Do Pagoda – a haven of tranquility on Le Lai Street
Nestled in a narrow alley off Le Lai Street, Ngo Quyen Ward, Hai Phong City, Do Pagoda is known as a quiet retreat amid the hustle and bustle of the port city.
The origin of the name “Do” Pagoda
Legend has it that, in 1288, when General Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong) arrived in the An Duong area to survey the terrain in preparation for a historic campaign against the invaders, he chose the pagoda as the place for cooking meals for the soldiers. The kitchen fires burned day and night. From that time on, the pagoda became known as Do Pagoda (the Red Pagoda).
Following the death of Tran Hung Dao, local people built two small shrines on either side of the pagoda to worship him and his generals. Experiencing ups and downs, the Pagoda was later restored on a larger and more dignified scale.
Although it does not enjoy a prime location like many well-known pagodas, the pagoda continues to impress visitors with its distinctive architectural style, featuring three tiers and 20 roofs. The 26 meter - pagoda is arranged into three main sections: the front, middle, and rear halls.
One of the highlights of the pagoda is the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, carved from jackfruit wood. Crafted from 20 cubic meters of timber, the statue stands 5.5 meters tall, seated on a 2.9-meter-high lotus pedestal. In front of the statue rises an 11-meter-high “Van Phat” (Ten Thousand Buddhas) structure, featuring 1,111 smaller Buddha statues.
Before the August Revolution of 1945, during the years of wars, the pagoda suffered extensive damage. After multiple phases of repair and large-scale restoration, Do Pagoda has fully restored, reclaiming its current grandeur.
Today, Do Pagoda stands as a serene spiritual destination in the heart of Hai Phong City, attracting a large number of local residents and visitors seeking peace and tranquility.
Hai Phong News