VietNamNet Bridge – Many old temples and pagodas in Hanoi’s old quarter are being encroached by restaurants and tea shops. Some have become houses.

Vinh Tru pagoda

The Vinh Tru pagoda at 59 Hang Luoc Street has been recognized as a historical and cultural relic and a tourist destination. There is a signboard “Recognized relic, encroachment is banned” at the pagoda gate but the pagoda yard has become the grounds of restaurants and tea shops.

Phuong, a local resident, said this situation has existed for years but it no agency has solved it. “The pagoda is always untidy whenever we come here for praying,” she said.

The Thanh Ha temple in Ngo Gach street has become the house of a family. This family’s furniture cover up to one third of the temple’s area and they are several steps from the altar. At night, the temple’s yard and gates become restaurants. The space for worshipping is seriously violated.

Thanh Ha Temple

The Dong Thuan Temple in Hang Ca Street is also used by a family. At the gate of the temple, restaurants and tea shops are always crowded.

Located in Hang Khoai Street, Huyen Thien pagoda is one of the four most famous pagodas in Hanoi. The pagoda is special for its architecture and also because it worships both the Buddha and the Holy Mother.

However, its gate has been covered by advertising boards and a ceramic shop making it very difficult for visitors to identify it as the gate of a pagoda.

Mrs. Lan, who works as a cleaner at the pagoda, said that this situation has existed for several decades but it has not been solved.  The pagoda gate is only cleared during festivals.

Huyen Thien pagoda

The gate of Vong Tien Temple in Hang Bong street which worships the Buddha and the Holy Mother is now fully covered by restaurants. The road for visitors to get into the pagoda is big  enough for one person to pass.

Many other relics like Thai Cam pagoda in Hang Vai Street, Trang Lau Temple in Nguyen Huu Huan street, Phap Bao Tang in Hang Cot Street, etc. are also encroached.

The management board of Hanoi’s relics said that it is very difficult to solve the situation because the people who live in relics don’t have any place to go. They have been living in relics since the wartime resistances against the French and US. The local governments have to allocate land and houses for them to move.

Vinh Tru pagoda at 54 Hang Luoc street has become space for restaurants.

The pagoda gate is a tea shop.

The gate of Thanh Ha Temple, 10 Ngo Gach street, has become a motorbike cleaning site.

There is a restaurant in the temple yard.

The gate of Trang Lau temple, 77 Nguyen Huu Huan street, is surrounded by many restaurants.

The gate of Huyen Thien pagoda is surrounded by restaurants.

Visitors have to get into the Vong Tien temple, 120 Hang Bong street, through the small gate.

Dong Thuan temple, 11 Hang Ga Street, is surrounded by restaurants and motorbike taxi drivers. A family is living in the temple.

PV