Hidden in the green forest of Tra Khao hamlet, Hoa An commune, Vinh Long province (formerly Cau Ke district, Tra Vinh province), Sampor Rangsey Pagoda, also known as Sam Pua Pagoda, impresses with its traditional Khmer architecture. The pagoda is also associated with the mystery of a giant stone stele weighing about 500kg and an ancient character line located right under the main hall.
As one of the typical ancient Khmer pagodas, Sam Pua Pagoda bears a strong imprint of traditional architecture with curved tiled roofs, two-story roofs carved with the image of the god snake Naga - a sacred symbol of the Khmer people.
Right under the main hall, the giant stone stele becomes the highlight of this ancient pagoda. The stone slab is blue, large in size, nearly square in shape. The stone is nearly 2m long, 0.5m wide, about 0.9cm thick, and weighs an estimated 500kg. The two ends of the stele have 2 spurs, each spur about 0.10m long. Along the horizontal length of the stele is a line of ancient characters.
The pagoda is built on a land area of more than 11,000m2, has undergone 4 major renovations, but still retains the traditional architectural structure.
In 1980, the pagoda also discovered a clay Buddha statue about 60cm high, in ancient Khmer style. The statue was lacquered in gold and kept in a special room. Currently, the statue has been completely damaged, only photos are left to be preserved.
