Nha Trang is not only a beautiful city but also a culturally rich destination with many attractive sites that draw visitors. Among them, the temples in Nha Trang often attract tourists to come and explore the spiritual culture of the locality. At the same time, these sacred places bring peace and tranquility amid the hustle and bustle of urban life. Let’s explore 7 beautiful and sacred temples in Nha Trang with Boma Nha Trang.
Suoi Do Pagoda – A Place to Enjoy the Beauty of Nature
History
Suoi Do Pagoda is one of the pagodas in Nha Trang with a beautiful natural landscape like a fairyland. The name Suoi Do of the pagoda comes from the sound of the stream flowing from the high slope. The stream flowed through glittering granite boulders and winding mountain ranges before forming a small dreamy lake. Surrounding the lake are climbing vines and wild trees, along with the sound of chirping birds, creating a breathtaking scenery of overlapping mountains. According to the folklore, after traveling around the places, Thien Y A Na Holy Mother (Poh Nagar Goddess) stopped at this lake to rest and enjoy the cool breeze.
Suoi Do Pagoda seems to be “lost” in the middle of a small poetic forest (Source: Internet)
Architecture and Culture of Suoi Do Pagoda
To reach Suoi Do Pagoda, one must follow the mountain slope and climb over a hundred steps. This is a great opportunity for you to improve your health by hiking while admiring the magnificent natural scenery along the way. When you climb up to about 200m, there will be a three-way intersection leading to two different landmarks. If you turn right, you will arrive at Pho Da Son Tu, while turning left will take you to Quan Am Son Tu.
At Quan Am Son Tu, you can admire the solemn Quan Am Buddha statue watching over and protecting the lives of people in Khanh Hoa from above. In addition, there is also a temple dedicated to the Five Mothers symbolizing Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth on the right side, while the temple dedicated to Poh Nagar (Thien Y A Na Goddess) is on the left side.
Pho Da Son Tu has a smaller area than Quan Am Son Tu, but this place has unique and extremely well-designed architectural features. This is the place to worship the Buddha Amitabha. In the middle of the rock mountain surrounding the main pagoda is a small lotus pond creating a tranquil and peaceful landscape. If you walk behind the pagoda, you will come across a winding path leading to the Fairy Well and the Maha Cave. The Fairy Well is so named because no matter what season you come here, you can admire the crystal clear water, which is so deep that it is difficult to see the bottom. The water flows gently along the rocky shore to form a small stream.
The red-tile pagoda stands out among the green forests (Source: Internet)
Observations for touring Suoi Do Pagoda
- Address, directions to Suoi Do pagoda: Suoi Do Pagoda is located in the western part of Hoang Ngưu Mountain, Suoi Hiep Commune, Dien Khanh District, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. It is more than 30km away from the center of Nha Trang city and the simplest way to get here is as follows: You go from the center of Nha Trang city to Chat Dot intersection → Then you ask for directions to turn into Ba Tung hill → Move about 700m and then turn right → Follow the road up the mountain to get to Suoi Do Pagoda.
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- Experiences for Suoi Do Pagoda: The most sacred time to visit Suoi Do Pagoda is during the days of Thanh Mau Thien Ya Na (on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of the first lunar month each year) to pray and ask for a prosperous and peaceful year for the whole family. Alternatively, you can visit Suoi Do Pagoda from July to September in the lunar calendar because the weather in Nha Trang during this time is very cool and pleasant, combined with the peaceful scenery of the pagoda, will be an unforgettable experience for you. Additionally, when visiting Suoi Do Pagoda, you should wear modest clothing and choose appropriate shoes for mountain climbing to avoid any inconvenience.
The steps leading to Suoi Do pagoda (Source: Internet)
White Buddha Pagoda Nha Trang – Long Son Pagoda
History of White Buddha Pagoda
One of the most sacred tourist destinations in Nha Trang is the White Buddha Pagoda (Long Son Pagoda). This is also the largest pagoda in Nha Trang and the headquarters of the Buddhist Sangha of Khanh Hoa province.
In 1886, this pagoda in Nha Trang was built and named Dang Long Tu by Most Venerable Thich Ngo Chi. However, in 1990, a storm passing through the area severely damaged much of the architecture in the pagoda. Therefore, the pagoda was relocated to this new location and the name Long Son Pagoda was given at that time.
