More commonly known as a place with many attractive destinations, Vung Tau gets attention from independent travellers for its charming beauty. Among those attractions, Niet Ban Tinh Xa is considered the most beautiful pagoda in the harmony of modern architecture.
An endlessly tiring life in crowded cities makes people take an escape to find a place with peace in the soul. Niet Ban Tinh Xa is indeed the ideal location for tourists who have a great desire for freedom and solemness.
- Vung Tau Tourism: A Handbook From A To Z / Vung Tau Travel Photos – A Southern Land With Fresh And Green Air In Vietnam
Niet Ban Tinh Xa Pagoda: The Harmony Of Modern Architecture
- Location:
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is located in the centre of Bai Dua, in Nui Nho of the Vung Tau city. To arrive at this place, you have to go through Ha Long road, along the mountain edge between Bai Truoc and Bai Sau. Then you will see Bai Dua in the west of Nui Nho. After that, you can see the magnificent and solemn architecture of Niet Ban Tinh Xa.
- History:
Niet Ban Tinh Xa pagoda or Nirvana Vihara is commonly called “Phật nằm” pagoda, which means “the purest place of Buddhism”. This pagoda was built in 1968 and completed in 1974; importantly, all of the construction budgets were from the contribution of monks, Buddhists and nuns. The superior Buddhist monk Thich Thien Hue presided at constructing the work.
- Architecture:
When coming to this place, tourists will be easily impressed by the huge architecture along with ample rows of houses, with the square area of nearly 10.000m2. Notably, the main gate with those big words “Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá” and two sides are two parallel sentences “ Niết bàn thị hiện, độ chúng niệm Phật, tâm thông, chân giải thoát. Tịnh xá quang vinh, vô lậu giác ngộ chánh pháp hiển Như Lai”.
Entering the inside, tourists can see two large statues of the good (ông Thiện) and the evil (ông Ác). On the right side of the gate, there is a dragon-horse curved relievo with the height of 4m and width of 2m (the dragon head and the horse leg step above the water wave. The relievo was made with the technique “pressing pieces of white enamel porcelain”, in which the patterns of porcelain create the brightness, elegancy and liveliness for the relievo.
The flagpole is 21m high and divided into 42 steps symbolizing 42 first Buddhist scripture pages which was introduced in Vietnam in the 2nd century. The flagpole was casted by concrete, got smaller to the upper part and was tiled with red gold ceramic tiles. The upper part has three branches of lotus flowers spreading out three directions as a unique thing of Niet Ban Tinh Xa. Moreover, there is a brass burner curved the four holy animals “dragon-unicorn-tortoise-phoenix” in a big size and meticulous decoration.
Tinh Xa main hall is placed on the first floor through 37 three-level steps with a width of 2m. The right of the entrance path is the rock-garden and the drum pavilion with the statue of Maitreya Buddha. In the middle of the drum pavilion, there is the guardian statue of Maitreya Buddha.
The front place is the temple to worship the Buddhas. Here are three large statues of Gautama Buddha meditating in the symmetric position. The upper floor is the ample and fresh flat space for tourists to enjoy the magnificent view over the sea, or observe the seascape of Bai Dua.
The yard of sightseeing on the third floor contains many bonsai trees, especially creates an impressive point with Bat Nha boat, the large dragon boat with meticulous stylization and blue enamel porcelain. Remarkably, inside the boat, there is a rock garden installed in the water system to raise carp. The purpose of raising fish is to express the meaning “thuyền Phật độ chúng sinh qua giác mạn” (means “the boat of Buddhism will assist and preserve humans) because Bat Nha boat symbolizes the intelligence of Buddhism.
Behind Bat Nha boat is the temple to worship Bodhisattva Buddha. The statue represents an image of a woman with great righteousness and generosity, pouring the elixir of life to rescue the public’s diseases and make the dusty world purer.
- Opening Time:
Coming to Niet Ban Tinh Xa Pagoda, tourists should notice the opening time for sightseeing. The pagoda will open from 8 am to 5:30 pm. Besides, you need to wear politely to pay respect to the solemnity of the pagoda and keep quiet when visiting.
- Nearby Location:
Moreover, tourists can explore other areas in Vung Tau. Mainly, Vung Tau lighthouse, Long Hai beach, Minh Dam mountain monument and Ho May tourism are attractive places for tourists to complete the trip to Vung Tau.
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is a charming landscape in Vung Tau sea city; this pagoda welcomes a significant number of tourists, Buddhists, nuns to visit and worship every day. Annually, Niet Ban Tinh Xa becomes more and more bustling and crowded by the number of people to come in special occasions and festivals such as Sundays, the 15th day of a month or even the 1st day of a month. Hence, this place will promise to bring a sense of amazement and peace for tourists to experience unforgettable moments in Buddhism land.
By Minh Phuong
