300-year-old pagoda in northern Vietnam gutted in early morning fire

A fire early on Feb 10 reduced the front hall of the Ve Pagoda into ashes. - Photo: Vietnam News/ANN

BAC GIANG, (Vietnam): A devastating fire early on Monday (Feb 10) engulfed the Ve Pagoda, a 300-year-old pagoda in Tho Xuong Ward, the northern city of Bac Giang, reducing its front hall and rear sanctuary to ashes.

Firefighters and the local police department dispatched six fire trucks and 40 officers to battle the blaze, assisted by local security forces and residents. The fire was fully extinguished at 2am.