Overview of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, also known as Duc La Pagoda, is known as "the largest Buddhist center in the Kinh Bac region", and is the ancestral place of the Truc Lam Zen sect founded by Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. With a history of more than 700 years, this ancient temple owns a treasure trove of Woodblock Buddhist scriptures that were honored by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. This is not only a wooden architectural complex that represents the art of sculpture during the Le - Nguyen dynasties, but is also considered the first Buddhist university in Vietnam, a place that preserves priceless spiritual cultural and ideological values, creating a strong attraction for monks, nuns, Buddhists and tourists from all over.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Located in Tan An ward, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda appears as a symbol of majesty and antiquity with a harmonious foreign internal structure amidst a peaceful natural space. Mossy tomb tower gardens and shrines carved with exquisite dragons and phoenixes not only create a quiet scene but also provide an absolutely pure and pristine atmosphere for worship and practice activities. Visitors to Tan An ward will enjoy the feeling of relaxation when walking under the canopy of giant trees, exploring the treasure trove of rare woodblock heritage and admiring the diverse system of worship statues being strictly preserved under the direct management of Bac Ninh province.

Outstanding attractions at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Buddhist Sutra Woodblock Archive - World Documentary Heritage

Woodblock warehouse of Vinh Nghiem pagoda

Honored by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of World Memory in the Asia-Pacific region, the Woodblock warehouse at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is a priceless cultural treasure with more than 3,050 woodblocks. These engravings contain scriptures, vinaya and literary works of the Truc Lam sect, crafted extremely delicately on wood. Visitors to Tan An ward cannot help but admire the skillful reverse carving of Chinese and Nom characters, reflecting philosophical thinking and the massive Buddhist education system from the 14th to 19th centuries, turning this place into a leading cultural and spiritual research destination in Bac Ninh province.

The Three Jewels Palace and the "Foreign Internal Affairs" architecture

Tam Bao Temple, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda 

Tam Bao Tower is the center of the architectural complex, bearing the artistic imprint of the Le Trung Hung period with its majestic and majestic "Noi Cong foreign" structure. The space inside the palace is decorated with a rich system of Buddha statues, along with great paintings, and the hammock doors are splendidly painted and gilded, creating a solemn and magical atmosphere. This is where the most important religious ceremonies take place, where visitors can admire the perfect combination of artistic wood carving and profound spiritual philosophy, bringing a sense of peace and freedom in the heart of a thousand-year-old ancient temple.

The First and Second Ancestral Houses

The First Ancestor's House 

The Patriarch's House is a place to worship the three patriarchs of the Truc Lam Zen sect, including Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa and Huyen Quang. This work possesses extremely vividly crafted wooden statues of the Patriarchs, along with a system of ancient horizontal and parallel verses that record the great contributions of the monks to the country's Buddhism. Exploring the Patriarch's house area in Tan An ward, visitors feel like they can go back in time to learn about the formation and development of the Zen lineage imbued with Vietnamese identity, and at the same time feel the spirit of reincarnation and passionate patriotism of high-ranking monks.

Ancient tomb tower garden

Ancient tower garden 

Located behind the main pagoda complex, the tower garden is the resting place of the monks and monks who have lived at Vinh Nghiem pagoda for many centuries. Ancient tomb towers made of stone and mossy bricks such as Vinh Nghiem tower, Ton Duc tower... appear ancient in the green space of trees and plants, creating a quiet and poetic beauty. This is a tourist destination with rich historical value, helping travelers contemplate the reincarnation of time and pay respect to the ancestors who worked hard to preserve the ancestral home in the Kinh Bac land.

The Upper Palace and the Bell Tower

The bell tower of Vinh Nghiem pagoda 

The Upper Palace is connected to the ancient bell tower, creating a layered architectural appearance, typical of large ancient pagodas in the Northern region. The bell tower is where the large bronze bell is kept. Every time the bell rings, it creates a deep sound that spreads throughout the space of Tan An ward, bringing awakening and serenity to the soul. Tourists often stop here to admire the soft carvings of dragons, clouds and flowers on wooden structures, demonstrating the talented hands of ancient Kinh Bac carvers.

