Top 9 Most Famous Temples in Binh Thuan

Ta Cu Mountain tourist area in Phan Thiet is currently a destination attracting many tourists to explore, participate in entertainment activities, and make pilgrimage. On Ta Cu Mountain, there is a temple called Ta Cu Mountain Temple which is very sacred, visited by Buddhists and tourists for pilgrimage daily. Ta Cu Mountain is 649m high, located along National Highway 1A, in Tan Lap commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, about 28km from Phan Thiet. Ta Cu Mountain Temple is a temple complex consisting of the Upper Temple, also known as Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, and the Lower Temple, also known as Long Doan Pagoda. Ta Cu Mountain Temple is situated on the slope of Ta Cu Mountain at an altitude of 400m, consisting of the Upper Temple built in 1879 but previously many years had a temple worshipping the Buddha with a thatched roof and earthen walls, and the Upper Temple was built after the venerable Huu Duc passed away.

Ta Cu Mountain Temple is built in a place surrounded by green trees, flowing streams, and gibbons right next to the temple, by the abbot Tran Huu Duc. From the foot of the mountain, climbing hundreds of steps along winding paths through old forests to the temple. Here, the air is fresh and cool all year round, with an average temperature of 18 - 22 degrees Celsius, the moisture emanating from the rocky mountain with attractive cool air in the summer. The majestic and poetic scenery of the mountains and forests makes Ta Cu Mountain Temple even more famous. The Ta Cu Temple complex is built in the architectural style of the Northern sect, often seen even after many renovations, still retains its ancient and venerable features with curved tiled roofs, twin dragons worshiping the moon covered with layers of moss over time. Pilgrims to Ta Cu Mountain Temple come not only to devoutly worship the Buddha and ancestors but also to immerse themselves in the magnificent natural scenery to feel peaceful and serene.

Address: Tan Lap commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province.

Linh Quang Pagoda or Linh Quang Temple is the first temple on Phu Quy Island. It contributes to the formation of cultural beliefs for residents on the island. At the same time, it is also a distinctive spiritual destination with artistic architecture amidst the open sea. Linh Quang Pagoda becomes an attractive tourist destination when visitors set foot on Phu Quy Island. Linh Quang Pagoda is located on a hill in My Khe village, Tam Khanh commune, Phu Quy district. It is 120 km from Phan Thiet city. To get here, you have to travel by Super Dong boat to the sea. Initially, this place was just a thatched house built by Zen master Nguyen Van Canh in 1747. It was used for worship and residence for monks. After several renovations, by 1992, it had become a unique and beautiful architectural complex.

Linh Quang Pagoda has been known for 272 years. It is considered the oldest temple, not only on Phu Quy Island but also the oldest in the islands of Vietnam. At the end of the 18th century, Linh Quang Pagoda was destroyed by a fire. Many valuable ancient relics of the temple were damaged. Only a bronze Buddha statue survived. At the same time, a spiritual stone emerged at the sea pass near Hon Tranh of Phu Quy Island. Believing it to be auspicious, Buddhist followers brought the spiritual stone to the temple. Linh Quang Pagoda now is a magnificent temple with many impressive ancient features. The temple includes areas such as the Main Hall, Three-Gate Gate, Assembly Hall, and Monk's House. In front of the temple is a very tall ancient tower. On the roofs of these ancient towers are delicately carved dragons and phoenixes. This is also the special highlight of the temple.

Address: Tam Khanh commune, Phu Quy district, Binh Thuan province.

The Co Thach Temple, also known as Cave Temple or Ancient Rock Temple, is located in the Co Thach tourist area in Binh Thanh commune, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province, 100km north of Phan Thiet city. Situated on a hillside 64m above sea level, it is a Buddhist architectural complex built into the mountain, nestled among rock caves covering an area of over 2,000m2. It is adjacent to the East Sea in the southeast, bordered by mountains and pristine rock formations on the remaining three sides. Initially, the temple was just a small thatched hut founded by the 40th Zen master Buu Tang of the Lam Te Zen school in the 16th year of Minh Mang's reign (1835) to live a life of meditation and help beings escape suffering in times of turmoil. After more than 100 years of existence and several renovations, the temple has not only become larger and more splendid but has also been recognized as a national monument and scenic spot since 1996, attracting many visitors and pilgrims from all over every year.

The Co Thach Temple boasts a unique and pristine beauty, nestled amidst thousands of rocks, mysterious caves, and faint mist like a fairyland, attracting visitors to Binh Thuan. The path to the temple is spacious, shaded by many trees but slightly winding, with 36 stone steps connected by rock slabs. At the foot of the steps are twin dragons, made of cement, as if welcoming pilgrims to the temple. The structures in the temple are all meticulously designed with typical Buddhist architectural features, including dragons, phoenixes, and mythical beasts on the temple roofs and columns, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of Buddhist architecture. The main hall is nestled within the natural rock formations, followed by meditation halls, corridors, ancestral halls, bell and drum towers, offering a wild and exotic beauty to the temple.

Address: Binh Thanh commune, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province.

Ong Phan Thiet Pagoda (Quan De Temple) is a very special temple as it was built by the Chinese to worship Guan Yu, an outstanding general of the Three Kingdoms period, rather than Buddha. With its beautiful architecture and inherent spirituality, the tourist attraction of Phan Thiet - Ong Pagoda attracts many visitors from far and wide to visit, pray for peace, and good luck. Ong Pagoda is the ancient Chinese pagoda on Phan Thiet land, located in Duc Nghia ward. Based on the Han script still preserved on the ridge pole, the temple was built in 1770. This is a temple with unique characteristics, although it is called a temple, it does not worship Buddha. Originally, the correct name of the temple was 'Quan Cong Temple,' later it was called Ong Pagoda. 'Ong' here refers to Guan Yu, a character from the Three Kingdoms period, with significance in the history of China. The Chinese worship Guan Yu because 'he symbolizes honor, loyalty, sacrifice, generosity, and righteousness.'

