Hidden behind bustling streets stands Ba Da Pagoda a serene oasis. Its unassuming entrance at number 3 Nha Tho street belies its rich history. The original temple dates back to 1056 during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong. Legend tells of a stone unearthed during the construction of a new citadel under King Le Thanh Tong. Resembling a woman the stone was deemed sacred a sign from the Mother Goddess. A temple was built to commemorate it thus the name Ba Da Pagoda or Stone Lady Pagoda.
Early in the 1900s a fire destroyed the temple and the stone disappeared. Rebuilt the temple transformed into a pagoda. It was renamed Linh Quang Tu Sacred Light. But the old name Ba Da Pagoda remains. Passing through the entrance arch you enter a courtyard. An elderly monk the pagoda keeper sells Buddhist books. He guides you inside after offering incense at the stone burner. Stupas in the courtyard bear names of past monks and religious symbols.
The main chamber houses six Buddha statues. The largest reaches the ceiling. Many ancient decorations were lost in the fire. Yet two bronze bells from 1873 and 1881 survived. A crescent gong from 1842 remains as well. One bell sits at the entrance. A modern bell stands opposite. Two altars reside further inside. One honors Saint Duc Thanh Hien. The other honors Duc Chua Ong. Ten temple gods of Buddhist Hell stand along the walls.
The Buddha statues create an aura of peace. The pagoda serves as a center for the Thien Zen Buddhist sect. It also houses the Municipal Buddhist Association. Monks and nuns live in the attached monastery. This monastery supported the revolution against the French. Ho Chi Minh visited twice. In 1946 he famously said “The Buddhist work does not separate from the matters of the world”. At the back a building displays statues and names of past leaders. The second old bell and the gong hang there. A poem on a brass panel outside mentions Linh Quang and the old name Ba Da Pagoda. This majestic place stands near the beautiful heart of Thang Long. Ba Da Pagoda a place of history peace and spiritual significance.