Other attractions In addition to the above main items, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda also has many other attractive places and artifacts:

  • Tam Quan Gate: A majestic architectural work with curved roofs, is the first check-in point, leaving a strong impression on the majesty of the ancestral temple.

  • Ancient stele system: Stone stele preserves precious documents about the process of restoring the pagoda and the contributions of meritorious families through many historical periods.

  • Hundred-year-old giant trees: Ancient giant trees and longan trees radiate shade all year round, creating a cool and absolutely quiet green space for visitors to enjoy the scenery.

  • Model house area: A place to worship Mother Goddesses in the Vietnamese Mother Goddess belief, demonstrating a unique cultural and religious interference right in the heart of the temple grounds.

The most beautiful time to travel

Spring festivals and worship of ancestors (January to March of the lunar calendar)

In the first months of the year, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Tan An ward becomes the gathering center for tens of thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists and tourists from all over to attend the La Pagoda festival (the main festival takes place on the 14th day of the second lunar month). This is the most ideal time for you to immerse yourself in the unique spiritual cultural space with statue processions, solemn sacrifices and folk performance activities imbued with the identity of the Kinh Bac region. The cool spring weather combined with the scenery of flowers and grass sprouting around the mossy ancient towers not only brings peace to the soul but also creates a new year full of luck and hope in the new Bac Ninh province.

Quiet autumn and heritage sightseeing (September to November)

If you are a person who loves peace and wants to fully admire the beauty of ancient architecture, autumn is the "golden" time to visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Tan An ward. When the hot summer sun gives way to the chilly winds, the temple space appears more quiet and poetic than ever under the canopy of giant trees that begin to change their yellow leaves. This is a great time for visitors to leisurely visit the world heritage woodblock warehouse, learn about the Truc Lam Zen sect and take nostalgic artistic photos next to the time-stained brick walls without having to worry about the bustle or crowding of the main festival season.

Moving information

Flight routes to Bac Ninh province

Noi Bai International Airport

Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) is the most important air gateway connecting tourists with the journey to worship the ancestral home of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Tan An ward. With modern transportation infrastructure, from the airport it only takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to travel through the Hanoi - Bac Giang expressway (now part of the main axis of the new Bac Ninh province) to go straight to the temple gate. Choosing early landing flights helps you proactively have time to transfer to road vehicles, ready to enjoy the peaceful space and admire the world's woodblock warehouse on the first day.

  • From Central & Southern Region: Direct flights from City. Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hanoi are continuously exploited with high frequency, helping tourists easily arrange their schedule to visit Tan An ward during the day.

  • International: Flight routes from Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia landing in Noi Bai are a bridge to bring international tourists to study the opera system and ancient wooden architecture at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda quickly and professionally.

Train to Bac Ninh province

Bac Giang Station (Main transfer station)

Bac Giang Station

Choosing to stop at Bac Giang Station is a train journey that provides the most relaxing and intimate experience because the station is located on the main road leading to Tan An ward area. From the train carriage on the Hanoi - Lang Son railway, visitors can see the beauty of the rich rice fields and peaceful pace of life of the new Bac Ninh province before entering the heritage core area. The train system with modern air-conditioned soft-seat carriages is always the priority choice for those who want to enjoy the feeling of slow, safe travel and sightseeing of the Northern countryside.

After getting off the station, visitors will travel about 15 - 20 minutes by taxi or intra-province bus to reach the gate of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. The 24/7 presence of taxi companies right at the station gate such as Taxi Bac Giang or Taxi Mai Linh helps you feel completely secure when starting your journey to visit the temple known as the first Buddhist university. The fare from the station to Tan An ward is very reasonable, suitable for both individual travelers and family groups who want to combine sightseeing.

