Banh Xeo Pagoda lures visitors
Banh Xeo (Pancake) Pagoda is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tinh Bien, a border area in the Mekong province of An Giang.
Nestled at the foot of Cau Mountain in Tinh Bien District, the pagoda was formerly called Phat Nam (Lying Buddha) Pagoda since it has a 6m-long statue of the Sakyamuni.
Now it has become even more impressive with a huge statue of the Bodhisattva on the left of the sanctum and a rock garden with murmuring streams.
The pagoda’s highlights include skillfully carved bass relief, calligraphy, and other patterns on walls and pillars.
It is also called Banh Xeo since pilgrims are served the pan cakes and also banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and fat pork) for free.
Every day around 40 cake makers gather at the pagoda to make meals for visitors. A restaurant inside can serve 300 guests at a time.-VNS