Keo Pagoda

The holy grail of heritage and culture tourism

Location & History

Keo pagoda is a special national relic located in Vu Thu district, which is 130km (approximately 3 hour) from Hanoi.

Photo by @Nguyen Huy Thien

The story of Keo pagoda is reportedly started in 1061, when Monk Duong Khong Lo cured the king of a serious disease with his magic and used the huge rewards he earned to build the pagoda. It was repaired and renamed to "Keo pagoda" during the 15th century under the reign of Le dynasty. Nowadays there are 16 edifices and over 120 rooms in Keo pagoda with the typical "Nội công ngoại quốc", "Tiền phật hậu thánh" characteristic of Le dynasty architecture.

Best Time To Visit

The ideal time to explore Keo pagoda is on the 4th day of lunar January (spring festival), and on the 13rd, 14th, 15th of lunar September (autumn festival). On these occasions, tourists can observe ethereal Buddhism ceremonies, religious rituals involving votive offerings, and enjoy folk songs, traditional outdoor games and specialty food.

Photo : nhandan.com.vn

Travel Tips

Photo : baovanhoa.vn

Buddhism followers, culture adventurers, photographers, history and architecture explorers can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Keo pagoda. There are 3 tips that can elevate your experience in this place. Firstly, go with a tour guide who has in depth knowledge of history, culture and architecture. Secondly, if you want to take photogenic pictures, make sure to visit the pagoda during business days. Thirdly, you can rent some colorful Le dynasty's Giao Linh costumes to wear for an additional historical touch to your photoshoot.