How to get to the mountain on your own. Reclining Buddha in Vietnam - a short tour of two unique places

One fine day of many weekends we went to the oldest lighthouse in Vietnam. The road to the lighthouse is probably the most pleasant of those I have ridden on a moped. From Mui Do not drive about 30 km along a winding road along the sea with good surface and surrounding greenery. By the way, we saw how the dragon’s heart fruit grows :) A breathtaking sight. Small dragons graze on lawns and when they reach a certain age, their hearts are torn out 🙂 Actually, no 😉 Small bushes the size of a man, similar to aloe branches. Entire plantations stretch along the road to the Ke Ga lighthouse.

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Not far from the mainland, on the island of Ke Ga, stands a lighthouse that is the oldest and tallest in the country. Ke Ga Island is also popularly called Honba, its area is 5 hectares, its entire territory is covered with many yellow marble blocks of various sizes and shapes, centuries-old plants grow here.

According to information received from the caretakers of the Mui Ne attraction, in the last years of the 19th century, Ke Ga Island was the most important outpost on the sea route from Phangrang to Vung Tau. It was in this place that ships crashed for various reasons; often they could not determine their position and location coordinates.

To ensure the safety of movement of French military and merchant ships different countries In this area, the French studied the area and built the Ke Ga lighthouse on the island. Its construction lasted 2 years, ended in 1899, and it was put into operation in 1900.

The building's design was drawn up by an architect from France. The total height of the tower is 35 meters, it stands on a hill, so the total height of the building together with the height of the hill is 65 meters. The masonry of the building was carried out according to precise calculations; each stone has a certain size in accordance with its location in the building. All this greatly facilitated the work of the builders, who simply needed to install the stone in a predetermined place and strengthen it with a layer of mortar.

A special lamp was used to construct the spotlight; its range of action is 22 nautical miles, which is equivalent to 40 kilometers. Inside the tower there is a steel spiral staircase, the total number of steps in which is 183. All building materials, including the lamp, generator and staircase, were brought directly from France.

At the foot of the Vietnamese landmark lies a concrete road, which was built during the times of the French colonialists; centenary frangipani trees grow along its sides; they were planted at the same time as the construction of the lighthouse. They keep the memory of those distant times, they grow well, and in the summer they are covered with many flowers that emit a wonderful aroma.

A wide variety of non-regular vessels ply from the shore to the island. different prices ticket. But we didn’t swim to the lighthouse, because such structures are beautiful from afar

The lighthouse itself somehow did not particularly impress us. Maybe it was our blurred gaze that played a role? Or high expectations? Or an atypical looking gray lighthouse? Who knows... But the people around were impressive. Fishermen trying to catch something from the sea with nets and Vietnamese riding bikes along the beach.

Near the lighthouse there is a cafe where we were served the strongest coffee of my life. Black as pitch, it just didn’t want to go down my throat. We tried diluting it with condensed milk. But this practically didn’t even change the color, but it corrected the taste and the coffee was destroyed :)

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The height of the mountain is 694 meters, and the temperature at the top is several degrees lower than at the foot, although you are unlikely to feel it. You can climb to the top by cable car, and for lovers hiking The idea of ​​climbing on foot through a real wild jungle might be interesting. But keep in mind that the climb will be very labor-intensive and time-consuming. It will take at least 3 hours, even if you are in good physical shape.
The mountain itself seems to include several attractions at once: natural landscapes and wild jungle, cable car, Linh Son Trong Pagoda and the largest reclining Buddha statue (49 meters long) in Vietnam. It was thanks to the pagoda and the Buddha statue that the cable car appeared here, and it is intended not so much for tourists as for local residents. The fact is that among Buddhist believers this place is considered sacred and pilgrimages are made here. There is a restaurant at the top near the pagoda. Those who wish can spend the night in the hostel (guesthouse) upstairs.
At the foot of the mountain, where the climb and the cable car begin, a whole complex is organized. There is a guarded parking lot, many souvenir shops, a beautiful garden, and even has its own public transport– small electric vehicles that carry visitors from the entrance to the territory to the cable car station.
The cable car ride offers picturesque views of the surrounding area. The path to the top takes no more than 10 minutes. It's at the top where all the fun is. There is a whole complex of temples, pagodas and statues here, and construction continues today. After visiting the pagodas, you must definitely climb even higher, where on the mountainside there is a large statue of a reclining Buddha, 49 meters long, hidden by tree trunks. It is so huge that it does not even fit into the lens of most cameras, so you will only have to photograph it from the side.

