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Bat Pagoda

Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi) in Sóc Trăng is a 400-year-old Khmer Buddhist temple where tens of thousands of large fruit bats roost in the ancient trees year-round - an extraordinary and unexpected combination of active religious site and wildlife spectacle.

🦇 Thousands of Bats🛕 Khmer Pagoda📸 Photography🌳 Ancient Trees
🧭 Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Year-round; bats most active at dusk (around 17:30 - 18:30); Oct – Apr for comfortable weather
Entry Fee
🎟️ Free
Opening Hours
🕐 Open daily; bat activity peaks at dawn and dusk
Address
📌 Mã Tộc, Châu Thành, Sóc Trăng

Things to Know

👥Crowds
Bat population has decreased over time according to local reports; fewer bats present on some visits
🌤️Seasonal
Best time to see bats is 8 AM to 4 PM; bats fly out after 4 PM to search for food
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Bat Pagoda Special

Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi, formally Mahatup Pagoda) is a Khmer Buddhist temple in Châu Thành district of Sóc Trăng province, dating to approximately the early 17th century. The temple complex is home to a resident colony of tens of thousands of large fox bats (dơi quạ) - Lyle's flying foxes with wingspans of up to 1.5 meters - that roost year-round in the ancient trees of the pagoda compound. The bats are considered sacred by the temple community and have lived undisturbed in the compound for as long as the pagoda has existed. During the day they hang in dense clusters in the tree canopy; at dusk they depart in a mass exodus that takes 20-30 minutes and fills the sky above the temple. The pagoda itself is a significant example of Khmer Buddhist architecture, with intricate carved decoration and a resident community of monks.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Bat Pagoda is approximately 2km from Sóc Trăng city center in Châu Thành district. From the city center by motorbike the journey takes about 10 minutes. Sóc Trăng city is approximately 230km from Ho Chi Minh City via the Mekong Delta expressway - about 3.5 - 4 hours. From Cần Thơ, the distance is about 62km - roughly 1.5 hours. Buses run from HCMC to Sóc Trăng regularly. The pagoda is clearly signposted from the city center and accessible by motorbike taxi.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

The pagoda compound is large and shaded by ancient trees whose canopy is visibly occupied by roosting bats even in the middle of the day - dark shapes hanging in the branches at every angle. During daylight hours the bats are quiet and the temple has its normal religious atmosphere. From late afternoon the bats begin to stir, and at dusk they depart in a sustained wave - the sound of thousands of large wings and the sight of the darkening sky filling with bat silhouettes is one of the more extraordinary natural performances in the delta. The pagoda interior has the ornate carved and painted decoration characteristic of significant Khmer temples in the Mekong Delta.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Bat Pagoda is on almost every Sóc Trăng day-trip itinerary because it combines two compelling things in one location - a genuinely significant piece of Khmer Buddhist heritage and a wildlife spectacle that requires no effort to witness. The dusk departure is the highlight and worth timing the visit around. Sóc Trăng province has the largest Khmer Krom population in Vietnam and the highest density of Khmer temples outside Cambodia - if mày is in the lower delta and interested in Khmer culture, Sóc Trăng with Bat Pagoda, Đất Sét Pagoda, and the city's Khmer market covers the cultural dimension thoroughly.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Park your motorcycle inside the temple grounds for free; ignore parking attendants across the street charging 7,000 VND
Visit in morning hours (8 AM-4 PM) for best bat viewing; look in trees on right backquarter and behind central hall
Backyard area has cleanliness issues and trash; be aware of beggars and loud traditional music playing
Arrive at 17:30 - 18:00 to watch the bats leave the roost at dusk - tens of thousands depart in waves over 20-30 minutes and the spectacle is genuinely impressive at scale
The bats are fox bats (dơi quạ) - large fruit bats with wingspans up to 1.5m that hang upside down in the canopy during the day and are visible from the ground. They are sacred to the temple community and completely undisturbed
The pagoda is an active Khmer Buddhist temple with monks in residence - dress conservatively, remove shoes at the main hall entrance, and be respectful of the religious function of the site
The temple compound has some of the oldest trees in Sóc Trăng province - the combination of 400-year-old architecture and old-growth tree canopy heavy with roosting bats creates an atmosphere that is difficult to describe accurately
Sóc Trăng city is the base - Ba Om Lake and Khmer temples in Trà Vinh make a logical multi-day Khmer Krom cultural circuit in the lower delta

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

When is the best time to see the bats?›
8 AM to 4 PM. After 4 PM, bats fly out of the compound to search for food at dusk.
Is there an entrance fee?›
No, entry is completely free. However, avoid paid parking lots across the street; park inside the temple grounds instead.
How big are the bats here?›
They are unusually large compared to city bats—comparable to eagle size. They are fruit bats and eat only fruit.