Scenery of Long Son Pagoda in Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Architecture and Culture of Long Son Pagoda
The architectural design of Long Son Pagoda is extremely unique as it still retains the floral motifs and features of designs from the late 19th century after many renovations. When you visit this pagoda in Nha Trang, you will surely be impressed with the finely carved architectural features and spacious, harmonious natural scenery.
The reason why Long Son Pagoda is called White Buddha Pagoda by the locals is that there is a 14m high, white concrete statue of Kim Than Phat To, the founder of Zen Buddhism, on the top of Trai Thuy mountain. The statue is sculpted in a sitting meditation position at the Buddha’s pedestal with a dignified and serene state of mind. Currently, the Kim Than Phat To statue is recognized as the “Largest Outdoor Buddha Statue in Vietnam” by the Guinness Vietnam record organization.
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You need to climb up 193 steps to reach Kim Than Phat To. Although the path up the mountain is quite steep, when you reach the top, you will surely feel extremely comfortable and peaceful. The gentle sea breeze and the sound of chirping birds will help cleanse your soul from worries. In addition, you will see the statue of Phat To entering Nirvana at the 44th step. This is the second largest statue in Long Son Pagoda, with a height of 5m and a length of 15m. The statue of Phat To entering Nirvana is made of marble, with a vivid relief sculpture depicting the image of 49 disciples of the Buddha gathering on the day he entered Nirvana behind his back.
The statue of Kim Than Buddha seen from above (Source: Internet)
Observations for the White Buddha Pagoda:
- Address and directions to the pagoda: Long Son Pagoda is located at 22 23/10 Street, Phuong Son Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. If you are standing on Tran Phu Street, you should turn into Yersin Street (or Le Thanh Ton Street) → Then, continue straight until you see a roundabout, turn right into 23/10 Street → Long Son Pagoda will be on your right.
- Travel experience to White Buddha Pagoda: Many tourists also come to Long Son Pagoda on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar calendar or during Tet holidays to pray for health and peace for their families.
Close-up of the largest statue of Kim Than Buddha in Vietnam (Source: Internet)
Ốc Pagoda Nha Trang – Tu Van Pagoda
History of Tu Van Pagoda
Tu Van Pagoda is a very special temple in Nha Trang that you should visit when traveling here. This temple was built in 1986 using materials made from seashells. Therefore, this place is also called the Shell Pagoda or Coral Pagoda by the locals. After many renovations and restorations, the Shell Pagoda has become one of the spiritual tourist attractions that attracts many visitors every year.
The way to Tu Van Pagoda in Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Architecture and culture of Tu Van Pagoda
When you come here, you will surely be surprised by the unique architecture of the temple. From a distance, Long Van Pagoda possesses the solemn and ancient beauty of architectural styles that follow Buddhist images such as Buddha entering Nirvana, the Bat Nha garden, Buddha leaving home, etc. But if you pay close attention, the architecture of the Bao Tich tower – the tower known as the tallest in Vietnam – is extremely unique as it is not built with ordinary bricks but meticulously constructed by hand using seashells and coral. Basically, the design of the Bao Tich tower consists of 2 floors, 39m high, with 8 doors called Bat Chanh Dao along with 49 small towers outside surrounding the tower. Because of this unique design, it took 5 years to complete the construction of this tower. However, after enduring many rains and sunshine, the ancient and unique beauty has attracted thousands of foreign visitors to admire it every year.
In addition, one of the areas you should visit at the Shell Pagoda is the path leading to Hell. This 500m long path is decorated with seashells and shells. The path will lead you slowly down into the ground, creating a gloomy and mysterious atmosphere. But if you are an adventurous person, this is an interesting place to explore. When moving on this path, you will come across 12 plaques that record the sins of humans in the world, in order to warn and advise people to do good deeds and stay away from bad ones.
Bao Tich Tower is carved with seashells and snail shells (Source: Internet)
Observations for visiting OC Pagoda
- Address and directions to the temple: The Oc Pagoda is located at 388 Ba Thang Tu street, Cam Linh ward, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. You can travel by car or motorbike to reach the temple. You need to travel from the center of Nha Trang city to National Highway 1A and then continue to 3/4 street in Cam Ranh district to find directions to the Oc Pagoda.
- Tips for visiting Tu Van Temple:
– You should dress modestly when entering the temple.
– Maintain cleanliness and order, and if possible, turn off your phone’s ringer when entering the temple.
