Wat
Chùa Rạch Giồng
Chùa Rạch Giồng (Chùa Serymengcol) is a Khmer Theravada Buddhist Wat in Đường Đào hamlet, Hồ Thị Kỷ commune, Cà Mau province, Vietnam.[1]
History
Hòa thượng (Most Venerable) Danh Khoanh founded the Wat in 1788. It moved three times before settling at its present site, and 18 generations of abbots have led it. During the wars against France and the United States it served as a base for the resistance: from 1947 it hosted the local party cell of Đường Đào hamlet, and its monks and lay followers sheltered resistance members.[1]
On June 9, 2021, the chair of the Cà Mau provincial people's committee recognized Chùa Rạch Giồng as a provincial relic (Decision 1099/QĐ-UBND).[1]
Architecture
The grounds cover about 3 ha (7.4 acres), with a triple gate, the main hall, a sala (meeting hall), monks' quarters, stupas for ashes and a school. The main hall is built of reinforced concrete and faces east. Its curved roofs end in dragon heads, figures of the Key Nor (bird-maiden) and the krud (Garuda, a bird deity) support the eaves, and a seven-headed naga (serpent) winds along the edge of the veranda. Murals inside tell the life of the Buddha. The Wat keeps palm-leaf manuscripts (satra), a Buddha image carved from a single block of stone, instruments of the traditional five-tone ensemble and a ngo racing boat.[1]
Religious life
Each year the Wat holds the Kathina robe offering, Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmey) in April, Sen Dolta, the festival for ancestors, and Ok Om Bok, the moon festival, as well as Vesak. It also runs yearly classes in Khmer script, Pali and Buddhist teaching for young people.[1]
On the morning of October 12, 2025, the Wat held its Kathina festival, at which lay followers offered robes and other requisites to the monks. A miniature ngo boat race was held the day before, and the Wat gathered 150 gifts of rice and cash for families in need.[2] On April 11, 2026, provincial leaders and the provincial police brought Khmer New Year gifts to the Wat.[3]