Passenger bus to Bac Ninh province

High-class Limousine system

High-quality Limousine cars running the Hanoi - Tan An ward route are the most popular choice today thanks to their flexibility and door-to-door pick-up and drop-off service in the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda area. These bus companies regularly operate on the smooth highway, helping to shorten travel time from the capital to only about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Guests can enjoy luxurious interior space with massage chairs, high-speed wifi and professional beverage service, ensuring absolute comfort before starting the journey to see the mossy family home.

From neighboring provinces, the direct bus system makes it easy for you to stop right on the provincial road leading to the temple. Reputable car companies such as Thanh Ly Limousine (☎ 0915.228.082) or Quynh Thanh ViP (☎ 1900.1196) always maintain a continuous operating frequency from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day, providing absolute flexibility for pilgrims and sightseers. The professionalism of the bus companies ensures you will have a safe and punctual trip to the spiritual land of Tan An ward.

Internal transportation in Tan An ward

To fully explore the pagoda complex and neighboring attractions along Luc Nam River, visitors can choose flexible means of transportation:

  • Bac Ninh Taxi: Local taxi companies (☎ 0222.3.832.832) are always present at the temple gate area and the center of Tan An ward. This is the optimal choice for large groups of guests, helping to move quickly between the Tam Bao area and the tomb tower garden behind.

  • Technology motorbike taxi (Green SM/Grab): The app-booking service has widespread coverage, helping you be proactive about prices when you want to travel to visit craft villages making rice cakes and specialty noodles near the temple.

  • Internal tram: A gentle experience that helps you see the panoramic view of the pagoda's "Foreign Noi Cong" architecture without spending too much effort, especially suitable for the elderly and children during the festival season.

Rent a self-driving motorbike:

  • Bac Ninh motorbike rental service: ☎ 0983.862.682 | Price from 120,000 VND/day | Providing a variety of new models of scooters and digital vehicles, supporting vehicle delivery at the train station or bus station.

  • Motorbike rental in Tan An ward: ☎ 0942.235.668 | Simple procedure with CCCD, fully provided helmets and maps to guide the most beautiful riverside roads in the region.

Accommodation information

Luxury (4–5 stars)

Ravatel Home HotelLocated in the administrative center of the new Bac Ninh province (Bac Giang ward area), about 15km from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. This is one of the most modern 4-star hotels in the area with a luxurious hotel apartment design, providing full amenities such as an international restaurant, rooftop bar and shuttle service to visit heritage sites. According to records from leading booking sites, room prices at Ravatel Home range from 1,000,000 - 2,500,000 VND/night, a perfect stopover for those who want to combine a journey to worship the ancestral home of the Truc Lam sect with a classy resort experience.

Ravatel Home Hotel

Muong Thanh Luxury Bac Ninh HotelLocated on the main road of the province, meeting 5-star standards with large rooms and magnificent architecture. The hotel owns a system of sophisticated rooms, outdoor swimming pool and professional health care spa services, it only takes about 30 minutes to arrive in Tan An ward. With an average price of 1,200,000 - 3,000,000 VND/night, this is the preferred choice of high-class tourists thanks to its quiet space, absolute security and dedicated service style, imbued with Kinh Bac culture.

If you want more high-end options in the provincial center, you can consider the following hotels:

  • Mandala Hotel & Spa – Vo Cuong Ward – Price about 1,300,000 – 3,500,000 VND/night

  • Grand Phoenix Hotel – Junction 6 of Bac Ninh province – Price about 1,400,000 – 2,800,000 VND/night

  • Le Indochina Hotel – Ly Thai To Street – Price about 1,500,000 – 4,000,000 VND/night

Resort (Resort, Villa)

Phoenix Resort Bac NinhNestled on windy Gunner Hill, providing a green resort space and a panoramic view of the entire Kinh Bac land. The resort is designed in the style of a garden villa with a swimming pool, golf course and high-end entertainment areas, creating an "oasis" completely separate from the noise of the city. With prices ranging from 1,600,000 - 4,500,000 VND/night, visitors can enjoy the fresh air, enjoy exquisite cuisine and recharge before starting the journey to explore the world's woodblock warehouse in Tan An ward.

