Doi Pagoda

Location: Doi Pagoda is located on Van Ngoc Chinh St., Ward 3, about 2km from downtown Soc Trang, Soc Trang Province.
Characteristics: The pagoda is famous for its beautiful architecture, especially its very large roof that houses tens of thousands of bats.

Doi Pagoda (Bat Pagoda) also called Ma Toc Pagoda, or Mahatuc Pagoda was built during the 16th century. It is one of the oldest pagodas in the province and has been renovated several times since.
 

◊ Khmer Architectural Style

Doi Pagoda is famous for its beautiful architecture. The pagoda presents Khmer arts, with skilful, symbolic decorations on its pillars and roof and splendid relieves and statues. Many typical images of Khmer culture are decorated in the pagoda such as 5-headed giant snake, Fairy Kemnar, etc. An ancient Buddha statue and a number of Buddhist books written on sugar palm leaves can be admired there. There's also a beautifully painted Khmer longboat here which as the type used at Ooc Om Boc Festival.

 


 

The architectural complex of Doi Pagoda consists of: sanctum, Sala hall, lecture hall, dining hall, dormitory of the monks… These buildings are situated in an area of about 4ha with many ancient trees.
 

Behind the pagoda, there are odd tombs painted with the image of a pig on each one. The first tomb was erected in memory of a pig with five toenails (usually pigs have only four toenails) that died in 1996. Others rare pigs with five toenails have survived and are being raised by the monks. These pigs are pets. After dying, they were buried there.
 

◊ Mysterious Habitat of Bats

Especially its very large roof houses tens of thousands of bats. Some have wingspans of more than a meter and resemble large ripe pears as they hang upside down from the upper branches.  They cling to tree branches all day, fly away at night to seek food, and return the following morning. The bats never eat the fruit in the garden.
 

In 1999, Doi Pagoda was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) as National Historical and Cultural Relic Site.

 

ALBUM
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
WHERE TO STAY
Minh Phuong Hotel

Add: 294 Phu Loi St., 2 Ward, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3645.888

Thanh Nhan Hotel

Add: 479 Highway No.1, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3619 619

Bao Ngoc Hotel

Add: 1 Highway No.1, Kim Xang St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3616222

Thanh Hiep Hotel

Add: No. 320 Vo Nguyen Giap St., Ward 1, Nga Nam Town, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3526 789

Phong Lan 1 Hotel

Add: 136 Dong Khoi St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 619/ 3824 229

Hong Cuc Hotel

Add: 84B Group 3, Hightway 1, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3621 803

Phong Lan 2 Hotel

Add: 133 Nguyen Chi Thanh St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 757

Ngoc Lan Hotel

Add: 182 Le Hong Phong St., Soc Trang city

Tel: (84-299) 3622 696

Lan Anh 2 Hotel

Add: 172 Truong Cong Dinh St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3624 510/ 3614 510

Tien Dinh Hotel

Add: 256, D15 Residence zone Hung Thinh, Ward 7, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3623 016

Xuan Huynh 2 Hotel

Add: 14 Huynh Van Ho, Ward 6, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3826 869

Thanh Nhan Hotel

Add: 479 Highway No.1, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3619 619

Thanh Hung Hotel

Add: 600 Highway I, zone 4, Ward 2, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3614 455

Viet Nghia Hotel

Add: 4 Dao Duy Tu St., Ward 1, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3889 888

Tin Hoa 2 Hotel

Add: 01-03 Xo viet Nghe Tinh St., 2 Ward, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3898 999

Lan Anh Hotel

Add: 271 Nguyen Van Linh St., Ward 9, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 666

Phu Loi Hotel

Add: 295 Phu Loi St., 2 Ward, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3.823.933

Xuan Huynh Hotel

Add: 231 Hung Vuong St., 6 Ward, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3822 054

Thien duong Phuong Dong Hotel

Add: 221-223 Hung Vuong St., Ward 6, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3829 966

Gia Song Hung Hotel

Add: 502 Le Hong Phong St., Ward 3, Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3896 666

WHERE TO EAT
Hung I Restaurant

Add: 28/48 Hung Vuong St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3824 376

Khanh Hung Restaurant

Add: 17 Tran Hung Dao St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 027

Phong Lan 1 Restaurant

Add: 124 Dong Khoi St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 619

Phong Lan 2 Restaurant

Add: 133 Nguyen Chi Thanh St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3821 757

Thien Truc Restaurant

Add: 2 Hung Vuong St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3610 831

Thanh Thao Restaurant

Add: 204 Phu Loi St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3611 119

Hang Ky Restaurant

Add: 67 Yet Kieu St., Soc Trang City

Tel: (84-299) 3820 034