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Dong Thap · VN

Phap Bao Tu Pagoda

Tucked on Lý Thường Kiệt street in Mỹ Tho (now administered under Đồng Tháp), Phap Bao Tu Pagoda—known in Vietnamese as Chùa Pháp Bảo and in Pali as Dhammaratanarama—is one of the Mekong Delta's most distinctive Theravada (Nam Tông) temples. Founded in 1966 as the first forest-tradition monastery of its kind in the region, its airy hectare-wide grounds pair a quiet, park-like feel with a striking gallery of Buddha imagery arranged unlike most Vietnamese pagodas. What makes the temple worth a detour is its outdoor sculpture ensemble: a line of 28 statues representing the 28 Completely Enlightened Buddhas of Theravada tradition, a 13-metre stupa, an open-air set of scenes from the life of the Buddha, and a towering 18-metre standing Sakyamuni that anchors the skyline. It remains a living monastery rather than a museum piece—monks chant, lay Buddhists gather for festivals, and Pali and dharma classes run through the year—so a visit offers a genuine glimpse of southern Vietnam's original-buddhism community.

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Buddhist temple

Dong Thap · VN

Phap Bao Tu Pagoda

Tucked on Lý Thường Kiệt street in Mỹ Tho (now administered under Đồng Tháp), Phap Bao Tu Pagoda—known in Vietnamese as Chùa Pháp Bảo and in Pali as Dhammaratanarama—is one of the Mekong Delta's most distinctive Theravada (Nam Tông) temples. Founded in 1966 as the first forest-tradition monastery of its kind in the region, its airy hectare-wide grounds pair a quiet, park-like feel with a striking gallery of Buddha imagery arranged unlike most Vietnamese pagodas. What makes the temple worth a detour is its outdoor sculpture ensemble: a line of 28 statues representing the 28 Completely Enlightened Buddhas of Theravada tradition, a 13-metre stupa, an open-air set of scenes from the life of the Buddha, and a towering 18-metre standing Sakyamuni that anchors the skyline. It remains a living monastery rather than a museum piece—monks chant, lay Buddhists gather for festivals, and Pali and dharma classes run through the year—so a visit offers a genuine glimpse of southern Vietnam's original-buddhism community.