Phoenix Resort Bac Ninh

For a variety of vacation options amidst the peaceful village nature of the heritage land, you can refer to:

  • Zen Villa – Tu Son ward area – Price from 2,500,000 – 5,500,000 VND/night

  • An Lac Eco Farm & Hot Springs – About 40 minutes from the temple – Price from 1,100,000 – 2,800,000 VND/night

  • Green Field Resort – Tien Du ward area – Price from 1,300,000 – 3,200,000 VND/night

Experience (2–3 stars, Homestay, Co hotel)

Ravatel Inn Hotelis a prestigious 3-star hotel located at the gateway to the provincial administrative area, highly appreciated by tourists for its cleanliness and youthful service style. The hotel has modern rooms, high-speed wifi and a restaurant serving fresh local specialties, very convenient for traveling to visit the temple in Tan An ward. According to travel review sites, the prices here are extremely reasonable, only from 550,000 - 950,000 VND/night, extremely suitable for groups of pilgrims or young people who love to explore historical heritage.

Ravatel Inn Hotel

Tan An Guest HouseLocated right in the countryside village along the Luc Nam River, close to the campus of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, providing an extremely rustic and intimate accommodation experience. Guests will be able to rest in beautiful small rooms overlooking the rice fields, and experience the peaceful life of their ancestral land with local people. With prices ranging from only 300,000 - 600,000 VND/night, this homestay is not only an economical place to sleep but also a bridge for you to explore unique everyday culture and enjoy a cup of rich green tea in the quiet space of the new Bac Ninh province.

For travelers who love freedom and optimal costs while still ensuring full essential amenities, the following locations are valuable suggestions:

  • Gia Bao Hotel – Bac Giang Ward – Price from 450,000 – 800,000 VND/night

  • My Cloud Hotel – Provincial central area – Price from 500,000 – 850,000 VND/night

  • Tan An Guest House - Right next to the temple gate - Price from 250,000 - 500,000 VND/night

Cuisine and festival culture 

Famous restaurant

Golden Turtle Restaurant

Golden Turtle Restaurant

Located in the bustling central area of ​​the new Bac Ninh province, Golden Turtle Restaurant is considered the most prestigious and famous culinary icon in the region that visitors cannot miss. With a large garden space and architecture imbued with traditional culture combined with luxury, the restaurant specializes in serving specialties from popular to high-end such as crab hotpot, hill chicken and fresh seafood. The highlight that makes the restaurant's brand is the meticulous processing process, preserving the natural sweet flavor of the ingredients. With a capacity of hundreds of guests and a professional service team, this is the perfect choice for large groups of guests who want to enjoy the quintessence of Kinh Bac cuisine after the journey of worship. Estimated costs here range from 250,000 - 500,000 VND/person.

Canh Buom Restaurant

Located right next to the romantic dyke leading into the relic, Canh Buom Restaurant is an ideal stopping place for travelers who love rustic river flavors. The restaurant is famous for its specialized menu of Luc Nam River fish species such as sturgeon and lentils, which are processed into dishes braised with banana and beans, grilled with salt and chili or rich and sour bamboo shoot hotpot. The restaurant space is designed to be open, welcoming the cool breeze from the river, bringing a feeling of relaxation and closeness to nature to diners. The combination of the fresh taste of local products and the warm service style of the people of Tan An ward has helped this place always maintain its position in the hearts of visitors from all over. The price here is very affordable, on average from 180,000 - 350,000 VND/person.

If you want more quality culinary options in the provincial center, you can consider the following restaurants:

  • Restaurant 79 – Provincial central area – Price about 250,000 – 450,000 VND/person

  • Kinh Bac Kitchen Restaurant - Ly Thai To Street - Price about 200,000 - 500,000 VND/person

  • Da Mai Fish Noodle Soup Restaurant - Da Mai Ward - Famous breakfast spot famous throughout the region.

