Interior Of Small Buddhist Temple In Hoi An, Vietnam Dedicated To Easing The Pain Of Agent Orange Stock Image

Pictured is a the interior of a small Buddhist temple in Hoi An, Vietnam. Oute a small sign on the top step says `chung tay xoa dịu nỗi đau da cam` which translates to English, `Joining hands to ease the pain of Agent Orange`. Agent Orange was a herbicide used by the United States to destroy foliage that might conceal Viet Cong. Among the Vietnamese, exposure to Agent Orange is conered to be the cause of an abnormally high incidence of miscarriages, skin diseases, cancers, birth defects, and congenital malformations dating from the 1970s. The small dragons on the roof are the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment and clarity. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A picture of a male Guardian Lion with his paw on a sphere that represents the earth is on the floor in front of the altar.