Khmer sanctuary

Phù Ly Pagoda

An hour away from Cần Thơ on the river, across the larger Mekong, lies a small Khmer village with a Theravada sanctuary hidden in the green. It has been a place of worship since the late 17th century, and is still a lively Buddhism centre today.

There are many such places around Cần Thơ, and we visit several.

The entrance to the pagoda, hidden in the green

Its architecture and statuary show the influence of Hinduism and Brahmanism on Buddhism, as the Theravada tradition came to Vietnam directly through the Indochina peninsula, and is devoid of Chinese influence.