Ngọc Am Pagoda

About

Tùng Lâm–Ngọc Am is a familiar temple for residents of the Yên Bái area beside the Red River. Locals also affectionately call it Am Pagoda. It is both a place of Buddhist worship and a venue for Buddhist and community activities.

Visitor information

Founded

A long-established temple of the Yên Bái area; designated a provincial heritage site in 2007.

Visiting hours

Please ask the temple about visiting hours and its daily practice schedule before coming.

Fees

Please follow the guidance and posted prices at the destination; services provided outside the temple may be charged separately.

Address

Đường Thanh Niên, khu vực phường Hồng Hà, thành phố Yên Bái cũ, nay thuộc tỉnh Lào Cai.

Highlights

• ✓Both the popular name Am Pagoda and the religious name Tùng Lâm are preserved.
• ✓Buddhist worship associated with communities along the Red River.
• ✓A venue for commemorations of the Buddhist king Trần Nhân Tông and other Buddhist activities.

History and origins

Yên Bái Newspaper materials describe the temple as occupying a long-established site west of Yên Bái village, formerly within Bách Lẫm canton. It was recognised as a provincial historical and artistic architectural heritage site in 2007. Available materials do not establish a single founding year, so this page introduces it through the milestones that have been cross-checked.

Architecture & surroundings

The present space serves worship and collective activities. Restorations in different periods mean its appearance may differ from older photographs. During a visit, quietly observe the Buddha hall, courtyards and decorative details without disrupting the practice schedule.

Cultural value

The temple maintains the relationship between Yên Bái residents and Buddhist life. Shared worship, remembrance of predecessors and contributions to restoration express community continuity, beyond the value of the building alone.

Events & festivals

Yên Bái Newspaper records spring visits to the temple and a major commemoration of the Buddhist king Trần Nhân Tông on 1/12/2024. Please ask the temple about forthcoming programmes; do not assume past events will recur on the same Gregorian date as in the previous year.