Wat
Chùa Xẻo Cạn
Chùa Xẻo Cạn (Chùa Sirivansa) is a Khmer Theravada Buddhist Wat in Vĩnh Hòa commune, An Giang province, Vietnam, recognized as a provincial historical relic.[1]
History
The Wat was built in 1962 where a canal meets the Xẻo Cạn creek, in an area with many Khmer families, at the edge of the U Minh Thượng forest. The party committee of the former Rạch Giá province and its Khmer affairs board had it built, both as a place of worship for the Khmer community and as a base for the resistance. The first Wat was made of wood and leaves. Bombing in 1964 to 1967 badly damaged it, and in 1967 it was rebuilt larger in brick and cement as the base of the Patriotic Monks' Solidarity Association of Rạch Giá province. Until 1975 its monks and lay followers carried messages, spread leaflets and gave rice and money to the resistance.[1]
After 1975 the Wat was repaired and enlarged. In 1984 a new main hall was built and its sima (consecrated boundary) was established for the first time. The main hall and grounds were last renovated in 2019.[1]
Architecture
The buildings follow the style of Khmer Theravada Wats, painted a bright gold among green trees. The grounds hold the main hall, a sala (meeting hall), two buildings of monks' quarters and the office of the abbots.[1]
Religious life
As of 2025, the Wat was a center of religious and cultural life for the Khmer Buddhists of the area. At Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmey), Sen Dolta and other festivals it holds performances and games for young people.[1] In September 2025, Đại đức (Venerable) Danh Hoàng Nan was deputy abbot.[1] In October 2025, the abbot, Thượng tọa (Venerable) Danh Nâng, vice chair of the provincial Patriotic Monks' Solidarity Association, preached at the Kathina festival of Chùa Sóc Xoài.[2]