Phước Kiển Temple

About

Phước Kiển Temple is often called Lotus Leaf Temple because its ponds contain aquatic plants with large leaves. This modest temple in Đồng Tháp is closely connected with the waterways and everyday life of local residents.

Visitor information

Founded

According to a recorded account by the abbot, it began as a hermitage under Emperor Thiệu Trị and was rebuilt after 1966.

Visiting hours

Please ask the temple about visiting hours and the practice schedule before coming.

Fees

Please consult the guidance and posted information at the destination; services outside the temple may be charged separately.

Address

Khu vực Hòa Tân, Châu Thành cũ, tỉnh Đồng Tháp.

Highlights

• ✓Ponds of plants commonly called giant water lilies, notable for their large leaves.
• ✓A simple temple setting within the watery lowlands.
• ✓The story of the temple’s recovery after war.

History and origins

An interview with the abbot records origins in a hermitage during Thiệu Trị’s reign. In 1966, bombing destroyed the buildings and they had to be rebuilt. Ponds in front and behind later became a widely recognised part of the landscape.

Oral historical accounts should be distinguished from dates documented by inscriptions or heritage records.

Architecture & surroundings

The simple main hall is combined with courtyards and planted ponds. Its distinctive feature is the vegetation rather than monumental buildings. Leaves and flowers vary with the season and care, so historical photographs do not guarantee identical scenery on the day of a visit.

Cultural value

Lotus Leaf Temple illustrates how an active Buddhist place can become familiar through its unusual landscape. Visitors should respect its religious character and protect the ponds and plants rather than treating the entire grounds as a recreation area.

Events & festivals

Please ask the temple about current practice sessions and observances. No separate festival schedule has been confirmed for publication here; quiet worship and appreciation of the grounds during visiting hours can still offer a full experience of the temple.