But Thap Pagoda
Chùa Bút Tháp
But Thap Pagoda
Chùa Bút Tháp
An ancient Buddhist complex featuring unique treasures of 17th-century Vietnamese wood-carving art.
Bac Ninh
Buddhist Temple
Cultural Heritage
But Thap Pagoda is one of Vietnam's most important architectural complexes, founded in the 13th century and acquiring its current appearance in the 17th century. It is a place where the history of the Le dynasty comes alive through incredible wood and stone carvings, including the famous thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara statue.
- Visit duration
2–3 hours
- Admission
Check on site
- Best months
Oct – Apr
- Spoken languages
Vietnamese, English
What you need to know
But Thap Pagoda is recognized as a Special National Monument. The complex harmoniously combines over 10 structures:
Thon Duc Tower
— the main 11-meter wooden structure.
Nine-tiered Lotus Pagoda
(Cuu Pham Lien Hoa) — a unique work of 17th-century art.
Avalokiteshvara Statue
— a national treasure with 954 hands and eyes.
The temple is famous for its collection of 100 wooden Buddha statues and over 50 stone reliefs. It serves as a training ground for architecture students and represents the pinnacle of wood-carving craftsmanship from the Middle Le dynasty.
Dry season with comfortable temperatures. Peak attendance occurs during the pagoda festival (23rd–24th days of the third lunar month).
On site
- Getting there
Taxi (20–80k VND) or motorbike
- Distance
30–35 km from central Hanoi
- Cash
Required
- Connectivity
4G, Wi-Fi in hotels
- With kids
Ok for ages 6+