Chua Dat Set: The Clay Pagoda in Soc Trang That Took 42 Years to Build

What it is

Chua Dat Set — literally "Clay Pagoda" — is a Khmer-influenced Buddhist temple in Soc Trang city where nearly every statue, candle tower, and decorative element was hand-sculpted from clay. One family, the Ngo family, built it over 42 years across two generations, finishing in the early 1970s. The temple sits on Ton Duc Thang street in Soc Trang's Ward 5, about 60 km southeast of Can Tho.

The place isn't large. It occupies a modest plot behind a residential street. But inside, the density of sculptural work is unlike anything else in the Mekong Delta (메콩 델타 / 湄公河三角洲 / メコンデルタ) — or anywhere in Vietnam, really. Over 10,000 clay figures fill the interior: Buddhas, dragons, guardian lions, lotus towers, and a pair of massive candle towers that weigh roughly 200 kg each and supposedly burn for decades.

Why travelers go

Most people visit Chua Dat Set because it's genuinely strange. This isn't a polished, state-funded temple complex. It's a family obsession made physical — folk art on a monumental scale. The clay work is intricate but imperfect, which makes it more compelling than the gilded temples you see everywhere else.

Photographers come for the textures. The dim interior, lit mostly by candles and whatever daylight filters through the door, creates moody contrast against the matte clay surfaces. Cultural travelers come because it represents a Khmer-Vietnamese artistic tradition that's fading fast in the Delta.

It pairs well with a broader Soc Trang day trip from Can Tho (껀터 / 芹苴 / カントー), alongside the Khmer Museum and Chua Doi (the bat pagoda where fruit bats hang from the trees during daylight hours).

Best time to visit

The temple is open daily, roughly 7:00–11:00 and 13:30–17:00. Mornings before 9:00 are quieter. The interior gets warm by midday since there's no air conditioning and limited ventilation.

Season-wise, the dry months (December–April) are more comfortable for the drive from Can Tho. During Tet or Khmer festivals like Ok Om Bok (usually November), Soc Trang gets livelier — more food stalls, more activity around the temples — though Chua Dat Set itself stays quiet year-round.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

How to get there

From Can Tho

The most common route: take National Road 1A south toward Soc Trang. The drive is about 60 km, roughly 1.5 hours by motorbike or 1 hour by car. Buses from Can Tho's central bus station (Ben Xe Khach Can Tho) run to Soc Trang every 30–45 minutes; tickets cost around 50,000–70,000 VND.

Once in Soc Trang city, the pagoda is at 286 Ton Duc Thang, Ward 5 — about 2 km from the bus station. A xe om (motorbike taxi) from the station costs 15,000–20,000 VND, or you can use Grab if signal cooperates.

From Saigon

Soc Trang is roughly 230 km from Saigon. Direct buses from Mien Tay bus station take 4–5 hours (around 150,000–180,000 VND). Most travelers combine it with a Can Tho visit instead of doing a standalone trip from Saigon.

What to do

Inside the temple: Move slowly. The clay work rewards close looking — tiny figures within figures, layered scenes from Buddhist scripture, and the famous multi-tiered candle towers. The largest tower has over 200 dragons coiled around it. Look for the clay recreation of the Parinirvana (reclining Buddha) at the back.

Ask the caretaker: The family still maintains the temple. If someone's around (usually an older woman), they'll sometimes explain the history in Vietnamese. Even without shared language, they'll point out highlights. Small donation appreciated — 20,000–50,000 VND in the donation box is appropriate.

Combine with other Soc Trang sites:

• Chua Doi (Bat Pagoda) — 3 km away, worth 30 minutes
• Buu Son Tu (the Khmer pagoda with elaborate paint work)
• Soc Trang's central market for Khmer desserts and "banh pia" (flaky pastries with durian or mung bean filling)

Where to eat

Soc Trang has solid Khmer-influenced food that you won't easily find in Can Tho:

• Bun nuoc leo — the signature dish. A pork-and-fish broth soup with rice noodles, banana blossom, and fermented fish paste. Try the stalls along Hai Ba Trung street near the market. A bowl runs 25,000–35,000 VND.
• Banh cong — deep-fried mung bean and shrimp fritters, crispy outside, soft inside. Street vendors near the central market sell them for 5,000 VND each.
• [Com tam](/posts/com-tam-saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン)-broken-rice) with grilled pork is available everywhere if you want something familiar.

For coffee, Soc Trang has a handful of modern cafes along Tran Hung Dao street, but the old-school filtered vietnamese coffee at market stalls is better and costs 12,000–15,000 VND.

Photo by Ty Nguyễn on Pexels

Where to stay

Most travelers base in Can Tho and day-trip to Soc Trang. Can Tho has far more accommodation options — from 200,000 VND guesthouses near Ninh Kieu Wharf to mid-range hotels around 600,000–900,000 VND.

If you want to stay in Soc Trang itself (useful if arriving late or combining with an early-morning floating market run), Khanh Hung Hotel on Tran Hung Dao is clean and central at around 300,000–400,000 VND/night. Don't expect luxury.

Practical tips

• Dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees covered — it's an active place of worship.
• No flash photography. The clay is fragile and decades old. Natural light only.
• Bring cash. No card payments anywhere in the area. ATMs are available in Soc Trang city center.
• Combine strategically. Chua Dat Set alone takes 30–45 minutes. Pair it with Chua Doi and the market to fill a half-day from Can Tho.

Common mistakes

Rushing through. People walk in, see it's one room, take photos, and leave in 10 minutes. The details are the point — give it at least 30 minutes of slow looking.

Skipping Soc Trang food. Travelers who eat lunch in Can Tho before driving out miss bun nuoc leo entirely. Eat in Soc Trang instead.

Going midday. The interior is stuffy and dark. Morning light through the entrance actually helps you see the sculptures. By noon the heat makes lingering uncomfortable.

Expecting a grand complex. This is a small family temple on a residential street. If you expect Bai Dinh-scale grandeur, you'll be confused. Adjust expectations — the appeal is intimacy and craft, not scale.