About 20 kilometers from Hanoi lies Boi Khe Pagoda in Song Khe Village, Thanh Oai District, a key spiritual site in northern Vietnam. Recognized for its architectural and historical value, it gained the title of National Special Relic in 2025.

This pagoda is one of the oldest in the former Ha Tay province, spanning over 8,400 square meters, making it one of the largest and earliest temples in the Red River Delta.

As noted by Nguyen Van Cong, the head of the Pagoda’s Ritual Advisory Committee, Boi Khe Pagoda uniquely honors both Buddha and Saint Nguyen Binh An, also known locally as Saint Boi, which contributes to its distinctive dual-worship architecture.

The pagoda is designed in the traditional “noi cong – ngoai quoc” style and is oriented to the west. Noteworthy elements include the five-gate entrance, brick bridge, stele house, Buddha shrine, and various halls dedicated to the temple’s founders and mother goddesses.

A large courtyard is positioned at the front. To the left are five ancient stupas, while a shrine for the temple guardian deity, Duc Ong, is placed on the right. Two heritage trees, a sacred bodhi and a 400-year-old banyan, have earned recognition as significant Vietnamese trees. Additionally, three sacred lotus trees symbolize the temple.

Distinctively, Boi Khe Pagoda features five gates instead of the common three. Its bell tower is home to two bells, unlike the standard single bell found in most temples.

The main architectural highlights consist of the Buddha shrine and the sanctuary. The Buddha shrine encompasses the forecourt, incense altar, main worship hall, side corridors, and a central worship space, all arranged in a square layout. The rear halls lead to the sanctuary, creating a formation reminiscent of the character “gong.”

The shrine’s porch showcases elaborate carvings on the beams and roof brackets, including embossed designs on the decorative brick steps.

The sanctuary features a two-tier, eight-roof layout, supported by intricately designed brackets that represent a pinnacle of Vietnamese woodcraft.

Both corridors host 18 stone-seated Arhat statues, with nine on each side. The temple is also home to numerous relics dating back to its founding, including a lotus pedestal from the Tran dynasty, a wooden Garuda carving on the roof, stone lantern bases, and significant statues from the Mac and Le dynasties.

Among the pagoda’s treasures are 58 statues, such as a 12-armed Guanyin on a lotus base, two ceramic lamps from the Mac era, and 22 royal decrees.

Remarkably, Boi Khe Pagoda includes a 3-kilometer-long underground tunnel system that was previously used by local militia during three French colonial attacks. Parts of the tunnel are now open for visitors to explore.

These tunnels measure between 1 and 1.2 meters wide and reach heights of 1.5 to 2 meters, providing insight into the village’s historical resistance.

Each year, the Boi Khe Pagoda Festival occurs on the 10th to 12th day of the first lunar month, alongside ceremonies to invoke rain and a unique ritual linking with Tien Lu Village in Tien Phuong Commune, drawing pilgrims and visitors for worship and cultural celebrations.