The 5 Best Khmer Pagodas in Sóc Trăng, Ranked (Visit Before Ok Om Bok 2026)

Sóc Trăng is the heart of Khmer culture in the Mekong Delta. Sóc Trăng has dozens of Khmer Theravada pagodas (Vietnam News counts 99), and the area is now part of Cần Thơ City after the July 2025 mergers. The pagodas are not just tourist stops. They are the centre of village life, schools for young monks and the stage for the year's biggest Khmer festival.

That festival is Ok Om Bok, the moon-worship festival held around the full moon of the 10th lunar month. Cần Thơ's 2026 programme, reported by Báo SGGP on 16 October 2026, lists an opening ceremony on 22 November at Bạch Đằng Square, with ghe Ngo long-boat racing, moon-worship rites and a Khmer dù kê theatre festival. Dates and venues can shift, so check locally. We ranked the pagodas on how distinctive the architecture is, history and heritage status, what a visitor can actually see, and how easy it is to reach.

Quick picks

Rank	Pagoda	Best for	Price
1	Chén Kiểu (Sà Lôn)	Mosaic of broken crockery	Free (donations welcome)
2	Kh'leang	Oldest pagoda, heritage feel	Free (donations welcome)
3	Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi, Mahatup)	Bats and old trees	Free (donations welcome)
4	Som Rong	63-metre reclining Buddha	Free (donations welcome)
5	Sung Đinh (Pam Buôl Thmây)	The "White Pagoda"	Free (donations welcome)

1. Chén Kiểu (Sà Lôn) Pagoda

• Address: Highway 1A, Đại Tâm area, in the former Mỹ Xuyên District (about 12 km from Sóc Trăng town centre), now part of Cần Thơ City
• Hours: No official hours published. Visit in daylight.
• Price: No entry fee reported; donations are customary.

Chén Kiểu means "bowl and plate" pagoda, and the name is literal. Walls, pillars and towers are covered in pieces of broken crockery arranged into colourful patterns. According to Báo Pháp Luật and Báo Văn Hóa, the monks asked local people to donate bowls and plates when other decoration materials were scarce after the war years. The pagoda dates from 1815 and was rebuilt in 1969. The main hall, sala, stupa and scripture room are all inside the compound. Reports also mention carved figures of Hanuman, a hawk goddess and lion statues.

Why it ranks #1: Nowhere else in the delta looks like this, and it is the pagoda most worth photographing. Downside: It sits on the highway outside town, so you need your own transport or a hired car.

2. Kh'leang Pagoda

• Address: Tôn Đức Thắng Street, central Sóc Trăng (sources give the number as 6 or 53)
• Hours: No official hours published. Visit in daylight.
• Price: No entry fee reported; donations are customary.

Kh'leang is usually described as the oldest Khmer pagoda in the province, founded in 1533 according to Wikipedia and Vietnamese travel sources. The Ministry of Culture recognised it as a national heritage site on 27 April 1990. The grounds cover about 3.5 hectares of shady trees. The main hall has 12 pillars and a 6.8-metre seated Buddha placed in 1916. Garuda (Krud) and Yeak guardian figures decorate the building, and six stupas hold the remains of monks and lay people.

Why it ranks #2: It has the deepest history and the calmest, most traditional atmosphere in town. Downside: It is plainer than the newer, colourful pagodas, and little signage is in English.

3. Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi, Mahatup)

• Address: 418 Văn Ngọc Chính, Phú Lợi Ward, Cần Thơ City (formerly Ward 3, Sóc Trăng), about 2 km from the town centre
• Hours: No official hours published. Visit in daylight.
• Price: Free, according to Mytour; donations welcome.

Founded in 1569 and recognised as a national monument in 1999, Bat Pagoda is the best-known stop in Sóc Trăng. Its full name is Wathserâytêchô Mahatup. The grounds are planted with old fruit trees where large fruit bats roost during the day. VnExpress reports that the bats leave at dusk to feed and come back around 3–4am. It also notes that their numbers are much lower than the "hundreds of thousands" recalled from decades ago, so do not expect a huge colony. The architecture includes naga serpents and pointed roof towers.

Why it ranks #3: It is easy to reach and combines architecture, trees and wildlife. Downside: It is the most visited pagoda, and bat numbers are lower than the legend suggests.

4. Som Rong Pagoda

• Address: 367 Tôn Đức Thắng, Sóc Trăng (formerly Ward 5)
• Hours: Open all day, according to travel listings.
• Price: No entry fee reported; donations are customary.

Som Rong was first built in 1785 and covers about 5 hectares. Its headline feature is a giant reclining Buddha. Báo Văn Hóa and travel sites give its size as 63 metres long, 22.5 metres high and about 490 tonnes, which makes it one of the largest reclining Buddhas in Vietnam. Construction started in 2017. The grounds also hold the main hall, sala and a library of more than 1,500 books. Local guides suggest 7:00–9:00am or 4:00–6:00pm for cooler weather.

Why it ranks #4: The statue is huge and easy to find. Downside: The statue and new buildings are recent, so it feels less historic than Kh'leang or Bat Pagoda.

5. Sung Đinh (Pam Buôl Thmây) Pagoda

• Address: Khóm 5, former Ward 4, Sóc Trăng (now part of Cần Thơ City)
• Hours: About 8:00am–6:00pm, according to one travel listing. Hours vary.
• Price: Free, according to the same listing.

Built in 1964, this pagoda is also known as Chùa Ngã Tư and Chùa Cột Đèn, and is called the "White Pagoda" of Sóc Trăng. Báo Văn Hóa describes recent monk quarters and an assembly hall in a Thai-influenced style, mostly white with gold detail, while keeping Khmer features.

Why it ranks #5: It looks very different from the older pagodas and is in town. Downside: It has the shortest history of the five, and the newest buildings take attention from the older ones.

Practical tips

• Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and take off shoes before entering any hall.
• Do not point your feet at Buddha statues or touch monks. Ask before photographing people.
• A day loop works: Kh'leang, Bat Pagoda and Som Rong are in or near town, and Chén Kiểu is about 12 km out along Highway 1A.
• Entry is free at all five, but small donations are normal.
• For Ok Om Bok, book a Cần Thơ or Sóc Trăng stay early and check the official programme for race and ceremony dates.

FAQ

When is Ok Om Bok in 2026? Cần Thơ's programme lists the opening for 22 November 2026 near the full moon of the 10th lunar month. Ghe Ngo races are part of it, but check the final schedule as venues are still being set.

Is Sóc Trăng still a province? No. Since July 2025 it has been merged into Cần Thơ City, though people still call the area Sóc Trăng.

How long do I need? One full day covers all five if you have a motorbike or car. Half a day covers the three in town.

Last updated: October 2026. Cover photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.