Minh Khánh Pagoda

Minh Khánh Pagoda (also known as Hương Đại Pagoda, Hương Pagoda) is located in Bình Hà village, Thanh Hà commune, Hải Phòng city; it belongs to the Northern School (Bắc tông) of Buddhism, worships the Buddha and King Trần Nhân Tông; and was recognised as a National Historical and Cultural Monument in 1990.

Minh Khánh Pagoda was built during the Lý - Trần dynasties, and was restored many times in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In 1992, the abbot Thích Đàm organised a major restoration of the pagoda and constructed the triple-arched gate (tam quan).

Currently, Minh Khánh Pagoda has a campus of more than 1 hectare, and still preserves a system of Buddha statues, an ancient stupa garden, and many valuable relics: it keeps over 200 antiques such as statues, stupas, steles, stone pillars, wells, etc.; 13 imperial edicts from the Lê and Nguyễn dynasties (Vĩnh Khánh, Cảnh Hưng, Gia Long, Minh Mạng, Thiệu Trị, Tự Đức, Đồng Khánh, Duy Tân, Khải Định, etc.) and a decree classifying the site as a monument by the Governor-General of Indochina in 1925. In the main hall, the pagoda also preserves 9 relic pearls (ngọc Xá lợi), which are said to belong to Trúc Lâm's first patriarch, Trần Nhân Tông, and the blood-storing stupa (tháp lưu huyết) of the Master.

The Minh Khánh Pagoda festival lasts for three consecutive days, with the main festival held on the 1st day of the 11th lunar month every year, commemorating the day King Trần Nhân Tông passed away on Yên Tử mountain. The ceremonial part includes the procession of imperial edicts, the procession of the five-fruit tray, the ritual bathing of the statue (lễ mộc dục), and the offering ceremony. The festive part includes games such as human chess, water puppetry, chèo (traditional opera), five-fruit tray competition, bánh dầy making contest, and more.