Chùa Phổ Lại

Chùa Phổ Lại
Pho Lai Pagoda
View of Pho Lai Pagoda seen from above
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism in Vietnam
SectMahayana
LeadershipAbbot: Thích Trung Hiếu
Location
LocationPhong Thái Ward, Huế City, Vietnam
Country Vietnam
Interactive map of Chùa Phổ Lại
Coordinates16°31′28″N 107°23′18″E / 16.5244°N 107.3884°E / 16.5244; 107.3884
Architecture
TypeVietnamese Buddhist temple
FounderThích Trung Hiếu
Established2016
Groundbreaking28 August 2016

Chùa Phổ Lại (Pho Lai Pagoda) is a monastic institution of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Phong Thái Ward,[a] Huế City, Vietnam. The pagoda is active in religious and community activities. It also has cultural and charitable programs in the midland region of Huế.[1][2][3]

Location

The pagoda is located nearly 28 km northwest of the center of Huế City. It lies on a high land, perched on the hill, facing a lake, surrounded by melaleuca forests and rice paddies.[4]

History

The site originated as Pho Lai Buddhist Worship Hall (Niệm Phật đường Phổ Lại), set up in 2016.[b][5] That same year, the Board of Trustees invited monk Thích Trung Hiếu to take charge of its construction and development. On May 2, 2024, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Huế province officially appointed venerable Thích Trung Hiếu as the abbot of the pagoda (Decision No. 106/QD-BTS).[6][1]

Architecture

The main structures consist of the Main Hall (this started on August 28, 2016) the monks’ Quarters, a Buddha statue and a bell weighing about 500 kg. From 2022 to 2025, there were some additions which were made such as the main gate, the flood protection wall, a two-storey meditation hall, a guest house, a lotus pond, a monolithic stone statue of Quan Âm about 5 meters tall, and the “Tịnh Tâm Hill” landscape area designed for exhibitions and meditation.[4][6]

Religious activities

The pagoda holds mindfulness retreats, Vesak Day, Vu Lan festival ceremony, and Buddhist doctrine classes. The Great Quan Âm ceremony (Đại Lễ Quan Âm) is held annually in the middle of the 6th lunar month and it features a lot of activities, including cultural performances, exhibitions of paintings, calligraphy, handicrafts. The pagoda offers vegetarian buffets, floating lantern releases, ceremonial offerings, talk shows, and charity programs. In 2025, the festival took place from July 5–6, the pagoda awarded 25 scholarships.[2][1]

Social work

The pagoda's activities include awarding scholarships and giving gifts to households. It also holds events such as the Tết celebration of Pho Lai which gives Mid-Autumn gifts, International Children's Day celebrations, and programs to support people affected by flooding in Vietnam's central regions.[7][8] During the year 2020 Central Vietnam floods, the total support announced was over 464 million VND. Additionally, the pagoda has installed 25 solar-powered light poles in the local area, organized traditional medicine check-ups, and provided supports for repairing houses for families in difficult.[6][4]

Notes

  1. ^ Previously part of Phong Son Commune, it was reorganized into a new administrative ward on July, 1st, 2025, according to Resolution 1675/NQ-UBTVQH15.
  2. ^ It was recorded in the 2016 land-use plan of Phong Dien District (Decision No. 518/QD-UBND, Appendix 6).

References

  1. ^ a b c BBT (2025-08-03). "Chùa Phổ Lại: Hành trình kiến lập mái chùa giữa đại ngàn" [Pho Lai Pagoda: The journey of establishing a temple in the great forest]. Cộng đồng 54 Dân tộc Việt Nam (Community of 54 Vietnamese Ethnic Groups) (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2025-08-28. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  2. ^ a b PV (2025-09-17). "Chùa Phổ Lại và đại lễ gắn kết cộng đồng vùng trung du" [Pho Lai Pagoda and the grand ceremony connecting the midland community]. Phatgiao.org.vn (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  3. ^ Hoang Dung (2025-08-03). "Đại đức Thích Trung Hiếu và hành trình biến chùa Phổ Lại thành điểm tựa của lòng từ bi" [Venerable Thich Trung Hieu and his journey to make Pho Lai Pagoda a sanctuary of compassion]. Văn hoá Giải Trí (Entertainment Culture) (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2025-08-28. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  4. ^ a b c Phuong Linh (2025-10-05). "Chốn về bình yên giữa miền trung du Huế" [A peaceful retreat in Hue’s midland region]. Báo Thế giới và Việt Nam (The World & Vietnam Report - Press Agency of Vietnam MOFA) (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2025-10-05. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  5. ^ "Quyết định 518/QĐ-UBND phê duyệt kế hoạch sử dụng đất năm 2016 huyện Phong Điền (Phụ lục 6 liệt kê "Niệm Phật đường Phổ Lại")" [Decision 518/QD-UBND approving the 2016 land-use plan of Phong Dien District (Appendix 6 lists “Pho Lai Buddhist Worship Hall”)] (PDF). Sở Xây dựng Thành phố Huế (Hue City Department of Construction) (in Vietnamese). Uỷ ban nhân dân tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế (Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee). 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  6. ^ a b c Binh Minh (2024-04-24). "Về chùa Phổ Lại và Thương…" [Visiting Pho Lai Pagoda and “Thuong”…]. Phatgiao.org.vn (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 2025-08-28. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  7. ^ "Bản tin An Viên 28/10/2025: Khẩn cấp - các tự viện tại Huế, Đà Nẵng ảnh hưởng nặng nề do mưa bão" [An Vien News 28 October 2025: Emergency - Monasteries in Huế and Đà Nẵng heavily affected by storms]. YouTube (in Vietnamese). An Vien TV (Bchannel - BTV9). 2025-10-28. Retrieved 2025-10-30. Segment covering flood-relief at Pho Lai Pagoda (from 7:58-9:04)
  8. ^ Le, Huy (2025-10-28). "Đội cứu hộ vượt lũ, khách sạn ở Huế mở cửa đón dân: 'Cứu thêm một người là thêm một hy vọng'" [Rescue teams brave floods; hotels in Huế open doors for residents: ‘Saving one more person means one more hope’]. Tuổi Trẻ Online (in Vietnamese). Tuổi Trẻ. Archived from the original on 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2025-11-04. Nước lũ tại Huế dâng cao, chùa Phổ Lại mở cửa 24/24 giờ đón người dân lên trú lũ miễn phí, ưu tiên trẻ em, người già, phụ nữ mang thai và người bệnh; thiền đường hai tầng được bố trí làm nơi nghỉ tập thể với điện, nước sạch, tủ y tế và lương thực cơ bản, đồng thời trang bị xuồng và áo phao để hỗ trợ bà con (Floodwaters in Huế rose rapidly, and Phổ Lại Pagoda opened its doors 24/7 to provide free shelter for residents, prioritizing children, the elderly, pregnant women, and the sick. The two-story meditation hall was arranged as a communal refuge equipped with electricity, drinking water, a first-aid cabinet, and basic food supplies. The pagoda also prepared boats and life jackets to support local people during the flooding).
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