Yes, the Vietnamese didn’t think about the length of the statue :) With a wide angle, only Orestes’ Go Pro captured the great man :) But even then it came out round. So it didn't work out very well. I only had to take a picture of Buddha’s feet :)

The place is extremely touristy. Despite statements about pilgrimage. It feels like everything was built here yesterday. Everything shimmers with fresh beauty and white paint.

The cable car, or rather the cabins themselves, were brought from Switzerland. The cable car is pleasant and quite long. Our Ai-Petrinskaya is nervously smoking on the sidelines :)

And the views are interesting. There are plains and small hills all around, and you are on a mountain almost 700 meters high.

While we were climbing to the statue of the reclining Buddha, we saw an interesting tree that looked like a Christmas tree. If only we could have something like this New Year🙂 I don’t know what it’s called, but it looks cool:

Maybe you know? Write in the comments if you know :) Linh Son Trong Pagoda returns to the roots. Makes you think about the eternal. But not for long. Perhaps it’s all tourists, like us, who charged this place with an incomprehensible energy. And they continue to charge. But the spiritual bonds did not strengthen here.

But nevertheless, if you are in Vietnam, be sure to visit here. Moreover, it’s not far from Phan Thiet. It is better to go up to Buddha by cable car for 120,000. Entrance ticket costs 20,000. But an electric car for 10,000 is not worth buying. It's better to take a walk. There is something to see there 😉

Hello, dear readers.

Buddhism in Vietnam originated in the 1st–3rd centuries AD, and the first Buddhist schools appeared in the second half of the 6th century. From the beginning of the XI to the middle of the XIV centuries. This philosophical and religious movement began to flourish.

Then there is a gradual decline until the 80s of the 20th century. Despite such a complex historical path, Buddhism in Vietnam has left a noticeable mark, both in literature and in architecture - in the form of pagodas, columns and sculptures. Today we will talk about two statues of the reclining Buddha, which are located in the Vietnamese cities of Vung Tau and Phan Thiet (Phan Thiet).

Now, among the many religions preached in Vietnam, Buddhism occupies an honorable first place. Many Buddhist attractions, popular among the local population and tourists, appeared only in the 20th century. These include the reclining Buddha in Vietnam. Particularly noteworthy are two statues located near Phan Thiet and in the city Vung Tau.

Phan Thiet

This is a relatively young resort in Vietnam, stretching along the coast of the South China Sea. It includes the city and surrounding villages, in particular Mui Ne (7 km from Phan Thiet). This is the capital of kite surfers - the sea is rough and the wind blows constantly.

There are few attractions and they are located quite far away - the statue of the reclining Buddha is located on the sacred mountain Ta Ku (Temple Mount), about 700 meters high, which is 30 km southwest of the city.

What is

At the very beginning of the path (the foot of the mountain) there is parking for cars and a complex of souvenir shops. All this is surrounded by a blooming garden.

On the way up, the traveler encounters various statues and pagodas. Interestingly, their construction is still underway. The statue of the reclining Buddha is located at the very top of the mountain and is skillfully hidden by tree trunks.

Its dimensions are impressive - length 49 meters, height 7 meters. This is the largest Buddha statue in Vietnam. You need to photograph it from the side, otherwise it will not fit into the lens.

The history of the complex dates back to the 19th century. Until 1857, monk Tran Huu Duc lived here. He treated people and tamed wild animals. Once he managed to heal the empress herself. The emperor's response was a complex of pagodas. The reclining Buddha, which is located above, is the creation of modern masters.

How to get there

The complex, which also includes the Linh Son Trong Pagoda, can be reached by bus or rented motorbike. To see the attraction, it is best to stay in Mui Ne or Phan Thiet.

Until the very temple complex you can walk from the bus stop - it’s a 3-hour journey up in the scorching sun, or take the funicular, taking photos along the way beautiful views and relaxing at the same time.

The road to the statue is well designed - it goes through the wild jungle, surrounded by greenery, but you need to be in good physical shape to overcome the climb. Moreover, you then need to explore the surroundings, take panoramic photos and enjoy the place itself, and this is problematic when “your heart is jumping out of your chest” and sweat is pouring into three streams.

Advice. When setting out on the pilgrimage route, do not take anything with you except water. Be sure to wear clothes that cover all parts of your body - light linen or cotton, cover your head with a hat or baseball cap.

