A collection of 18 Buddhist arhats carved directly into a cave wall nearly 800 years ago in Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam, has been recognized as a National Treasure.
The carvings are the only known collection in Vietnam depicting 18 Buddhist arhats carved directly into a natural rock face.
For almost eight centuries, the 18 arhat figures have remained on the rock walls of Lien Hoa Cave within Phong Phu Pagoda in Tay Hoa Lu Ward.
Despite centuries of exposure to time and natural conditions, most of the carvings remain relatively well preserved.
The collection was created during the Tran Dynasty, a period when Buddhism flourished in Dai Viet, the historical name of the Vietnamese state at the time.
What makes the work particularly distinctive is that the figures were carved directly into natural rock, a form of cliff and cave inscription art known in Vietnam as ma nhai.
It is the only known collection in Vietnam depicting 18 Buddhist arhats carved into a natural rock face.
The 18 arhat rock carvings inside Lien Hoa Cave at Phong Phu Pagoda in Tay Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province.
The carvings are also believed to be the earliest surviving works of their kind and subject matter known in the country.
Beyond their artistic significance, the carvings provide valuable material for research into the history of Vietnamese art, Buddhism and religious life during the Tran Dynasty.
In February 2026, Vietnam’s Prime Minister officially recognized the 18 arhat rock carvings at Lien Hoa Cave, Phong Phu Pagoda, as a National Treasure in the country’s 14th round of designations.
On Sept. 13, Tay Hoa Lu Ward held a ceremony to announce the decision and receive the National Treasure recognition certificate.
Following the ceremony, the certificate was ceremonially brought to Phong Phu Pagoda.
A representative of Vietnam’s Department of Cultural Heritage presents the National Treasure recognition certificate to Tay Hoa Lu Ward.
Nguyen Quoc Hung, chairman of the Tay Hoa Lu Ward People’s Committee, said the National Treasure designation recognized the heritage site’s exceptional value while bringing both honor and responsibility to the local community to preserve it for future generations.
Tay Hoa Lu authorities plan to work with specialized agencies to protect the treasure in accordance with regulations, expand research, digitize documentation and use the heritage to educate younger generations about local history and culture.
The locality also plans to develop appropriate and sustainable cultural and spiritual tourism products around the site.
Phong Phu Pagoda sits at the foot of Co Phong Mountain and houses Lien Hoa Cave, where the 18 arhat figures were carved directly into natural rock during the Tran Dynasty, around the 13th century.
Phong Phu Pagoda at the foot of Co Phong Mountain houses the nearly 800-year-old carvings of 18 Buddhist arhats.
The site is being connected with heritage attractions within the Trang An Landscape Complex, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the history, culture and religious traditions of the ancient Hoa Lu capital region.
Ninh Binh now has 22 officially recognized National Treasures.
After nearly eight centuries, the carvings remain relatively intact, providing rare physical evidence of Buddhism, visual arts and religious life in Dai Viet during the Tran Dynasty.
The collection embodies historical, cultural, religious, artistic and documentary values while also reflecting the preservation efforts of generations of local residents.
Vietnamnet.vn
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