Ong Phan Thiet Pagoda features sophisticated architectural and decorative arts, bearing the distinctive hallmark of Chinese culture. Many rows of houses are built in succession to form a golden character-shaped area that impresses anyone. Inside the temple, the rafters and columns are intricately carved and decorated. Hanging on the main columns are carved couplets, beautifully painted. In the worship areas, there are paintings depicting the legends and historical events of the Chinese people, executed with great precision. Especially, Ong Pagoda has many large horizontal lacquered boards brought from China to Vietnam in the 19th century, the most beautiful of which is the board 'Phi Dai Su' with vivid colors, exquisite lines, and incredibly lively. Currently, Ong Phan Thiet Pagoda still preserves many ancient bells cast in Guangdong, with historical and artistic value. The casting style and materials of these bells are similar to the great bell of the Vietnamese people. However, the bell bodies have richer lines and colors, bearing the characteristic artistic features of the Chinese people.

Address: Duc Nghia, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan.

Linh Son Pagoda sits atop Cao Cat Mountain, within the jurisdiction of Phu Quy Island. The pagoda, despite being over 100 years old, retains its unique and impressive architecture. Interestingly, the pagoda does not have a resident monk; instead, it is maintained by volunteers, mostly middle-aged and elderly individuals who dedicate themselves to cleaning and managing the pagoda, ensuring its cleanliness. Additionally, worshippers organize ceremonies on important occasions, welcoming visitors with joy, creating a comfortable atmosphere for all.

To reach the pagoda, visitors must ascend stone steps, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. The Linh Son Pagoda is designed on a grand scale, exuding both antiquity and sanctity. Surrounding the pagoda are lush green trees casting cool shadows, providing a serene ambiance. Notably, atop Cao Cat Mountain stands a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The solemnly placed statue on a large rock adds a unique beauty to the pagoda. Every pilgrim to Linh Son Pagoda endeavors to ascend the summit to pay respects to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, praying for smooth sailing and inner peace.

Address: Ngũ Phụng Commune, Phu Quy District, Binh Thuan Province.

This pagoda differs greatly from the expectations of tourists due to its extremely simple architecture. The path leading to the pagoda is narrow, barely 5m wide, and about 300m from Vo Thi Sau Street. Visitors can then arrive to admire the Buddha statue. It is known that the pagoda once had a fairly spacious courtyard, but after enduring various upheavals and lacking caretakers, the area gradually shrunk to its current size. Alongside Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda and Ong Pagoda, Phat Quang Pagoda in Phan Thiet City has now become a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international travelers. Partly because of its beauty and the essence of Buddhism preserved through generations of abbots, partly due to the curiosity about the records that the pagoda possesses.

Stepping into Phat Quang Pagoda, the first impression is the jovial Buddha statue placed in the courtyard. It seems to convey a message to visitors: 'Enter the temple gate - All worries will dissipate.' At the same time, it soothes the fatigue of travelers. Across the spacious courtyard is the main hall built in traditional Vietnamese architecture. Inside is the hall of Sakyamuni Buddha with meticulously crafted paintings. Moreover, with its predominant wooden color scheme, Phat Quang Pagoda gives visitors a sense of closeness and simplicity. On the ceiling of the main hall, the teachings of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas are intricately engraved, serving as reminders for practitioners to always cultivate their minds, pursue enlightenment, and awaken. Therefore, after days of hectic work, during rare holidays, you can book a tour to Phan Thiet - Mui Ne, visit this place to find solace in Buddhist teachings.

Address: Tran Quang Khai, Binh Hung, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan.

Linh Son Ancient Pagoda is situated on Linh Son Mountain in Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province. From Highway 1A, deep into the rocky mountains about nearly 5 kilometers, the road to the pagoda is quite easy to find and not too difficult to navigate. If traveling by motorbike, it won't take much time and effort to reach the main hall of the pagoda. However, if by car or bus, it's truly challenging because the road to Linh Son Ancient Pagoda is narrow and steep, suitable only for pedestrians and motorbikes. Larger vehicles often have to stop far from the foot of the mountain, and visitors have to walk a considerable distance, about 1.5 kilometers more to reach the main hall of the pagoda.

The entire Linh Son Ancient Pagoda is built halfway up the mountain, significantly higher than sea level. The path to the pagoda is constructed with terraced steps due to the steep terrain and eroded rocks over time, so extra attention is needed to avoid slipping and falling. Like the Marble Pagoda and other temples in the province, in the center of the main hall of Linh Son Ancient Pagoda, there is an altar for worshipping the Buddha, on the right side, there is an altar for worshipping Sakyamuni Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and on the left side, there are altars for various deities. Linh Son Pagoda is built next to a stream named Ham Rong. During the rainy season, the water in Ham Rong stream rises, spraying out to create a powerful flow down the rocks, forming a majestic and sacred scenery. Below Ham Rong stream is the Tổ Cave, next to the cave, a pagoda and a stone stele are built to commemorate the merits of the abbot (Tổ Bao Tang).

Address: Vinh Tan, Tuy Phong, Binh Thuan.