Fodor's Expert Review Van Thanh Mieu Pagoda

About 5 km (3 miles) from the Vinh Long Market, this large Chinese Confucian temple was built in the mid-19th century. It's decorated with multicolor dragons and statues of Confucius, which is odd because the monks here practice Buddhism. Added to the original structure is a different style of hall built in honor of a local fighter against colonialism, Phan Tanh Gian, who committed suicide in the 1930s rather than submit to French rule. Often the locals refer to the temple by his name rather than its official title. Although the temple has opening hours posted on the gate, it's often inexplicably closed.