Visiting time and price

The attraction is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is paid. The price depends on the method of climbing to the top:

• on foot - within 20,000 dong;
• by cable car within 80,000 dong one way plus 10,000 electric car to get from the entrance to the funicular itself;
• a comprehensive ticket costs around 100,000 dong.

Not far from the pagoda, on the top of the mountain, there is a good restaurant. If the pilgrim is very tired, you can spend the night right in the pagoda (there is a hostel).

Vung Tau

This city bears the proud name of the Vietnamese Riviera and at the same time is the oil capital of Vietnam ( Socialist Republic Vietnam). Distance from southern capital(Ho Chi Minh City) 128 km. It is not by chance that Vung Tau is called the Vietnamese Riviera. Previously, the local elite lived here - the entire coastline is built up with villas in the style of French colonists.

Now they have been turned into luxury hotels and are fully adapted to the needs of tourists and local vacationers.

Vung Tau is less a resort than a city of entertainment and shopping. It's stormy here nightlife– there are casinos, nightclubs, bars and restaurants open around the clock. On weekends, starting on Friday evening, rich Vietnamese from Ho Chi Minh City come here to hang out and escape from the drabness of everyday life.

The appearance of the city attracts:

• luxury in everything;
• cleanliness and grooming;
• excellent roads;
• a multi-kilometer embankment;
• beautiful architecture.

Temple of the Reclining Buddha

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha has a second name - the house of pure nirvana. The statue of the Enlightened One here is much more modest than in Phan Thiet, only 12 meters in length. Located on the first floor, on a high pedestal. Made of mahogany.

The 12-meter Buddha statue is made from a whole mahogany trunk

On the second floor, fish swim in a boat carved in the shape of a serpent-dragon. Above is the bell tower, where a huge bell is installed. You can make a wish - the monk offers everyone a piece of paper and a pen. Afterwards, stick a note on the rim and hit the bell with something (by the way, there is a special knocking stick hanging).

They say wishes always come true. If you step out onto the balcony at this level, you can admire beautiful views of the South China Sea.

You can also see statues of various incarnations of Buddha and mosaic paintings here.

How to get to Vung Tau and the attractions

You will have to choose from two methods - land and water. The water is much more interesting and cooler. If you don’t know what Vietnamese roads are, it’s better not to get acquainted with this phenomenon.

In addition, it takes at least 4 hours to travel by car from Ho Chi Minh City, and only if you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam. This pleasure is not cheap, about $80. By water, the journey will take no more than an hour and a half and will cost around $10.

Getting directly to the attraction is quite easy. With your back to Vung Tau Pier, cross the road and turn right onto Ha Long Street. Look for a blue sign with an arrow and the name in Vietnamese Niet Ban Tinh Xá (the spelling is approximate - there are a lot of apostrophes in the Vietnamese language that cannot be inserted on a Russian keyboard).

Alternatively, rent a bike; you still need to somehow get around the city. The distances here are quite long, but public transport is not at all developed. In addition, the roads are half empty, so those who are afraid of getting into trouble need not worry.

The second option to get to the house of pure nirvana is a taxi. However, you need to be careful with them. Travel here is by meter. Enterprising Vietnamese can drive around the city for a long time, winding up dongs for an unlucky tourist, and, in the end, bring them to the wrong place.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha was built over the course of 5 years solely on voluntary donations from believers. The multi-tiered complex covers an area of ​​more than 10,000 m 2 , well located - on Mount Nuino, from where amazingly beautiful views open up. Entry here is free.

Conclusion

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How do I explore a country when I come to it for several months? My algorithm is a little strange. I try to visit the most distant places towards the middle of my trip, so that later I can leisurely explore the surroundings of the city where we are staying for the winter. But it’s always the same scenario - I see all the interesting things nearby in the last week before departure. Either work will suck you in, or you don’t want to go anywhere, but want to enjoy the sun and sea on the road. The same story came out in Vietnam - literally 3 days before departure, I traveled to the most interesting places in the vicinity of Mui Ne. I was very lucky and on one of these days my guide was Pasha - a comrade-in-arms who is practically a native Vietnamese already :) Pasha - thank you so much for everything! :)

1. Ke Ga Lighthouse on Honba Island is the final point of our route. We will be there at the end of the report.

2. First we went to Mount Taku, where the giant reclining Buddha is located. We were driving along the highway (by Vietnamese standards). Finally, I managed to ride a scooter at a speed of 80 km/h, and not vomit 40 as on other roads. At a traffic light I spotted a funny pedestrian crossing sign.


