Reviving the thousand-year-old heritage at Yan Tower.
To Nhu Phong / Technical: Hong Toai•November 4, 2025 12:29
In the heart of Hong Long (formerly Nam Dan), beside the tranquil Lam River, stands a ruin steeped in 13-century legend – the place where the first light of Buddhism was kindled in Nghe Tinh. Locals respectfully call it Nhan Thap Pagoda.
To Nhu Phong/ Technique:Hong Toai - 04/11/2025
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In the heart of Hong Long (formerly Nam Dan), beside the tranquil Lam River, stands a ruin steeped in 13-century legend – the place where the first light of Buddhism was kindled in Nghe Tinh. Locals respectfully call it Nhan Thap Pagoda.
One autumn morning, with mist still lingering over the fields, the small road leading to Nhan Thap village welcomed a cool breeze from the Lam River. The remnants of the ancient temple were now just old brick foundations, stained with moss. But standing there, one could still feel the sacredness, as if something was silently telling stories of a thousand years. Kundar Kumar, an Indian Hindu tourist, was eager to set foot in this land.
Indian tourist Kundar Kumar visits Nhan Thap to learn more about the traces of cultural exchange between India and Vietnam. Photo: Duy Khanh
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"I come from the land of Buddhism, and I heard that relics of the Buddha were found here, so I was very eager to come and pay my respects. I believe that this place has a special connection between two cultures – Vietnamese and Indian."
Mr. Kundar Kumar - Indian tourist
From the story of a traveler, we see that Yan Tower is not just an archaeological ruin, but also a spiritual meeting place for people who share the same faith and cultural roots.
Back in 1985, the Hong Long area unexpectedly "awakened" when Vietnamese archaeologists began excavating the foundation of an ancient temple. Beneath a layer of soil less than 1 meter thick, a treasure trove of artifacts gradually emerged: more than 300 bricks and tiles bearing unique patterns, and ancient architectural features never before seen.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Hong - a history researcher - still vividly remembers the emotional feeling he had the first time he discovered the foundation of that strange tower:"We found more than 30 different types of bricks. What's remarkable is that the bricks fit together tightly, without any binder, yet remain sturdy after thousands of years. This construction method demonstrates the very high level of technical skill of the ancient people."
Buddhist motifs on an ancient 7th-century brick – a sign of the early presence of Buddhism in Nghe Tinh province. Photo: Nhu Phong
And then, amidst the ancient bricks, a brick inscribed with the words "Trinh Quan 6th year" – that is, 627 AD – served as a time marker, opening a door to the past. From this, researchers determined that the Yan Pagoda was built in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty, nearly 1,400 years ago – one of the earliest Buddhist structures in Vietnam.
But what surprised scientists the most was the reliquary containing the Buddha's relics found inside the pagoda.
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This is the first tower in Vietnam to contain a reliquary for the Buddha's relics.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Hong
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Hong during the process of comparing and analyzing artifacts from the foundation of the ancient Nhan Thap tower. Photo: Nhu Phong.A reliquary containing Buddhist relics was discovered inside a pagoda – a unique artifact of Vietnamese archaeology. Photo: Nhu Phong
Since that discovery, the Yan Pagoda is no longer just an ordinary ruin. In 2017, the box containing the Buddha's relics was recognized by the Prime Minister as a National Treasure – a unique artifact with exceptional historical, cultural, and spiritual value.
Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Head of the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, emotionally stated: “This is a heritage not only of Vietnamese Buddhism but of humanity. In many other countries, similar relics have disappeared, but Vietnam – especially Nghe An – has preserved the relics and the intact relic box. That is something extremely sacred.”
Venerable Thich Tho Lac – a person who has devoted much effort to researching and proposing solutions for preserving the value of the Nhan Thap historical site. Photo: Thanh Trung.
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"This is a heritage not only of Vietnamese Buddhism but of humanity. In many other countries, similar relics have disappeared, but Vietnam – especially Nghe An – has preserved the relics and the reliquary box intact. That is something extremely sacred."
Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Head of the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association
Currently, this treasure is preserved at the Nghe An Museum under strict storage conditions. Ms. Hoang Thi Minh, head of the Collection and Preservation Department, shared:“The relic box is kept in a special safe, accessible only through multiple layers of iron doors. Temperature and humidity are constantly controlled to ensure the absolute safety of the treasure.”
These bricks, tiles, and relic boxes are not only evidence of history, but also a connecting thread between the past and the present, between people today and their ancestors thousands of years ago.
In Nhan Thap village, the people still cherish the hope of seeing the ancient temple revived. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lien, a resident who has spent her entire life on this land, her hair now gray, said with emotion:"I only hope the temple can be rebuilt as soon as possible, so that the Buddha's relics can return to where they belong."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, also a resident of the former Hong Long area, shared:"Our ancestors recounted that this place contained Buddha relics. Everyone hopes that the Yan Tower Pagoda will be restored soon so that people can have a place to worship and fulfill their long-held wish."
That aspiration was also heard by the local authorities. Mr. Le Trung Hoa, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kim Lien commune, said:“Restoring the Yan Tower is a shared aspiration of the people. However, funding is a major challenge. The local authorities are ready to support the plan.”
Meanwhile, representing the Vietnam Buddhist Association, Venerable Thich Tho Lac affirmed his determination:"If entrusted with the task of restoring the pagoda, we will organize a scientific workshop and conduct thorough research to restore the Yan Pagoda in the true spirit of the Tang Dynasty – preserving its ancient value while making it a cultural and spiritual tourism highlight of Nghe An."
The Nhan Thap Pagoda – though only its foundation remains – stands as a silent witness to the flow of Vietnamese Buddhism. The presence of Buddha relics here confirms that Buddhism took root very early in the Nghe Tinh region – a place where religion and life intertwine, and where people's hearts are inclined towards goodness.
The ruins of Nhan Thap Tower by the tranquil Lam River – a place hoped to one day be restored and become a cultural and spiritual destination in Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Trung
Kundar Kumar believes:"When the Wild Goose Pagoda is restored, there will certainly be many tourists from India and other countries coming to visit. Not only to venerate the relics, but also to learn about the history of cultural exchange between the two nations."
The people of Hong Long silently perform rituals beside the old tower foundation – a place that preserves the beliefs and memories of a sacred monument. Photo: Thanh ThaoMonks perform rituals at the base of the stupa, showing respect for the ancient Buddhist heritage. Photo: Nhu Phong
And perhaps, the most sacred thing lies not only in the treasure gradually awakening from the earth, but also in the enduring faith of the people of Nghe An. That faith embodies the aspiration to restore the heritage, so that one day, not far off, the temple bells will once again ring out by the Lam River, extending the historical and spiritual lifeline of this land.
Some brick and tile artifacts from Nhan Thap are being preserved and studied at the Nghe An Museum; the unique stepped bricklaying technique at Nhan Thap – using no binder but remaining durable for over 13 centuries. Photo: Duy Khanh
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