Keo Pagoda

The Keo bell tower against the sky · Nguyễn Hùng · Pexels License

A nearly 400-year-old pagoda with a stunning three-tier wooden bell tower, a masterpiece of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture.

Keo Pagoda, known by its literary name Than Quang Tu, is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved ancient pagodas in Vietnam, standing beside the gentle Red River. Built in 1632 during the Later Le period, the pagoda honors the Buddha and the Zen master Khong Lo, who is credited with curing the Ly king's illness. Its crowning glory is the three-tier wooden bell tower, nearly twelve meters tall, assembled entirely with mortise-and-tenon joints without a single nail, its roofs curving up like the wings of a bird about to take flight. The entire complex, with hundreds of symmetrically arranged ironwood structures, is a testament to the skill of artisans of old. The autumn Keo Pagoda Festival, with its unique traditional rites, always draws crowds of visitors from far and wide.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Keo Pagoda?

Ninth lunar month (festival season)

How long do you need at Keo Pagoda?

Half a day

What are the opening hours of Keo Pagoda?

07:00 - 18:00

Did you know

Its literary name is Than Quang Tu, built in 1632 during the Later Le period.
The three-tier wooden bell tower is built with mortise-and-tenon joints, without a single nail.
Honors the Zen master Khong Lo, who cured King Ly Than Tong's illness.
A special national relic, nearly 400 years old.

Travel tips

Come for the autumn Keo Pagoda Festival on the full moon of the ninth lunar month.
Look closely at the bell tower's structure to appreciate the skill of ancient woodworking.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keo_Temple

Updated: 2026-08-06