Xiem Can Pagoda

Xiem Can was founded in 1887 by the Khmer community of this part of the delta and is built in the Theravada manner they brought with them: a raised hall with steep tiered roofs, naga serpents running down the gable ends, garuda figures under the eaves, and painted panels of the Buddha's life inside - a completely different tradition from the Mahayana pagodas of the Vietnamese majority, and a reminder that the western delta was Khmer country before it was Vietnamese. Monks live and study at the pagoda. The Khmer new year in April and the Ok Om Bok festival are the main occasions here.

The main sights

• Khmer Theravada building - tiered roofs, nagas and garudas.
• Founded in 1887 - by the local Khmer community.
• Painted panels inside - scenes from the Buddha's life.
• A living monastery - with monks in residence and study.

When to go

November to April; the Khmer new year in April is the main festival. An hour.

Practical notes

It is a working monastery, and dress and behaviour matter more than at a tourist site. The visit is short. Bac Lieu is off the main routes. Heat is constant.

Nearby

Bac Lieu is west; the coast and its wind farm are east.