Phat Tich Pagoda & Do Temple of the Ly Dynasty

Category: Ly Dynasty Spiritual Heritage Site | Location: Phat Tich, Tien Du & Dinh Bang, Tu Son, Bac Ninh

Phat Tich Pagoda, nestled on the scenic southern slope of Lan Kha Mountain in Bac Ninh Province, is an illustrious ancient Buddhist monastery founded in 1057 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong. Serving as the primary royal Buddhist academy of the Ly Dynasty, it enshrines the magnificent 11th-century monolithic blue stone Amitabha Buddha statue, officially designated as a National Treasure of Vietnam, renowned for its exquisitely carved lotus pedestal and swirling cloud dragon motifs. A short drive away stands Do Temple (Co Phap Sanctuary) in Dinh Bang, the ancestral homeland that birthed the glorious Ly Dynasty. This grand royal memorial complex is dedicated to the Eight Ly Emperors who ruled Dai Viet from 1009 to 1225. Its centerpiece is the crescent-shaped Moon Lake fronted by the graceful ancient Thuy Dinh (Water Pavilion), famously featured as an acoustic stage for mesmerizing Quan Ho folk duets. Exploring this cradle of Kinh Bac heritage immerses visitors in the golden age of Vietnamese culture. Travelers can climb to the upper summit of Phat Tich Mountain to admire a colossal 27-meter modern stone Buddha overlooking emerald rice plains, walk through the pine-scented courtyards of Do Temple, and learn about Emperor Ly Thai To's historic 1010 decree relocating the royal capital to Thang Long (Hanoi).