Local cuisine

Rice vermicelli Mai

Rice vermicelli Mai

Bun da Mai is a quintessential product produced in a long-standing traditional craft village in the new Bac Ninh province, famous for its white, supple vermicelli noodles and naturally mild sour taste. Visitors can easily enjoy hot bowls of crab vermicelli or fish vermicelli at restaurants around Tan An ward, where smooth vermicelli noodles blend with rich broth to create an unforgettable flavor. This is not only a popular breakfast dish for local people but also an OCOP product that tourists often order in large quantities to bring home as practical gifts after each pilgrimage.

Bac Ninh Chu Noodles

Chu noodles are a famous hometown gift of the old Luc Ngan area, often sold at agricultural stalls along the entrance to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. The noodles are made from the most delicious bao thai pink rice, dried in the natural sunlight and have the outstanding feature that even if cooked for a long time, the noodles are still chewy, not falling apart or falling apart. Enjoying a bowl of rustic rice noodles cooked with minced meat and spring onions in the peaceful space of the temple not only helps you recharge your energy but is also a way to feel the simple yet passionate culinary culture of the residents of the new Bac Ninh land.

To diversify the selection of local products for tourists as gifts, you can refer to:

  • Ke rice cake: Crispy gift with the taste of peanuts and black sesame, fragrant with the smell of sprouted rice.

  • My Do braised sweet soup: A delicate, soft, smooth cake with a shiny golden color, often used during holidays.

  • Yen Dung fragrant rice: Product from alluvial fields of Tan An ward with natural aroma and characteristic elasticity.

Cuisine experience

Enjoy tea and admire the ancient tower garden

Sitting and sipping a hot cup of green tea right in the temple yard, overlooking the mossy tomb tower garden is an extremely tranquil and unique cultural experience in Tan An ward. With the fresh air and the echoing sound of the temple bell, you will feel the slightly astringent and then sweet taste of highland tea leaves spreading in the sacred space. This feeling helps visitors feel absolutely relaxed, as if all the noise of modern life stops outside the three-entrance gate of the thousand-year-old ancient temple.

Experience Culture & Festivals

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival 

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival 

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival takes place every year on the 14th day of the second lunar month and is the largest spiritual cultural event in the Kinh Bac region, attracting tens of thousands of monks, nuns and tourists from all over to worship the ancestral place. The entire space of Tan An ward brightens with solemn incense offering ceremonies, processions of ancestral statues and unique folk performance programs. This is an opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the bustling festival space, learn about the spirit of incarnation of the Truc Lam Zen sect and participate in community cultural activities associated with the heroic history of the new Bac Ninh province.

In addition to the main highlights, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda also has many unique cultural items and architectural details:

  • Ancient stele of the Le - Nguyen Dynasty: A place to preserve precious autographs that demonstrate the formation and development of the first Buddhist university in Vietnam.

  • System of wooden sculpture statues: The statues of Patriarchs and Buddhas are carved vividly, bearing the mark of sculptural art by talented ancient artisans.

  • Quan Ho singing and Then singing exchanges: Traditional art performances by local performance teams regularly take place at the temple grounds on weekends and main festivals.

Playground

Amber Hills Golf & Resort entertainment area

Amber Hills Golf & Resort 

Located in the majestic Nham Bien mountain range right next to Tan An ward, Amber Hills Golf & Resort is the most luxurious entertainment and resort destination of the new Bac Ninh province. This place owns an international standard 18-hole golf course with green grass paths winding along the mountainside, providing an upscale relaxing space right next to the peaceful Vinh Nghiem ancient pagoda. With a large scale and a system of high-end resort villas and luxurious restaurants, this is an ideal place for visitors to enjoy their weekend vacation, participate in outdoor sports activities and admire the panoramic beauty of their ancestral land from above.

The new Bac Ninh province also has many attractive places to visit and experience suitable for both tourists and locals who want to relax and explore:

  • 3/2 Square - administrative center of Bac Ninh province: Large community space with modern lighting system, green park and the place where key cultural events and political festivals of the province take place.

