Huyen, who lives in Bung Coc Hamlet, My Huong Commune, Can Tho, remains deeply devoted to Buddhism at 93.

Over more than a quarter-century, he has dedicated his time, labor and money to building an imposing tower complex, while collecting and creating thousands of Buddhist statues.

The tower stands within a worship area covering around 1,000 square meters, which includes a covered entrance, the main tower and a lotus pond.

Huyen has spent 26 years developing the complex, driven by his reverence for the Buddhas and deities of Khmer Theravada Buddhism.

“I began collecting and making Buddhist statues around 2000,” Huyen said. “As the number of statues grew, I started building the tower, and my family supported me. “Our family has seven hectares of rice fields, so we had some savings. My children had grown up and had stable jobs. I set aside some of the money I earned to build the tower.”

After nearly three decades, parts of the structure are beginning to show signs of age.

Despite his advanced years, Huyen continues to personally supervise repairs carried out by his children and grandchildren, as well as hired workers who repaint and reinforce different sections according to his original design.

Son Thi Nha, 49, Huyen’s daughter-in-law, guided reporters through the tower and said he had previously done almost everything himself, from constructing the sanctuary to building the house where the family lives.

In addition to the unusual complex, Huyen owns hundreds of books about Buddhism written in Khmer.

“Father did it all himself,” Nha said. “Only in the past few years, as his health has weakened, has he let his children and grandchildren help.”

Inside, the structure is arranged around three successive layers of doors.

Beyond the first is a curving passage that follows a square path around the tower. Each additional door reveals another space and a series of winding corridors leading visitors progressively deeper inside.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature is that Huyen made most of the statues himself.

Working with cement, he shaped each figure before adding colors and completing details including the eyes, lips, robes and bases.

The tower contains an extraordinary number of Buddhist statues. Thousands of figures, large and small, are estimated to be positioned throughout the structure.

According to Huyen, every statue has its own form, posture and meaning.

A succession of reliefs depicts stories from Buddhist scriptures. Beyond the statues and reliefs, Huyen has also covered interior walls with Buddhist scriptures written in Khmer, creating a deeply personal place of worship.

The tower’s roof is decorated with intricate motifs and patterns. Many statues are adorned with mirrors, symbolizing the idea of a “mind as clear as a mirror.”

From its base to its highest point, the tower stands around 20 meters tall.

The entrance is equally striking, dominated by brick-red and gold tones. Its columns feature carved Buddhist figures, giving the space a distinctly Khmer cultural identity.

At 93, Huyen remains mentally alert and largely independent in his daily life, rarely requiring assistance from his children or grandchildren.

For him, building the tower, creating statues and preserving Buddhist scriptures are expressions of faith and reverence for Buddhism.

Huyen said his Buddhist faith has also given him the motivation to remain healthy and overcome illness.

His family story is unusual as well. Huyen had four wives during his lifetime, three of whom were widows when he married them.

According to Nha, Huyen’s children live nearby so they can care for their father.

Although the family includes 19 siblings, Nha said they live harmoniously and have supported Huyen’s passion for creating Buddhist statues, including contributing financially so he can continue the work that has occupied more than a quarter-century of his life.

Tao Dat