Nam Dinh is situated in the north of Vietnam and south of the Red River delta, about 80 km from Hanoi. It is known for interesting tourist sites namely Thinh Long Beach, Co Le Pagoda, Pho Minh Pagoda and others.
Co Le Pagoda
Located in Co Le town, Truc Ninh district, Co Le Pagoda is said to have been built by Buddhist Monk Nguyen Minh Khong during the Ly dynasty. Buddhist Monk Pham Quang Tuyen rebuilt the existing Co Le Pagoda in November 1920. In front of the pagoda is the 12-storey Cuu Pham Lien Hoa Tower built in 1926. The octagonal base of the tower sits on the back of a turtle facing the pagoda. In the tower, there is a huge staircase spiraling to the top of the tower. From the top, there is a panoramic view of the entire area.
In the center of the pagoda is a large 9,000-kg bell cast in 1936. In the upper temple is the 4-metre-high statue of Thich Ca Buddha which is made of red lacquer trimmed with gold.
Several rare relics, such as a great red bell and bronze drums dating from the Ly dynasty, are kept in this pagoda.
The Pagoda is a great architectural work located in a landscape overshadowed by age-old trees. Co Le Pagoda is a place of interest of the Red River Delta.
Pho Minh Pagoda
Built in Tuc Mac village, Loc Vuong commune on the outskirts of Nam Dinh, the pagoda was originally built in the Ly dynasty, but was expanded during the Tran Dynasty in 1262. This is a very large pagoda, which includes a lotus-flower lake, a floating house and luxuriant old trees. In front of the pagoda is a copper crow weighing 7 tonnes. There is a tower built in 1305, which looks like a 13-level lotus flower 21 meters high.
Phu Giay Relic Site
The relic site is in Kim Thai commune, Vu Bang district, and is dedicated to Goddess Lieu Hanh, one of four immortal Gods of Vietnam (the four are Tan Vien, Giong, Chu Dong Tu and the Goddess Lieu Hanh).
The Phu Giay includes four main areas: Den Thuong (the Upper Temple), Phu Tien Huong (The Tien Huong residence),the Van Cat Residence and the tomb of Goddess Lieu.
Phu Giay includes four main parts. Firstly, Thuong Temple is located on the top of Tien Phong Mountain and is also called Den Mau Thuong Ngan (the temple of the mother of the upstream land). Secondly, the Tien Huong Residence is a interesting architectural site built in the time of Le Canh Tri (1663-1671) and has been subject to many changes of time. It has 19 blocks, which form a total of 81 compartments and looks southwest to the Tien Huong Mountain. Thirdly, the Van Cat Residence was built on one 1 hectare of ground facing the northwest. The residence now has 7 blocks, and 30 compartments of various scales. The residence has 4 palaces similar to those at Tien Hong. The middle palace is where Lieu Hanh is worshipped while the other are for Buddha and Ly Nam De. Fourthly, the tomb of Lieu Hanh was built in 1938 in grey stone with dedicate engravings, and the tombs covers 625 square meters.
Phu Giay is highly valued for its architecture dating from the late 19th century and the 20th century. Coming to Phu Giay area, visitors not only enjoy the sightseeing tour, but also the hope of being blessed with good luck and peace. Phu Giay Festival is held in early March (lunar calendar) every year.
Giao Thuy Natural Preservation Zone
This area is located between Lu and Ngan Islets at the mouth of the Red River. Vietnam has chosen Con Lu-Con Nga to be recorded in the list of ecological zones to be protected and preserved. It has an area of 7,200 hectares and 10,000 hectares of buffer zone.
From November to April every year, this zone becomes the meeting place of tens of thousand of birds coming from the North.
Thinh Long Beach
Situated in Hai Thinh town, Hai Hau district, Thinh Long has only been developed as a swimming beach in recent years. This is a smooth sandy beach, sloping several kilometres gently to the sea bed. Big sea waves here attract visitors throughout the summer. It is a good destination for visitors to come to Thinh Long as its beach is untouchable.
The number of visitors to Thinh Long is ever increasing because they can enjoy both nature and seafood here.
