Cổ Lễ Temple

About

Cổ Lễ is an old Buddhist temple with an unusual architectural character: Buddhist roofs, statues and decorative motifs are combined with tall columns and Gothic-influenced arches. The Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa tower and the Đại Hồng Chung bell in the middle of the pond are two readily recognizable features.

Visitor information

Founded

Its origins are traced to the Lý dynasty and Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không; its distinctive present appearance took shape from the early 20th century.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours may change with the temple’s practice schedule; please ask the temple before your visit.

Fees

No fee has been confirmed by the temple. Please check notices at the site; external services may be charged separately.

Address

Xã Cổ Lễ, tỉnh Ninh Bình; trước đây thuộc thị trấn Cổ Lễ, huyện Trực Ninh, Nam Định.

Highlights

• ✓Buddhist architecture incorporating Gothic-inspired forms.
• ✓The Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa tower and Đại Hồng Chung bell cast in 1936.
• ✓Designated a Special National Relic in 2025.

History and origins

Heritage documentation associates the temple’s origins with the Lý-dynasty National Preceptor Nguyễn Minh Không. From the early 20th century, Venerable Phạm Quang Tuyên and successive generations built and added the structures that define its present appearance. The temple also commemorates 27 monks who left to join the resistance in 1947. First designated a National Relic in 1988, it became a Special National Relic on 11 September 2025.

Architecture & surroundings

The complex includes the main sanctuary, tower, subsidiary shrines, ancestral hall, courtyards, ponds and bridges. Inside the sanctuary, arches and columns create a lofty, spacious interior alongside Buddha images, dragon and lotus decoration, and ceremonial banners. The Cửu Phẩm Liên Hoa tower stands on a large turtle figure. The Đại Hồng Chung bell, weighing about 9 tonnes and cast in 1936, is displayed in the middle of a pond for visitors to view respectfully; it should be distinguished from the temple’s other bells.

Cultural value

Cổ Lễ reflects the meeting of architectural styles during the development of Vietnamese Buddhism. Alongside Buddhist worship and remembrance of Nguyễn Minh Không, the memorial to monks who died in the wars preserves the memory of monastics’ contributions to the resistance.

Events & festivals

The temple festival usually takes place from the 13th to the 16th days of the ninth lunar month in remembrance of the revered patriarch Nguyễn Minh Không. Local records describe processions, ceremonial offerings, puppet performances in honour of the saint, traditional boat racing and folk activities. Please consult announcements for the year of your intended visit for the exact programme.