3. Ropeway to Mount Taku. This was the first cable car in my memory that first goes up the mountain and then goes down. In my understanding, the cable car is clearly upward.


4. Local coniferous tree.

5. Sculptures from fragments of cups.


6. A long time ago, the monk Tran Chuu Duc lived on this mountain. There are many legends about him, but one says that one day a white tiger came to him and not only did not attack him, but began to live with him and protect him from unexpected guests. When the monk died, the tiger also died and was buried next to the monk. Two graves still stand today.


7. Responsible work - carving a Buddha from a single stone.


8. Looking at the photo, I remember how hot it was and understand how much I miss it now.


9. According to the 2004 census, 80% of Vietnamese people are atheists. Other researchers suspect that such data were obtained under government influence. In 2010, third-party studies were conducted. According to them, 45% are adherents of traditional beliefs, only 16.5% are Buddhists, 9% are Christians, and the remaining are atheists. I did not notice such religiosity as in other Asian countries I visited.


10. This is probably the most beautiful reclining Buddha I have ever seen.


11. The length of the statue is 49 meters.


12. It would seem - stones and stones. But no, if you jump on them, you can get to a small cave...


13. ...there is a small altar inside. This is where the same monk prayed. Not all tourists reach this place. Thanks Pasha for showing me!


14. On way back I photographed for you the process of the appearance of dragon fruits.


15. Dragon fruit or Pitaya is the fruit of a cactus. Cactus stems are tied around concrete pillars.


16. To speed up the process, turn on the lamps at night. Pasha says that at night these fields look magical.


17. And this has already begun to bear fruit.


18. Next, the fruits appear and begin to gain weight.


19. And then you can buy them anywhere. There are two types - with white and purple insides.


20. On the way we stopped at salt fields.


21. Salty sea ​​water and the heat does its job.


22. You could take some salt with you. In the Middle Ages, there were wars for salt.


23. Lone worker.


24. We did not stand still and moved on. We rented a boat on the shore. Judging by the signs on the boat, she was 30-40 years old.


25. Sea farms. I don’t know who exactly is being grown here. Poor dogs spend most of their lives swinging on the waves.


26. Ke Ga Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Vietnam.


27. Beauty!


28. Granite blocks for the lighthouse were brought by sea from France.

29. The place reminded me of .


30. Somewhere in the distance Phan Thiet and Mui Ne.


31. What bright colors. No photoshop.


32. A lot of crabs are running along the stones.


33. Traditional Vietnamese boats dry on the pier.


34. Mutant coconuts. So that you understand, my feet are size 45.5. Each coconut is about the size of a basketball!


35. On the way back we saw a couple of sand figures.


36. And on the mountain above Mui Ne there is a real castle. It was built by a local rich man, whose money was used to build the highway. In fact, this is the so-called Wine Castle. Grapes grow here and wine is made.

The next report will be the final one from my Vietnam series. We will take a walk around Ho Chi Minh City in the evening and go to the city zoo.

Stay in touch! :)

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Vietnam, Phan Thiet, Tà Cú mountain, Hàm Thuận Nam District district, Bình Thuận Province, Vietnam

Basic information

In the small resort village of Mui Ne is located majestic mountain Taku, almost 700 meters high. Hundreds of tourists come here every day not only to enjoy the beautiful view of the surrounding area, but also to see several unique attractions located at the very top. Therefore, a trip to this place is one of most popular routes region.

Mount Taku is located 40 kilometers south of Phan Thiet. The road here passes through a very picturesque area: past small villages and beautiful scenery. You can climb to the very top of the mountain by cable car or on foot. But climbing Taku will be very labor-intensive and lengthy: it will take at least three hours. Therefore, for an easier and more comfortable ascent, it is better to use the services of a cable car. At the very top of Taku there are several interesting attractions: Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda and the country's largest statue of a reclining Buddha, 49 meters long.

To climb to the top of the mountain on foot, you need to wear comfortable shoes and take
with food, water and mosquito repellent.

Cost of visit

• Entrance + hiking - 15,000 VND for adults and 10,000 VND for children
• Electric car ride around the mountain - 8,000 VND for adults and 4,000 VND for children
• Comprehensive ticket including electric car ride, cable car ride up and down - 100,000 VND

Companies organizing excursions to Mount Taku

Vietsea Tourist Company

Address: 181 Pham Ngu Lao St | Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone: +(84 83) 920 93 93

After an almost 12-hour trip to Dalat (more on that next time :)), the second excursion offered to us, to Mount Taku, was almost perceived as a trip to the spa. Just think, departure is at one o'clock in the afternoon, the drive from Mui Ne to Taku is only 40 kilometers, return to the hotel at six in the evening - resort!!!

