Thới Bình Pagoda

Thới Bình Pagoda is located at the Vàm Rạch Dừa three-way junction in Phước Thới hamlet, Cần Giuộc commune, Tây Ninh province, Vietnam.

This is one of the ancient temples (cổ tự) in Long An, which appeared alongside the arduous southward expansion (Nam tiến) of Vietnamese settlers. With the devoutness of Buddhist followers, the pagoda developed from an initial thatched hermitage into a grand Đại Già lam (great Buddhist monastery). It is a commemorative site for a high-ranking monk in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism: Quốc sư Thích Từ Nhẫn (National Master Thích Từ Nhẫn).

Thới Bình Pagoda is also one of the last tam bảo (triple gem Buddhist sanctuaries) in Vietnam to be conferred a royal decree (sắc tứ) by the feudal court.

Thới Bình Pagoda was established in the early 19th century and was originally just a thatched hermitage made of bamboo and leaves. Due to the effects of nature and human activity, the pagoda was damaged and relocated several times until land was donated for the complete construction of a new pagoda in Phước Thới hamlet, Phước Lại commune, Cần Giuộc district, and the pagoda has retained the ancient name Thới Bình cổ tự (ancient Thới Bình Pagoda) to this day.

By 2020, Thới Bình Pagoda was rebuilt mainly using wood as the primary material. The new, imposing pagoda features 120 wooden pillars.

Thới Bình Pagoda itself embodies rich cultural values, especially Buddhist culture, while still retaining a strong national identity.

On 22 February 1997, the People's Committee of Long An province issued Decision No. 400/QĐ-UBND, classifying Thới Bình Pagoda as a historical and cultural heritage site.