Hang Pagoda, also known as Kompong Chray Pagoda, is known for its Khmer Buddhist architecture and large population of wild birds that gather in the temple’s tree-covered grounds each year.
The pagoda, built in 1637, sits on a seven-hectare campus filled with old trees including tamarind, bamboo and indigenous hardwood species that provide shelter for the birds
According to monks at the pagoda, the birds recently returned after migrating for food earlier in the year and have begun nesting in large numbers on tamarind trees around the temple.
Temple managers said birds first began gathering at the pagoda shortly after it was built, but the flocks disappeared during the war years in the 1960s before gradually returning in the 1990s.
Residents and Buddhist followers said local communities had helped protect the birds for years, reporting cases of illegal hunting to authorities.
Residents and Buddhist followers said local communities had helped protect the birds for years, reporting cases of illegal hunting to authorities.
The flock often circles above the roof of the main hall but does not land on it.
Visitors stop to film the birds at Hang Pagoda.
Nguyen Minh Hung, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said hundreds of birds gathered at Hang Pagoda and appeared unusually tame, remaining calm even when visitors approached to take photographs.
A distinctive feature of Hang Pagoda is its cave-like entrance with arched roofs, an architectural design that inspired the pagoda’s popular name, which means Cave Pagoda.
The main gate of Hang Pagoda is narrow and mainly used by pedestrians and motorbikes, while cars access the pagoda through a side entrance.
In May 2025, Hang Pgoda was recognised as a provincial historical site by the former Tra Vinh Province's authorities.