This time we were lucky with the driver - he crept like a snail slowly and carefully along the local two-track roads. However, “caution” only refers to those rare moments when we were driving in our own lane, and not in the oncoming lane :)

At the entrance to the territory of Taku, famous primarily for the pagoda (in which hermit monks have lived for several centuries) and the statue of the Reclining Buddha, an echo of communism sends you a fiery greeting :)

For some reason nostalgia refused to ache my heart :)

There you quickly deal with the sellers of souvenirs and other straw cone-shaped hats, and look with regret at the cruel iron woman, whom for some reason no one has yet thought of making a cooler for those who are thirsty.

Sit down in the already familiar Finnish sauna cabin of the funicular, built in 2002, rise to a height of 500 meters above sea level and enjoy landscape design the beauty that opens up to the eye.

While we were riding the funicular through mountain pass, saw impassable bushes beneath them and talked about how difficult it was for the American landing force here at one time :)

At the exit from the funicular you can buy local sweets, deliciously melted in the sun :)

I was pleased to note that the Vietnamese are slowly becoming accustomed to separating waste into recyclable and non-recyclable!

And then a signature surprise awaited us from akosenko .
It consisted in the fact that we were naively and relaxed going for a spa treatment, a leisurely walk, and arrived for a sports marathon of climbing uphill at speed.
The Pagoda of the Reclining Buddha is located almost at the very top of the mountain and in order to get to it, you need to pass one thousand steps.

Our kind Susanin nevertheless decided not to deprive us of our beloved cellulite and took us upstairs in a detour.
Through the forest. No path. Along sharp protruding pebbles and cobblestones.
Catching three looks that hated him and sporting loads, Sasha tried to preserve his chances of life and distract our attention with stories about the history of the place and breadfruit.

It is known that the founder of the pagoda, monk Tran Chuu Duc, saved the queen, the mother of King Tu Duc, from illness.
What a good man!

The good deed was appreciated by the king, who dedicated a tower on the pagoda grounds to the monk.

Meanwhile, three cunning, impudent muzzles slowed down at each statue, pretending that they were diligently catching a good angle, but in fact, frantically trying to catch their breath and not embarrass themselves by their lack of sportswear in front of our guide :)

After no more than 6 kilograms lost in total for the three of us, we climbed up to the largest statue in Vietnam of the great Reclining Buddha (Shakyamuni Buddha), immortalized in a state of nirvana.

Until the cable car opened on the mountain, pilgrims went to it to pray at the statue.

The length of the Buddha is 49 meters, height is 11 meters.
All the numbers, of course, are not random: 11 is the number of stages of Buddhism, 49 should be the number of steps on the path to self-knowledge.
And now the question is - how many steps out of 49 have you already overcome? :)

A keen female eye noticed a flawless pedicure on Buddha’s feet :)

The Buddha statue is the result of the work of believers who built it over three years from 1962 to 1965, using their own funds.

Finally, the long-awaited moment of descending back from the mountain to the pagoda has arrived.
Having passed several more statues breathing peace with their earlobes reaching to their shoulders...

And a magnificent herbarium in the fingers of a pianist (or orchestra conductor?)...

We finally arrived at Taku Pagoda.
Having been built much earlier than the Reclining Buddha statue, during the reign of the Nguyen imperial dynasty in 1861, the pagoda was restored in 1963.

If you try to translate the indescribable play on Vietnamese words, the name of the pagoda sounds like “the eternal sacred pagoda in the mountains.”
What can I say - if you restore the pagoda at least once every hundred years, there is hope that the translation is correct :)
The little people inside are not Vietnamese special forces, but also quite immortalized monks, protecting the pagoda from everything bad :)

Having gone even lower down the mountain, we find ourselves in the tourist section.
They serve some kind of ginger snack here...

And traditional ice cream of completely unconventional colors :)

At this level, the white stone majestic statues give way to their ruddy and brightly dressed contemporaries :) everything is correct - fashion does not stand still, trends need to be reflected in art :)

Notice that bright colors represent happy faces!
So, citizens, nirvana and the path to enlightenment are different for everyone :)
The background is a bit distracting though!

Well, since the pagoda and its territory are still in the process of active construction (or another restoration, don’t forget about eternity!), we were able to remember our childhood and jump around the construction site and admire the hard-working builders :)