In recent years, Tra Vinh has become a growing attraction for foreign visitors who want to enjoy a more serene and isolated getaway from the hubbub of other popular Mekong destinations.

Home to over 300,000 ethnic Khmer who still maintain their culture through the practice of Theravada Buddhism, Tra Vinh hosts a unique system of over 140 pagodas built by this ethnic minority, as well as 50 Vietnamese and five Chinese pagodas.

Among well-known sites such as the Ong Met Pagoda and the ornate Chinese Ong Pagoda, the Hang Pagoda is deemed one of the more gorgeous structures less frequently mentioned in travel guides.

Located six kilometers away from the downtown area, the 12-hectare pagoda initially welcomes visitorswith its dense tree shades and the mellifluous sound of birds chirping.

The main gate of the pagoda, called Kompong Chray, meaning “banyan-tree wharf,” leads toward a river bank.

The two statues of Yak, a formerly evil spirit converted to serve as Buddha's protector, guard the pagoda's gate.

Upon entering the pagoda complex, visitors will discover many distinctive decorative aspects totally different from Vietnamese-built counter-parts.

The multi-layered roof displays a vibrant, intricate design.

No sounds of wooden bells are heard, immersing the compound in a remarkably silent and tranquil atmosphere.

In general, the Khmer ethnic minority who reside in Tra Vinh tend to live a rustic lifestyle with very simple decorations in their houses.

However, the pagoda represents a site that is dually imposing and sacred, serving an indispensable role in educating moral lessons as well as a center to preserve the traditional arts and culture of the Khmer people.

Between the ages of 15 and 20, most Khmer boys set aside a few months or years to live as monks.

Some youth nearing marriageable age are also sent to the pagoda to be trained in life skills in preparation for adulthood.

Inside the grounds of the Hang Pagoda, visitors will discover a large school for children and some 20 houses built on stilts.

From time to time, Khmer men come to stay at these houses for a month to pray and cleanse their souls.

A visit to the 350-year-old Hang Pagoda reveals that it has withstood the vicissitudes of time.

Formerly called the Bat Pagoda because the eponymous creatures used to gather here every evening to find shelter, the site suffered from a 1968 bombing that chased these nocturnal guests away indefinitely.

Nowadays, the pagoda is home to thousands of storks living in the tall treetops surrounding the complex.

Each evening around 5:00 p.m., flocks of white storks cluster the sky over the pagoda.