Construction of the Lien Hoa tower, believed to be the largest in Vietnam, at a cost of VND12 billion has started at a pagoda in My Tho City in the southern province of Tien Giang.
The 40m tower will be built to a hexagonal design and have 10 storeys, including the ground floor.
The administrative council of Truong Sanh pagoda said that the ground floor will be reserved for laying out the coffins of both Buddhists and poor workers before they are buried. The ninth storey will be for worshipping the Xa Loi Buddha and other related religious activities, it said.
The building is expected to be completed by 2010.