Tay Phuong Pagoda Temple

Address: Tay Phuong Pagoda, Thach That district / Hanoi area, Vietnam

Tay Phuong Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda located on a low hill in Thạch Thất district west of Hanoi, Vietnam, noted for its collection of carved wooden statues. The complex combines traditional pagoda architecture with a sizeable assemblage of polychrome wooden religious sculpture.

The pagoda’s main highlight is the group of wooden Buddha and bodhisattva figures carved in the 17th and 18th centuries and preserved in the sanctuary; these works are widely cited for their craftsmanship and colouring. The site also includes tiled roofs, carved woodwork and stone steps leading up to the compound.

The pagoda has existed in some form for several centuries and has been repaired and restored periodically; it serves both as an active religious site and as a place of cultural heritage. The sculptures reflect several generations of local carvers and have been conserved by local caretakers and temple authorities.

Tay Phuong sits on a limestone rise in Thạch Thất district, roughly west of central Hanoi and reachable by road from the city.

• Wooden sculptures: Contains an important collection of polychrome wooden Buddhist sculptures carved in the 17th and 18th centuries that are kept in the main sanctuary.

Tây Phương Pagoda is located to the west of Hanoi in Hà Nội’s suburban area (Thạch Thất district). It is commonly reached by car or taxi from central Hanoi via the westbound roads (roughly 35-40 km by road); there are also regional buses/minibuses from Hanoi that serve the Son Tay/Thạch Thất area, from which a short taxi or motorbike ride reaches the pagoda.

• Visit on a weekday morning to see the famous lacquered and painted wood sculptures with far fewer worshippers and tour groups than at weekends.
• Take the stone stair approach slowly and look for the smaller carved figures inside the temple halls-many visitors focus on the main statues and miss the detailed reliefs and lacquer work.
• Combine the pagoda visit with nearby rural roads rather than returning straight to Hanoi; the surrounding countryside and village temples give context to Tay Phuong's artistry.