Pagodas in cultural and spiritual life of Khmer community

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Khmer pagodas feature unique architecture and serve as places for preserving traditional cultural values for generations of the Khmer community. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
Building sand mountains — an important ritual carrying profound humanistic values during the Chôl Chnăm Thmây festival of the Khmer people. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
The city is home to 120 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
Important ceremonies of the Khmer people are often held within pagoda grounds. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
The Buddha bathing ritual, an important ceremony during the traditional Chôl Chnăm Thmây New Year festival. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
The alms-giving ritual of Buddhist monks is not only a religious activity but also reflects the close bond between the pagoda and the local Khmer community. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA
Pagodas in cultural and spiritual life of Khmer community
Can Tho City is home to 120 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas, including two pagodas recognized as national relic sites — Kh’leang Pagoda and Doi Pagoda — and nine pagodas classified as city-level relics. The Khmer pagoda system plays a particularly important role in community life, serving not only as centers of religious and spiritual activities but also as places for preserving and teaching the Khmer language and script, safeguarding ancient documents and folk arts, educating moral values, and maintaining traditional cultural values for generations of the Khmer ethnic community. Photo: Nguyen Hang – VNA