Mia Pagoda, officially Sung Nghiem pagoda, is the Buddhist pagoda of Duong Lam and holds 287 statues: 6 of bronze, 107 of wood and 174 of clay, most of them lacquered red and gold. It is one of the largest collections of statues in any pagoda in northern Vietnam.
It takes about twenty to thirty minutes, is covered by the village ticket, and is at its best in the soft light of the morning.
Know which statues matter
Your guide picks out the few worth knowing by name, so the hall becomes more than a crowd of faces.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursSee the tour →Why it is called Mia
Mia is the old name of the hamlet where the pagoda stands. The pagoda was rebuilt in the 17th century with the patronage of a local woman who became a consort of one of the Trinh lords; she is still worshipped here, and the pagoda keeps the hamlet’s name.
What to look for inside
| Statue group | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The Buddhas of the three ages | The central altar: past, present and future |
| The eighteen arhats | Individual faces carved with humour and character |
| The guardians at the entrance | Large, fierce clay figures protecting the hall |
| The shrine of the patron lady | Where villagers still bring offerings |
The clay statues are made on frames of wood and earth and then lacquered, which is why they have lasted centuries in a humid climate.
See Mia Pagoda on a quiet morning
Our half day reaches the pagoda before most day-trippers.
Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →Visiting respectfully
Cover shoulders and knees, take hats off inside, and do not point your feet at the altars if you sit. Photography is usually allowed without flash. It is part of every visit covered by the story of the two kings and the rest of our Duong Lam visitor guide.
Questions people ask
How many statues are in Mia Pagoda?
287: six bronze, 107 wooden and 174 clay statues.
Is there an entrance fee for Mia Pagoda?
It is covered by the Duong Lam village ticket; donations are optional.
What should I wear?
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, as in any Vietnamese pagoda.
Let the statues tell their stories
Private guide and car, every ticket inside one price, free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursfrom$45/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$165BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$175BOOK →4 guests$180BOOK →See the full tour page →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursfrom$93/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$275BOOK →2 guests$305BOOK →3 guests$340BOOK →4 guests$370BOOK →See the full tour page →Statue counts from Vietnamese heritage records, checked September 2026.