Chem Pagoda in Hanoi

Chem Pagoda (Ham Long Tu) belongs to Thuy Phuong commune, Tu Liem district. At Sword Lake, visitors can take a taxi, or ride a bicycle, a cyclo, motorbike, or bus to Tran Phu Street. Go ahead onto Kim Mil Street until you reach Cau Giay Bridge. Turn to the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, pass Hospital E, and go directly to Chem village. The distance from the centre of Ha N9i to Chem village is about 10km. A memorial stele dating back to the 12th year of Vinh Tri’s reign (1688) says that a Confucian scholar named Nguyen Dinh Ban and his wife donated their own money to building this pagoda for their fellow villagers. Thus, it must have been built before that date (1688).

It is situated on a high plot of land with a wide view. Its ancient composition and lay-out are kept almost intact. All architectural structures are harmoniously arranged in a closed precinct, under the shade of big old trees. The front ceremonial hall is composed of two parallel buildings. The outer building has five bays and six rows of columns, whose square pedestals are made of bricks. Trusses and tie-beams support two layers of eight roofs.