A Khmer Theravada pagoda in a Tan Binh alley, covered in reliefs of celestial maidens and the divine bird Krud
Tucked in a small alley in Tan Binh is one of the few Khmer Theravada pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda was originally named Onteskosey; in 1993 it was renamed Pothiwong. The City has both Vietnamese pagodas following Mahayana (Northern school) Buddhism and Khmer pagodas following Theravada Buddhism, and the most noticeable difference lies in the architecture: Khmer pagodas stand out with their golden colours and tall pointed spires. Built in the early 20th century, Pothiwong bears the strong imprint of Southern Khmer pagoda style. The outer walls of the main hall feature reliefs of beautiful celestial maidens and the divine bird Krud supporting the roof – images drawn from Khmer folk beliefs. Look closely and you will see almost no surface left bare: walls, ceilings, roofs, columns, beams and doors are all carved and decorated by Khmer artisans with images inspired by the life of the Buddha and the life of the Khmer community. Today the pagoda remains a community gathering place, with evening Khmer language classes. The liveliest time is Chol Chnam Thmay (Khmer New Year), celebrated by the pagoda over three days from 14 to 16 April and drawing large crowds of visitors. Visitors can combine Pothiwong with Pho Quang Pagoda and Vien Giac Pagoda for a pagoda tour in the Tan Binh area.
English text: machine translation from the Localis platform — proper names kept in Vietnamese.Good to know
Best time to visitYear-round; most vibrant during Chol Chnam Thmay (14 – 16 April)
Services
- Admire reliefs of celestial maidens and the divine bird Krud on the main hall walls
- See carvings of the Buddha's life on columns, beams, doors and ceilings
- Join the Khmer New Year Chol Chnam Thmay (14–16 April)
- Combine with Pho Quang and Vien Giac pagodas (Tan Binh)
Localis