The mystery of the thousand-year-old stupa in the remote border region of Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) – On the upper reaches of the Nam Non River, in Yen Hoa village, My Ly (Ky Son), where the Vietnam – Laos border meets, there is a thousand-year-old ancient tower. This ancient tower, in addition to its beautiful architecture and sophisticated sculptures, also contains many mysteries…

To reach the thousand-year-old stupa at the headwaters of the Nam Non River, from Vinh City, go to Muong Xen Town, Ky Son District, then continue the journey about 50 km to Xieng Tam Village, the center of My Ly border commune. Xieng Tam Village is located on a high hill, with the Nam Non River winding around it, and is home to a large number of Thai ethnic people.

Walking for about five minutes to the middle of Yen Hoa village, you will see an ancient tower with a high pointed top, next to an ancient Bodhi tree.

The tower bears many traces of time and human encroachment. This stupa was built with baked bricks. The adhesive, according to experts, was mortar mixed with lime and molasses.

The tower's most impressive feature is its surfaces, which are intricately carved and sculpted in mortar.

A stucco sculpture on the tower's body remains intact.

On the tower floors, there are several Buddha statues sitting on embossed lotus platforms.

These Buddha statues, wearing hats, hands clasped before their chests, have a leisurely demeanor.

According to the people of Yen Hoa village, the stupa was vandalized by some bad guys and had its sacrificial objects stolen, but it is still very sacred. Because the stupa is in disrepair, the people have set up an altar next to it.

On the altar, there is a large bronze Buddha statue and two other small bronze Buddha statues.

The large bronze sitting Buddha statue was newly purchased by a kind person and is imbued with the Theravada Buddhist tradition of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Two small statues, about 13 cm high, are two ancient Buddha statues of the stupa that people still preserve and protect.

The appearance of the two ancient Buddha statues has many differences.

According to the elders of Yen Hoa village, the stupa was built around 1008. According to a specialist researcher who has been here to study, this is probably the work of the Theravada sect that migrated from Thailand through Laos to Vietnam in the 7th century. Meanwhile, in Ky Son district and the agencies specializing in museum preservation, there are no complete research documents about this stupa. Therefore, the ancient Yen Hoa stupa still has many mysteries that have not been discovered.

My Ly - Ky Son, also known as "the beautiful border area". Here, the landscapes are charming, one after another like ink paintings, the people are open to visitors from all over. And with the winding Nam Non River, and the thousand-year-old ancient Yen Hoa tower... My Ly is truly an ideal destination for discovery journeys.

Nhat Lan - Dao Tuan