Bat Pagoda (Soc Trang)
A Khmer Buddhist pagoda in Soc Trang famous for the colony of giant fruit bats roosting in its garden trees, alongside distinctive Khmer temple architecture.
Overview
Bat Pagoda (Chua Doi), officially Mahatup Pagoda — the name means "blessing of good virtue" in Khmer — is one of the oldest and most intact Khmer Buddhist temples in the Mekong Delta, with a history of around 450 years. It sits 3 km southeast of Soc Trang city and has been recognised as a national architectural relic by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture since 1999.
The pagoda complex follows Khmer temple conventions: a vivid yellow main hall dominates the entrance, its four-cornered tiled roof curved upward and engraved with Naga snake figures. Sub-gates are flanked by five-headed serpents. Kemnar statues — figures with palms pressed together in greeting — line the pillars of the corridor around the main hall. Inside, a stone Buddha sits on a 2-metre lotus throne beside a second statue of the Buddha carried by the snake deity Muchalinda. Curved interior walls depict the lifecycle of the Buddha from birth through enlightenment to Nirvana. The pagoda also preserves sutras written on palmyra leaves and ceremonial objects central to Khmer Buddhist practice.
The pagoda's common name comes from the large colony of giant fruit bats that roost in the ancient trees of the courtyard. Each bat weighs roughly 1.5 kg and has a wingspan of around 1.5 metres. During the day they hang upside-down from the branches, visible from the ground. At dusk they leave in large numbers to feed and return before dawn. The bats do not eat the fruit growing within the pagoda grounds despite living among fruit trees — a detail that locals consider auspicious. Why the bats inhabit this particular pagoda and no other in the province remains unexplained.
The pagoda is an active place of worship for the local Khmer community and also hosts traditional festivals. The courtyard has several stupas, a stilt house for resident monks, and stalls where Khmer vendors sell local produce and crafts. Entry is free.
Get There
Bat Pagoda is 3 km southeast of Soc Trang city centre. By motorbike or car, follow the road south from the city — the pagoda is well-signposted. The ride from the centre takes around 10 minutes.
Soc Trang is roughly 60 km south of Can Tho. From Can Tho, take QL1A south to Soc Trang — about 75 minutes by car or bus. From Ho Chi Minh City, Soc Trang is around 230 km (4–4.5 hours by car via QL1A). Buses from Mien Tay bus station in Ho Chi Minh City run to Soc Trang several times daily.
Bat Pagoda is commonly combined with two other Khmer temples in Soc Trang on a half-day circuit: Clay Pagoda (Dat Set Pagoda) and Khleang Pagoda, all within a few kilometres of each other.
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Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon. The bats are most visible roosting during the day, but late afternoon — from around 5 PM — is when they begin leaving in groups, which gives the best aerial views. Avoid midday if possible: the heat in the exposed courtyard is intense from about 10 AM to 3 PM.
Dress: Shoulders and knees should be covered to enter the main hall. Sarongs are available to borrow at the entrance if needed.
Festivals: The pagoda is the centre of Soc Trang's Khmer cultural calendar. The Ok Om Bok festival (November, lunar calendar) and the Chol Chnam Thmay Khmer New Year (April) are celebrated here with the local Khmer community.
Nearby: Clay Pagoda (Chua Dat Set), 2 km away, is built entirely from unbaked clay and contains clay statues of unusual scale — a worthwhile stop on the same half-day trip.
