Saffron Chantarangsay

Driving home from District 3 along a concrete cast river bank,  my eyes caught a brilliant flash of saffron yellow.

With a little time on my hands I slowed down and drove cautiously in to what transpired to be the Chùa (temple) Chantarangsay.

Only small and certainly not grand compared to some, it just provided a quiet haven in the traffic soaked streets.

I met a monk who explained to me a little about the temple; That it has it’s roots in Cambodian.

Chantarangsay was founded when refugees came over during the Cambodian crisis.  They had a much larger compound until the adjacent river was re-routed.

My new friend’s family are from Cambodia and he is currently studying at university in Thailand.  His English was impeccable and it was a privilege to be with him for an hour and learn a little about the temple and the implications  of being a monk in Vietnam.

If you ever make to Saigon go and experience the colour and the quiet; donate by paying for your ‘free parking’.