Thủ Dầu Một: Lacquer Art, Pagodas and History

Thủ Dầu Một brings together several distinct cultural themes: traditional lacquer craftsmanship, religious architecture, historic sites and modern design. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay in the city, your interests can help guide your plans: are you especially interested in handicrafts, religious art or history? The sites differ in their dates, functions and architectural features. This makes it possible to explore the destination by theme without treating pagodas, monuments and a large tourism complex as if they were the same kind of attraction.

A long tradition of lacquer craftsmanship

At the traditional lacquer craft village of Tương Bình Hiệp, visitors can observe the individual stages of lacquer production. This craft has a history of origin and development spanning nearly 300 years and is listed as recognized national intangible cultural heritage. The focus is therefore on both the production process itself and the craft’s long tradition. The experience for visitors is especially hands-on: you can learn about the individual stages of lacquer production, while the nearly 300-year history provides a historical context for the craft.

Pagodas and religious art

Hội Khánh Pagoda was built in 1741 and recognized as a national historical and cultural monument on January 7, 1993. It sits at the foot of a hill beneath four dipterocarp trees that are several hundred years old. In 2007, a seven-story tower, 27 meters high, was added. The main hall contains nearly 100 gilded wooden statues, including Arhats and depictions of the Ten Courts of Hell. The pagoda also preserves numerous objects of historical, cultural, religious and art-historical value: woodblock prints, writings, scrolls, documents, poems, and works on geography and traditional medicine. Its architectural history, tower, statues and written materials offer different ways to explore the pagoda.

Chùa Bà is located at 4 Nguyễn Du Street and was moved to its present site in 1925. It is a religious site associated with Chinese beliefs. Among those worshipped there are Thiên Hậu Thánh mẫu, the Mothers of the Five Elements, and the married couple Bổn Đầu Công. Chùa Tây Tạng is a rare pagoda designed in the style of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism. One of its distinctive features is a statue of Bodhidharma braided from the hair of thousands of worshippers. The two pagodas thus represent different religious traditions and forms of artistic expression.

Historic sites and buildings

Phú Lợi Prison is located on 1 tháng 12 Street in Phú Lợi Ward. It is a national revolutionary historical monument and was placed under protection on July 10, 1980. As an educational site, it welcomes visitors and student groups to learn about patriotic traditions and Vietnam’s wartime history. The old house of Trần Văn Hổ is at 18 Bạch Đằng Street in Phú Cường Ward. It was built in 1890 and completed in 1893. The two sites differ in focus: the house highlights the building’s history, while the prison provides an opportunity to learn about revolutionary history.

Modern architecture is also part of Thủ Dầu Một’s appeal. Phú Cường Cathedral is located at 104 Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street and features a striking modern Gothic design. Gió and Nước Café follows a different architectural concept: it combines wind energy with the cooling effect of water and was built using nearly 7,000 bamboo poles as its construction material. The café has received numerous awards from Vietnamese and international architectural associations. The two sites illustrate the difference between a named architectural style and a concept based on materials and design ideas.

The Đại Nam tourism complex

The Đại Nam tourism complex in Hiệp An Ward covers about 476 hectares and includes, among other things, temple complexes, fortifications and castles, mountains, hotels, lakes and an amusement area. Its approximate size puts it on a different scale from individual pagodas, monuments and houses. If Đại Nam is part of your plans, check current visitor access before your visit, as operating conditions may vary.

Discover more destinations: Bến Cát Town, Thuận An.

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