– Limit the items of personal value you bring, and preserve the property and architecture of the temple.
The view around Oc Pagoda (Source: Internet)
Tu Ton Pagoda in Nha Trang – Bridge of Convenience and Peace
History of formation
According to many recorded documents, the pagoda in Nha Trang named Tu Ton was initiated by Venerable Thich Vien Man for construction in 1960. To show the reverence for Buddha’s teachings of the master, the name “Tu Ton” of the pagoda was also named after the title of Buddha Di Lac. At that time, the area of Hon Do was still very wild, just a large island located between the sea with rocky mountains and trees covered around. However, since the pagoda was built there, people often came there more and created more vitality for the island.
In 1974, although this pagoda in Nha Trang was still under construction, due to the master’s serious illness, it was transferred to Venerable Thich Chuc Minh. Since then, after many years of construction and renovation, the pagoda has become more and more magnificent and has become a famous spiritual tourist destination in Nha Trang that any visitor wants to visit.
Entrance to Tu Ton Pagoda (Source: Internet)
Architecture, culture of Tu Ton Pagoda Nha Trang
The outstanding feature of this pagoda in Nha Trang is the green space of the old trees surrounded by the design that retains the existing characteristics of Hon Do. That is, the builders tried to limit the impact on the environment and terrain of Hon Do.
As soon as you step into the main hall, you will immediately admire the extremely sacred statue of Guan Yin. Then, you can move to the foot of the statue to find your way to the rock beach with a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara facing the sea. Local people there often say that they often face the Buddha statue of Tu Ton Pagoda before every fishing trip to pray for good luck and safety on the journey.
Buddha statue facing the sea at Tu Ton Pagoda (Source: Internet)
Observations for the Tu Ton Pagoda visit:
- Address, directions to the pagoda: Tu Ton Pagoda is located on an island about 300m from the mainland called Hon Do, Vinh Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. To get here, you need to travel from the center of Nha Trang city, then turn onto Pham Van Dong street and continue for a while until you reach the stop to go to the pagoda. If you come during low tide, you can walk from the shore to the pagoda after the sand path between the sea appears. While during high tide, you need to travel by canoe or boat to cross between the two shores.
- Tips for visiting Tu Ton Pagoda:
– Attire should be simple, serious, and clean when visiting the Tu Ton Pagoda.
– Do not light candles indiscriminately in flower pots or at the base of trees in the pagoda.
– It is recommended to research some information about the pagoda and the Buddhas being worshipped there in order to make proper offerings.
The whole view of Red Island in Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Da Bao Pagoda Nha Trang – A Serene and Dreamy Place
History of Formation
According to some records, about 20 years ago, the monk Thich Giac Mai established Da Bao Pagoda in Nha Trang. At that time, the monk decided to find a place to nurture his mind and body and opened a path up the mountain with rudimentary tools. Along the way, despite facing many difficulties, the monk remained steadfast in his devotion to Buddhism. From there, Da Bao Pagoda Nha Trang was born.
History of Da Bao Pagoda Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Architecture and Culture of Da Bao Pagoda
Although the campus of Da Bao Pagoda includes many different areas such as the Lâm Tỳ Ni garden, the main hall area, etc., the Tuệ Giác Viên area attracts the most visitors thanks to its unique architecture. The large lake in the Tuệ Giác Viên area is surrounded by many beautiful white lotus flowers with a system of beautiful fountains. In the middle of the lake is a hexagonal house, which provides a beautiful backdrop for taking pictures and a quiet place for meditation and yoga. In addition, the beautiful and meticulously carved statues of Buddhist figures such as Master and Disciple Duong, Buddha Quan Yin, Buddha Ancestors, etc., are also displayed in the pagoda. The scenery in the pagoda is also carefully selected, from rocks, couplets to grass carpets.
Architecture and culture of Da Bao Pagoda Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Some Pointers for Visiting Da Bao Pagoda
- Address and directions to the pagoda: No. 14, De Street, Vinh Hoa Ward, Nha Trang City. It only takes 10-15 minutes to get to the pagoda from the city center of Nha Trang. You can start from Tran Phu Bridge to Pham Van Dong Avenue, then to Nguyen Du Street. Then, follow the signs to get to the pagoda.