  • GO Shopping Center! Bac Ninh - Tan Tien ward: Multi-purpose shopping and entertainment destination with modern children's play area, high-quality cinema and diverse food court, attracting a large number of families and young people every weekend.

  • Rose Garden Film Studio - Da Mai Ward: Brilliant art space with fields of sunflowers, seasonal daisies and classic European architectural settings, is the most famous check-in coordinates for tourists when visiting the neighborhood of Tan An ward.

  • Suoi Mo eco-tourism area - Nghia Phuong commune: Not far from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, this is a scenic complex with natural waterfalls pouring down into the middle of the forest, where visitors can experience mountain climbing, camping along the stream and explore sacred temple relics amidst cool green space.

Suggested tour

Experiential tour

3 Days 2 Nights Tour: Journey to the Ancestral Lands & Buddhist Sutra Woodblock Heritage (Departing from Hanoi)

Schedule:

  • Day 1: Hanoi - Move to Tan An ward - Visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (the ancestral home of the Truc Lam Zen sect) and visit the world heritage Woodblock warehouse - Check in to stay at the provincial center.

  • Day 2: Tan An Ward - Visit Bo Da Pagoda (the temple with the largest tower garden in Vietnam) - Move to Ke banh da village - Experience the process of handmade cake coating with artisans.

  • Day 3: Da Mai Ward - Explore Rose Garden film studio - Enjoy the specialties of Bun da Mai - Shop for Chu noodles, rice cakes - Return to Hanoi.

Characteristics: The journey provides insight into the intersection between Truc Lam meditation ideology and the rich craft village culture of Kinh Bac land. Visitors will clearly feel the development of tourism infrastructure with highways conveniently connecting from the capital to the heritage space in Tan An ward. This is an opportunity for you to both find tranquility at the Buddha's door and touch rare wood carvings - the first Buddhist "university edition" in Vietnam.

  • Means of transportation: Business class tourist car.

  • Reference tour price: 3,150,000 - 3,700,000 VND/person (Full package of specialty dining services, 4-star hotel and tour guide).

  • Suggested organizers: Vietravel, Saigontourist.

 

Family tour

1-Day Tour: Return to Heritage Area & Rose Garden

Itinerary: Hanoi - Tan An ward - Visit the architectural complex "Foreign internal affairs" Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - Experience filming Ton Duc tower - Special lunch at Rua Vang restaurant - Have fun and check-in at Rose Garden film studio - Return to Hanoi.

Characteristics: The tour is designed specifically for families who want to combine heritage education with fun and photography in a short space of time. Children will be extremely excited to run and jump among the brilliant sunflowers at the Rose Garden, while adults can leisurely offer incense at the majestic Three Jewels court. The combination of the mossy features of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and the poetic beauty of the flower beds along the Luc Nam River will bring diverse commemorative photos for all members.

  • Means of transportation: Personal car or new group tour car.

  • Reference tour price: 950,000 - 1,250,000 VND/person (Includes shuttle bus, specialty fish lunch and entrance fee).

  • Suggested organizers: Hanoitourist, VietSense Travel.

Ecotourism

2 Days 1 Night Tour: Amber Hills Resort & Conquer Nham Bien Mountain

Schedule:

  • Day 1: Hanoi - Tan An ward - Visit the ancestral home of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - Move to Amber Hills Golf & Resort - Experience playing golf or relaxing swimming - Organize a BBQ party in the middle of Nham Bien mountains and forests.

  • Day 2: Welcoming sunrise and yoga on the top of the hill - Light trekking to explore the mountainside pine forest system - Enjoy Yen Dung hill chicken - Shopping for Tan An fragrant rice - Return to Hanoi.

Characteristics: Experience for those who love luxury mixed with the green nature of the southern mountains of the new Bac Ninh province. The unique highlight is a night of relaxation in luxury villas right at the foot of Nham Bien mountain, listening to the temple bells echoing from Tan An ward and inhaling the pristine air of the mountains. The moment the sunset falls over the winding golf holes will certainly be an extremely splendid and inspiring visual memory for visitors.

