Thay Pagoda

Thay Pagoda (Chùa Thầy) is a historic Buddhist temple complex in Quốc Oai District, on the outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam, with origins in the 11th century. It is closely associated with the monk Từ Đạo Hạnh and remains an active pilgrimage site.

The complex comprises a riverside temple, a multi-story pagoda and carved rock features set into the hillside; visitors come for architecture, religious statuary and seasonal festivals. An annual festival draws local pilgrims and traditional performances, and the site is accessible by road from Hanoi.

Thay Pagoda developed over centuries as a religious and cultural center, with its present layout reflecting repairs and additions across different dynastic periods. Rituals, offerings and the festival calendar have preserved the site as a living shrine rather than a static monument.

The pagoda sits on a low mountain slope in Quốc Oai, about 30 kilometers west of central Hanoi, surrounded by rural farmland and river valleys and reached by local roads.

• Founding and association: The temple complex is associated with the 11th-century Buddhist monk Từ Đạo Hạnh and retains a prominent role in local religious life and festivals.
• Location: The complex lies in Quốc Oai District, roughly 30 kilometers west of central Hanoi, and combines a riverside pagoda with carved rock formations and courtyard spaces.