tour full day from Ho Chi Minh
• Mekong 2 days & stay in Can Tho
• Mekong 3 days and Chau Doc
• Mekong 3 days and speed boat to Cambodia.