  • Means of transportation: Self-driving car or Limousine pick up and drop off at your destination.

  • Reference tour price: 2,150,000 - 2,850,000 VND/person (Including luxury room service, golf course fee and outdoor barbecue).

  • Suggested organizers: Meditours, Trekking Kinh Bac.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Tan An Market

Tan An Market

Tan An Market is located not far from the gate of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, is the soul of the daily life of indigenous residents and is an interesting stop for tourists looking for the freshest "homegrown" products. The market is full of traditional features of the Northern countryside, where all kinds of standard agricultural products from the fertile alluvial fields along the Luc Nam and Thuong rivers are sold. This is the ideal space for you to immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of the countryside market, enjoy rustic gifts and choose to buy bunches of wild vegetables and dried seeds collected and processed by hand by the people of Tan An ward.

Suggested some reputable products and shopping addresses:

  • Clean Chu noodles (Nam Duong brand): Famous specialty with chewy, sweet noodles, made from pure bao thai pink rice, is the most practical and meaningful gift that tourists often choose to buy at reputable dealers in Tan An ward.

  • Ready-to-bake Ke rice cake: A crunchy gift, fragrant with the smell of black sesame and peanuts, hand-grilled over charcoal right at the stalls along the entrance to the pagoda, imbued with the traditional flavor of the new land of Bac Ninh.

  • Yen Dung yellow flower sticky rice: Round-grained, clear white sticky rice, when steamed, it emits a sweet aroma. It is the main agricultural product of Tan An ward, often ordered by tourists as gifts for relatives on holidays.

  • Tho Ha spring roll rice paper: A traditional craft village product with natural thinness and elasticity, without the use of chemicals, it is an indispensable ingredient for special rolls in every family's kitchen after the pilgrimage.

Support information and other information

Management Board of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Relics (La Pagoda)

Address: Tan An Ward, Bac Ninh Province.

Function: This is the focal unit directly responsible for managing, preserving and promoting the value of the special national relic Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. The office is the place to receive requests for in-depth tour guides, provide documents about the Woodblock heritage treasure honored by UNESCO, and support visitors in registering to participate in spiritual rituals on the occasion of the La Pagoda festival, which takes place on the 14th day of the second lunar month every year. The staff here will guide you on the rules of conduct in the communal house, how to protect rare ancient wooden artifacts and help you learn more about the history of the lineage of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Tan An ward.

Tan An Ward Police

Address: Tan An Ward, Bac Ninh Province.

Function: The unit performs the task of maintaining security and order, protecting property for pilgrims and coordinating traffic on the Luc Nam River dike roads leading to the pagoda 24/7. The ward police directly receive reports of theft, assist in handling problems that arise in the parking lot and ensure a civilized sightseeing environment, with no solicitation of visitors or spiritual distortions in the heritage area. The presence of the police force helps your journey to admire the world heritage always go smoothly and safely, especially in the early days of spring when the number of Buddhists flocking to the ancestral site increases dramatically.

Tan An Ward Medical Station (Regional Medical Support Facility)

Address: Tan An Ward, Bac Ninh Province.

Function: Medical facility specializing in emergency first aid and quick handling of health situations for tourists when visiting large architectural complexes or traveling long distances. Located right in the administrative center of the ward, this unit is always ready to promptly assist in cases of heatstroke, hypotension or minor medical incidents during the tour of the ancient tower garden. This is an important medical fulcrum, ensuring that visitors, especially the elderly and young children, can safely experience the cultural journey at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda while still having their health protected in the most thoughtful and timely manner.

In situations where emergency security, rescue or medical assistance is needed in the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda area, please immediately contact the national numbers: 113 (Police), 114 (Fire) and 115 (Medical emergency) for timely handling.

Wishing you a meaningful journey of worship at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, fully feel the moss of the world's woodblock heritage and enjoy quiet moments in the land of Tan An ward - where spiritual energy converges and is the cradle of the thousand-year-old Truc Lam Zen sect of the new Bac Ninh province!