Ngoa Van literally means "pagoda on the clouds". On Bao Dai mountain, at an altitude of over 700m above sea level, the pagoda has a beautiful terrain, leaning its back against Ngoa Van peak which is cloud-covered all year round, embraced by two mountain ranges on both sides, with a small mountain serving as a front screen, and in the distance are valleys with the winding Cam river.
A masterpiece of pristine nature
Initiated during the Tran Dynasty, the pagoda is the place of ascetic practice and Buddhahood attainment of the First Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen Sect - Truc Lam Dieu Ngu Tran Nhan Tong, and was continuously restored and expanded by His disciples into a complex of pagodas, hermitages, and stupas of the Truc Lam Zen Sect on Bao Dai mountain. By the Later Le Dynasty, many spacious architectural works were restored. The architecture of the pagoda area consists of three tiers. At the very top is Ngoa Van hermitage. Inside the hermitage is an altar, upon which rests a bronze statue of Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong in the posture of entering Nirvana.
Not only preserving the sacred vestiges of Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, the Ngoa Van relic site is also a place with majestic and pristine natural landscapes. Located within the Dong Trieu arc, Ngoa Van seems to be enveloped and embraced by lush green, overlapping mountains. Coming to Ngoa Van, we have the opportunity to admire century-old pine trees with diameters taking several people to embrace, and vast bamboo forests.
The sacred land where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong practiced asceticism and attained Buddhahood
In August 1299, Retired Emperor Tran Nhan Tong left home for Yen Tu mountain to practice asceticism, taking the title Huong Van Dai Dau Da, then changing to Truc Lam Dai Si (Great Scholar of Truc Lam); founding the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect. In May 1307, Truc Lam Dai Si ascended Ngoa Van and built a small hermitage on the peak of Bao Dai mountain as a place of practice, calling it Ngoa Van hermitage; on the 1st of November (Lunar calendar) in 1308, at Ngoa Van hermitage, He peacefully passed away and entered Nirvana. The location where He entered Nirvana is now Ngoa Van hermitage. After the Buddhist Emperor attained Buddhahood, Phap Loa organized a cremation right at Ngoa Van, collecting thousands of sarira beads. A portion of the sarira is enshrined in the Buddhist Emperor stupa at Ngoa Van hermitage. Ngoa Van is the place that preserves sacred relics, serving as the sanctuary of Truc Lam Buddhism in Vietnam.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Son (Ngoa Van Relic Management Board): Ngoa Van Pagoda is the place preserving many sacred relics of Truc Lam Buddhism; with beautiful natural scenery "an ancient renowned landscape with towering high mountains, stretching for thousands of miles, infinitely overlapping". Here, every time spring returns, especially after the festival opening day on the 9th of the first lunar month, it attracts thousands of tourists from all directions to join the festival and make a pilgrimage to the Patriarchal Land, to venerate the sacred relics of the Buddhist Emperor, and to pray for blessings and fortune for themselves, their families, and loved ones for a peaceful year.
Pilgrimages to Ngoa Van now have many conveniences. Visitors can walk along the Phu Am Tra stream for nearly 3km, climbing over 1000 steps to immerse themselves in the natural scenery and feel the emotional spectrum of the true monks who once practiced asceticism at Ngoa Van. Alternatively, you can relax and admire the fairyland landscape from the 54 cabins of the Ngoa Van cable car line (operating from morning to evening), over 2km long, to delight in the majestic, overlapping scenery of myriad clouds and breathe deeply the fresh, sweet air of the Buddha's realm and fairyland, letting your heart be as relaxed and light as the gentle mist gliding before you.
Pilgrims at Ngoa Van Pagoda
On January 5th (Solar calendar), Ngoa Van Pagoda welcomed thousands of devotees and Buddhist followers making a pilgrimage, venerating Ngoa Van hermitage, and attending the 12th Lunar Month Thanksgiving Ceremony. Activities during the trip: pilgrims ascending to Middle Ngoa Van Pagoda, venerating Ngoa Van Hermitage, listening to Dharma talks by monks about the legends and philosophy of Truc Lam Buddhism, and together with the monks offering incense to the Buddhist Emperor during the year-end Thanksgiving ceremony. Also during this thanksgiving occasion, journalist Truong Anh Ngoc and his family had the opportunity to venerate the relics where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong entered Nirvana and shared very touching words: "As a person who travels to many places around the world and visiting Ngoa Van for the first time, I am very moved because the majestic natural landscape is extremely well preserved, especially the sacred feeling at the place where King Tran Nhan Tong attained Buddhahood. I am also very surprised because the distance from Hanoi here is very close; leaving the noisy city and arriving at a peaceful, fresh, and wonderful place takes you less than 2 hours."
Explore the sacred Buddhist sanctuary amidst pristine and majestic nature in the video clip:
Making a pilgrimage to the peak of Ngoa Van, lighting a stick of incense to venerate the Buddhist Emperor, and then stepping out into the ceremonial courtyard, you will admire an entire region of overlapping, breathtaking mountains interspersed with white clouds unfolding before your eyes like a watercolor painting. That is when one seems to return to all the most beautiful and pristine things in their soul. It is also a gift that the Ngoa Van Buddha land bestows upon everyone who has the opportunity to enjoy this place.