Situated in Tức Mặc village in the suburbs of Nam Định, Phổ Minh Pagoda was built in 1305 under the Lý dynasty, and expanded in 1262 under the Trần dynasty in accordance with the architectural style which resembled the Chinese character 三 (three). It features three rows of buildings - the main sanctuary (nhà chính điện or nhà thượng điện), the 'incense-burning hall' (nhà thiêu hương) and the 'ancestor-worshipping house' (nhà tiền đường) - located parallel to each other. Next to the pagoda is water pavilion and a lotus pond surrounded by trees; in front is a massive bronze tripod and inside 96 large lotus sculptures and many squirrel and dragon sculptures. The pagoda complex includes a 13-storey, 21-metre high lotus tower, the base and first floor of which were constructed using flagstones and the upper floors with bricks.