- Business hours:
Opening day | Close time | |
Tue Giac Park | From Monday to Sunday | 6pm every day |
| Main Hall | From Monday to Sunday | 20h every day |
- Experiences to visit at Da Bao Pagoda:
– Dress historically to avoid affecting the majesty of the temple.
– Maintain security and order and do not throw garbage indiscriminately.
– Neatly park the car so that the next person has a place to park.
Observations when visiting Da Bao Pagoda (Source: Internet)
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Clay Temple – Thanh Son Temple
History of Formation
Built in the early 20th century, the Ngo family established Thanh Son Temple (also known as Clay Temple) for personal spiritual practice. At first, it was just a small thatched hut with a simple altar hall. In the fourth generation of abbots, the hut was expanded and adorned with more statues for worship as it is today.
History of the formation of Clay Pagoda – Thanh Son Dharma Institute (Source: Internet)
Architecture and culture of Clay Pagoda
The architecture of this temple in Nha Trang is designed based on the influence of the pagoda shape of Myanmar, India, Thailand, and Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, it always attracts a large number of tourists to visit and worship annually because of its unique and mesmerizing architecture.
When you hear the name of this temple in Nha Trang, you can probably guess the material used to build the temple. Indeed, the main material to build the temple is clay soil. Most of the Buddha statues here have 4 faces and are made of a mixture of clay soil and bronze, with gold inlays. The main hall is built on a hilltop and has many stone benches for visitors to rest. Currently, Phap Vien Thanh Son still has some unfinished works, promising to become a famous spiritual tourism destination in Nha Trang.
Ground of Clay Pagoda (Source: Internet)
Observations for Phap Vien Thanh Son:
- Address, directions to the temple: The temple is located on De Dai Mountain, about 23km from the city center, in Khanh Xuan hamlet, Dien Lam commune, Dien Khanh district, Khanh Hoa province. To get here, you can travel from Nha Trang city center to National Highway 1A -> Move on to Moi Bridge -> Turn into Dong Khoi Street (heading towards An Chua) -> Continue on Provincial Road 8 -> Reach Dong Gang Bridge -> Turn towards Nhan Tam tourist area -> Continue along the path to reach the temple.
- Opening hours: Phap Vien Thanh Son only opens regularly on holidays and Tet. If you visit on a regular day, you need to contact the temple beforehand.
Hai Duc Pagoda in Nha Trang – Exuding a Serene and Tranquil Atmosphere
History of the Pagoda
According to some accounts, in 1883, Hai Duc Pagoda was just a small temple called Duyen Sanh Tu (or Hoi Pagoda) founded by Ven. Vien Giac Zen Master. In 1891, after a major renovation, this Nha Trang temple became a solemn monastery and was renamed Hai Duc Tu.
When Bich Khong Dai Su became the abbot of Hai Duc Pagoda in 1938, he realized that the old pagoda was too crowded and decided to relocate it. Hai Duc Pagoda was moved to Trai Thuy Island and construction began in 1943. By 1945, Hai Duc Pagoda had been completed.
(Source: Internet)
Architecture and Culture of Hai Duc Pagoda in Nha Trang
Today, Hai Duc Pagoda is the largest Buddhist institute in the Central region. Unlike other pagodas with ancient Oriental architecture and a peaceful atmosphere, Hai Duc Pagoda has become a standout attraction, drawing visitors with its serene and tranquil atmosphere. Along the path leading to the pagoda, you will come across green trees casting cool shadows, creating a poetic scene. Especially, from the highest point of the pagoda, you can admire the most beautiful panoramic view of Nha Trang city. Besides worshiping, admiring the beautiful scenery, you can also hear the mysterious story of the father and son’s past life love, which is passed down through generations.
Architecture and culture of Hai Duc Pagoda Nha Trang (Source: Internet)
Observations for touring the Hai Duc Pagoda
- Address, way to the temple: Hai Duc Pagoda is located on the top of Trai Thuy mountain at 51 Hai Duc street, Phuong Son ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.
- Experience to visit at Hai Duc Pagoda:
– You need to dress politely when coming to the sacred Hai Duc Pagoda.
– When entering the temple, you need to go lightly, speak softly to avoid making noise.
Observations on visiting Hai Duc Pagoda (Internet source)
In summary, the temples in Nha Trang mentioned above are some of the sacred and solemn places that you should visit. Boma hopes that through this article, you have chosen the temple that you will visit when travelling to Nha Trang.
