Co Le Pagoda is located in Nam Dinh province, about 130km from Hanoi city’s center. It is said that Co Le Pagoda was built by Buddhist Monk Nguyen Minh Khong during the Ly dynasty (11th century).
Buddhist Monk Pham Quang Tuyen rebuilt the existing Co Le Pagoda in November 1920. In front of the pagoda is the 12-storey Cuu Pham Lien Hoa Tower built in 1926. The octagonal base of the tower sits on the back of a turtle facing the pagoda. In the tower, there is a huge staircase spiraling to the top of the tower. From the top, there is a panoramic view of the entire area.
A bridge leads to Phat Giao Hoi Quan, a Buddhist meeting place, built in 1936. In addition to this bridge, the main pagoda can be reached by two other bridges in the mountains. In the center of the pagoda is a large 9,000-kg bell molded in 1936. In the upper temple is the statue of Thich Ca Buddha; it is made of red lacquer trimmed with gold.
Several rare relics, such as a great red bell and bronze drums dating from the Ly dynasty, are kept in this pagoda.
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