Xiem Can Pagoda

Xiem Can Pagoda is a Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda located in Vinh Trach Dong Commune, Bac Lieu City, Ca Mau Province, about 7 km southeast of Bac Lieu city center. Built in 1887 on a 50,000 sqm campus, it is one of the largest and most ornate Khmer pagodas in the Mekong Delta. Notable for its vibrant Khmer architecture, gilded main hall, and rich sculptural decoration, it serves as a major religious and cultural center for the local Khmer community.

Visitors can expect a large, colorful Khmer pagoda complex set among gardens and open courtyards. The central main hall (chanh dien) features a multi-tiered roof, gilded carvings, and vivid murals depicting the life of the Buddha. Surrounding structures include stupas, statues of Buddha in various postures, Naga balustrades, and Khmer decorative motifs. The grounds are spacious and tranquil, suitable for walking, photography, and observing religious activities. Monks may be present and visitors can explore the exterior and interior of the main hall when ceremonies are not in progress.

Xiem Can Pagoda was constructed in 1887 by the local Khmer community led by Thạch Dương and Danh Thị Wốt on a large plot of land in Vinh Trach Dong. Built in the traditional Khmer Theravada style, it has been restored and expanded over more than a century and remains one of the most representative Khmer pagodas in Bac Lieu, reflecting the long-standing settlement and heritage of Khmer people in the southern Mekong Delta.

The pagoda is a major Theravada Buddhist religious site and cultural center for the Khmer community in Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. It serves as a place of worship, education, and community gathering, and hosts traditional Khmer festivals and ceremonies. Its architecture, sculpture, and murals showcase distinctive Khmer artistic traditions and Buddhist iconography preserved in southern Vietnam.