Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery – Captivating Buddhist Haven in Tam Dao

Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery is part of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen lineage, situated in Vinh Phuc Province, 85 km from Hanoi. The monastery provides systematic Buddhist education, fostering conditions for the development of Vietnamese Buddhism in both width and depth.

Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery – Captivating Buddhist Haven in Tam Dao

Alongside Truc Lam Da Lat Monastery and Truc Lam Yen Tu Monastery, Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery stands as one of the three largest monastic centers in Vietnam. The monastery is located near the historical and scenic area of Tay Thien ancient pagoda (including Tay Thien Pagoda, Quoc Mau Tay Thien Temple, Co Temple, Cau Temple, Thong Temple, and Silver Waterfall).

This is one of the earliest cradles of Buddhism in Vietnam. Around the 3rd century, the Venerable Khuong Tang Hoi stopped here to spread the teachings. Zen practice began with the Venerable Khuong Tang Hoi, who later introduced Zen to China during the time of Sun Quan (in 247).

The 6th Hung King, Hung Chieu Vuong, visited the Thien An Pagoda (the present-day monastery built on this site) on the summit of Tam Dao Mountain to seek blessings. On his return, he met Lady Lang Thi Tieu and brought her back as his wife. She was known for her strategic abilities, aiding King Hung in defending the nation.

Initiated in 2004, the construction of Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery unveiled hidden treasures within the ancient temple foundation—countless bricks and fragments with Tran dynasty patterns. After over 15 months of swift construction, the project was inaugurated on November 25, 2005.

The rapid construction pace owes much to the participation and contributions of thousands, including artisans from various craft villages nationwide: carpenters from Ha Tay and Bac Ninh, stone craftsmen from Non Nuoc, Ninh Binh, and builders from Nam Dinh and Hanoi.

The main hall of the monastery, situated at the center, stands at a height of 17m with 4 supporting columns, each nearly 1m in diameter. It can accommodate 600 Buddhists or visitors for meditation and Dharma lectures simultaneously. Inside the main hall, a statue of the Founder Buddha is enshrined, with two couplets hanging: “Deep blessings result from sowing virtuous seeds, Complete wisdom is nourished by the eight-fold path and precepts. Buddhism guides the way to enlightenment, Zen transcends to the truth at the feet.”

To the left of the main hall is the bell tower, and to the right is the drum tower. The drum, made from Gia Lai forest jackfruit wood, boasts a diameter of up to 1.5m and a length of 2m; the bell weighs 2 tons.

Behind the main hall is the ancestral hall, honoring the statues of Truc Lam Tam Ancestors (Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, and Huyen Quang). The Buddha statues in the main hall and ancestral hall are crafted from marble with enduring durability over time.

The monastery complex also includes a dining hall, a bookstore selling Buddhist scriptures and souvenirs, a library, and internal facilities comprising monk quarters, meditation halls, and novice quarters. The monastery provides approximately 40 rooms for visitors to stay and engage in temple studies.

As the new year approaches, people from the region and travelers everywhere eagerly embark on pilgrimages to Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery to pray for a year filled with luck, health, and peace. The monastery attracts numerous young enthusiasts for meditation retreats, especially during the summer.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour