Menu
Destinations→Locations→Blog→Map→About→
pagoda · cultural · heritage · nature

Bat Pagoda

Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi) in Sóc Trăng is a Khmer Buddhist temple over 400 years old where thousands of large fruit bats roost in the ancient trees year-round - an extraordinary and unexpected combination of active religious site and wildlife spectacle, best seen with time for both the architecture and the dusk bat departure.

Thousands of BatsKhmer PagodaPhotographyAncient Trees
Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
Year-round; morning (around 7-9 AM) gives softer light and a cooler, less crowded visit for appreciating the architecture, while late afternoon into dusk (roughly 16:00-18:00) is when the bats stir and eventually depart in a mass exodus - worth timing around whichever matters more to you, or allow enough time for both. Oct - Apr generally has the most comfortable weather
Entry Fee
Entry is generally free (a donation box is available for those who wish to contribute); parking arrangements can vary, so it's worth checking current options on arrival
Opening Hours
Open daily
Address
Mã Tộc, Châu Thành, Sóc Trăng

Things to Know

Crowds
Some local reports describe a smaller bat population than in past years, though numbers still visibly fill the canopy on most visits
Seasonal
Bats are visible hanging in the trees through the day; from late afternoon they grow more active, departing to feed as dusk approaches

About This Place

What Makes Bat Pagoda Special

Bat Pagoda (Chùa Dơi, also known as Chùa Mã Tộc, formally Mahatup Pagoda) is a Khmer Buddhist temple in Châu Thành district of Sóc Trăng province, recognised as a National Artistic Relic in 1999. Records trace its founding to 1569, making it over 450 years old - it began as a simple bamboo-and-thatch structure and was gradually rebuilt in brick and tile through community donations, then substantially renovated in 1960 with the Khmer-style architectural details seen today. The original main hall burned down entirely in 2008; it was rebuilt with the support of donors and local government and reopened by April 2009, which is part of why some of the temple's construction looks newer than its centuries-old history might suggest. The temple complex is home to a resident colony of thousands of large fruit bats (flying foxes), among the larger bat species found in Vietnam, that roost year-round in the ancient trees of the pagoda compound. The bats are considered sacred by the temple community, and local belief holds they've never once damaged the temple's own fruit trees, and always fly around rather than through the main hall. During the day they hang in dense clusters in the tree canopy; from around 6 PM they depart to feed for the night, returning by around 5 AM. A formal tourism zone was established here in 2013, adding parking, restaurants, and electric carts alongside the existing temple.

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. Motorbike rental in Sóc Trăng city runs around 100,000-150,000 VND/day if you want to explore independently. The pagoda is clearly signposted from the city center and accessible by motorbike taxi. Parking inside the temple grounds has generally been free, though it's worth checking current arrangements on arrival rather than assuming, and being aware that attendants across the street sometimes charge for parking that may not be necessary.

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, though they're often still and don't perform for visitors on cue, so a bit of luck plays a role in how good the daytime viewing is on any given visit. During daylight hours the temple has its normal religious atmosphere, with intricately carved and painted decoration characteristic of significant Khmer temples in the Mekong Delta - the tiled roof curves up at each corner into carved Naga serpent forms, columns around the main hall are each carved with a Kemnar celestial dancer in a prayerful pose, and inside sits a monolithic stone Shakyamuni Buddha on a lotus throne around 2m tall, alongside a finely carved statue of the Buddha seated on the serpent king Muchalinda. In a corner of the grounds, small graves marked with painted pig images hold the temple's five-toed pigs - according to Khmer belief, five-toed piglets (unlike the three toes of an ordinary pig) carry a human spirit, and families who have one born fear it brings misfortune, so they bring the piglet to the monks to be cared for here, in the hope it will absorb the sutras and be reborn human; visitors sometimes light incense at the graves for good luck. From late afternoon the bats begin to stir, and toward 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. Budget 2-3 hours to see the main hall, grounds, the five-toed pig cemetery, and the bats properly.

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 special effort to witness. Rather than treating the dusk departure as the only reason to come, consider splitting your visit: architecture and grounds in the cooler, softer light of the morning, then a return trip (or a full afternoon stay) for the bat departure at dusk. Sóc Trăng province has the largest Khmer Krom population in Vietnam and the highest density of Khmer temples outside Cambodia - if you're 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 motorbike inside the temple grounds, which is free; some attendants across the street charge for parking that isn't necessary
Morning hours give better light and fewer crowds for photographing the architecture and the resting bats; late afternoon into dusk is for the departure spectacle
Some visitors have noted litter and occasional beggars in the areas away from the main hall - not universal, but worth being aware of
For the dusk departure, arrive by 17:30 - thousands of bats leave the roost in waves over 20-30 minutes and the spectacle is genuinely impressive at scale. For a calmer look at the architecture and grounds, mornings (around 7-9 AM) offer softer light and fewer crowds - if you have time, doing both makes for the fullest visit
Large fruit bats (flying foxes) roost here, typically weighing 0.5-1kg each, hanging upside down in the canopy during the day and visible from the ground. They're considered sacred by the temple community, and local belief holds they've never damaged the temple's own fruit trees and always fly around, rather than through, the main hall
The bats are famously tame and approachable, but they can carry pathogens like any wild animal - admire them from a reasonable distance rather than trying to touch or get very close, and avoid flash photography, which disturbs them
Traditional Khmer costume rental is available near the pagoda for photos - typically 150,000-250,000 VND depending on the outfit
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
Parking inside the temple grounds has generally been free, though arrangements can vary - it's worth checking on arrival rather than assuming, and being aware that attendants across the street sometimes charge for parking that may not be necessary
The temple compound has some of the oldest trees in Sóc Trăng province, and also holds a cemetery for five-toed pigs, a well-known local legend and curiosity worth asking about while you're there
Two Khmer festivals are held at the pagoda: Lễ Dolta (ancestor worship, roughly late August to early September on the lunar calendar) and Lễ hội Ok Om Bok (moon worship/thanksgiving, the 15th day of the 10th lunar month) - either is a good reason to time a visit around if the cultural dimension interests you
Elderly musicians sometimes play pinpeat, traditional Khmer ensemble music, near the pagoda entrance - a tip is generally appreciated if you stop to listen. There are occasionally beggars along the entrance road as well
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?›
Bats hang in the trees through the day, though they're often still rather than 'performing.' From late afternoon into dusk (roughly 16:00-18:00) they grow more active and eventually depart en masse to feed - the more dramatic spectacle, if your timing allows it.
Is there an entrance fee?›
Entry is generally free, though a donation box is available. Parking inside the temple grounds has generally been free too, but arrangements can vary - it's worth checking on arrival rather than paying at lots across the street by default.
How big are the bats here?›
They're large fruit bats (flying foxes), noticeably bigger than the bats most visitors are used to seeing in cities. They feed on fruit and flowers.
How old is the pagoda?›
Records trace its founding to 1569, making it over 450 years old, though the current buildings reflect many rounds of rebuilding since - most recently a full reconstruction of the main hall after a 2008 fire, completed by 2009. It was recognised as a National Artistic Relic in 1999.