PHAT TICH PAGODA (BUDDHA TRACE PAGODA, TEN THOUSAND HAPPINESS PAGODA)

BUILT IN 1057 AND NAMED VAN PHUC TU (TEN THOUSAND HAPPINESS)
THE STONE TOWER - 42M - HIGHEST TOWER IN VIETNAM DURING THE LY DYNASTY (11TH CENTURY). LATER WHEN THE TOWER IS COLLAPSED (DONT KNOW WHEN BUT AFTER 17TH CENTURY), LOCAL PEOPLE FOUND THE STONE BUDDHA STATUES COVER BY GOLD, THE PAGODA WAS NAMED BUDDHA TRACE SINCE THEN.
DURING THE LY DYNASTY (11TH - 13TH CENTURY), THE PAGODA WAS A NATIONAL PAGODA AND HAS OVER 100 TEMPLES
DURING THE TRAN DYNASTY (13TH - 15 CENTURY), THE KING BUILT A BIG LIBRARY AND BAO HOA RESIDENCE HERE (PRECIOUS FLOWER RESIDENCE). THE PAGODA WAS ONCE TIME TO HOLD A NATIONAL EXAM OF VIETNAM DURING THE TRAN DYNASTY.
DURING THE LE DYNASTY (16TH - 17TH CENTURY), THE PAGODA WAS RESTORED AND REBUILT IN 1686 BY QUEEN TRAN NGOC AM (WIFE OF LORD TRINH) WHEN SHE CAME TO PRACTICE BUDDHIST HERE. AT THAT TIME, VIETNAM IS CONTROLED BY THE KING AND THE LORD. THE PAGODA WAS ONCE TIME HOLD VERY BIG ROYAL BANQUETS (1740 - 1786).
IN 19TH CENTURY, THE PAGODA WAS DAMAGED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR
THE PAGODA WAS DESTROYED BY FRENCH ARMY IN 1947. ALL THE WOODEN PART WAS BURNED, THE STONE PART STILL LEFT.
IN 1959, 1986, 1991, 2008, THE PAGODA IS RESTORED WITH THE ARCHITECTURE OF 16, 17TH CENTURY
FEW IMAGES FROM 1937, FEW YEARS BEFORE THE PAGODA WAS DESTROYED

THE MAIN OUTER GATE

THE MAIN INNER GATE

10 STONE ANIMAL STATUES (5 PAIRS) FROM 1057

MAIN TEMPLE

A BRICK TOWER IS REBUILT INSTEAD OF A 42 M STONE TOWER IN 11TH CENTURY, BUT ALL THE DECORATION WAS LOST SO THEY BUILT A BRICK TOWER WITH NO DECORATION