Thien Vien Truc Lam: Zen Buddhist Monastery in Dalat City

Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery in Dalat (Vietnamese: Thiền Viện Trúc Lâm Đà Lạt) is a Zen Monastery of the Truc Lam Yen Tu sect. The monastery is 5 km from the center of Da Lat city, located on Phung Hoang mountain, above Tuyen Lam Lake. This is not only the largest monastery in Lam Dong Province of Vietnam, but also a pagoda to visit and worship many domestic and foreign tourists.

• Location: Hoa Cẩm Tú Cầu, Ward 3, Dalat City, Lam Dong Province
• Opening Hours: Daily from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Best For: Family, Couple, Solo
• Entrance Fee: Free of Charge
• Dress Code: Decent Clothes
• Distance to city center: 3.3km (2.1 mi)

History of Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery in Dalat:

Zen Monastery began to be built in 1993, completed in 1994, the design was drawn by architects Vu Xuan Hung and Tran Duc Loc and with the participation of the famous architect Ngo Viet Thu. The designer of the Independence Palace - now the Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City) based on the design and planning ideas of Zen Master Thich Thanh Tu. The monastery / pagoda is divided into 4 areas: the outer monastery area, the monk's retreat area, the abbot, the monk's inner monastery and the nun's inner monastery.

The Zen Monastery was founded by Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu. This is the place where the monk Thich Thanh Tu now resides and often goes to teach and practice. The current abbot is Venerable Thich Thong Phuong. He was the most outstanding disciple among the disciples of the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu. Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu once said: "One thousand disciples, Thong Phuong alone is enough." This reminds us of a Chinese Zen master who once said: "There are many horned species, one unicorn is enough."

Architecture of Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery Dalat:

This is a unique architectural work next to Tuyen Lam lake. Going up from Tuyen Lam lake is a steep road with 140 stone steps, flanked by tall, green pine trees leading through 3 three-way gates to enter the main hall. The main hall has an area of 192m2, the worshiping inside is simple, but full of the meaning of the Buddha. In the middle of the shrine, the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha is about 2m high, holding a lotus branch in his right hand, called the statue "Buddha Sakyamuni Flower Vi Tieu" (because of the description according to the classic "Nem Hoa Vi Tieu"). The lotus is a symbolic symbol of the Buddhist religion. To the right of the Buddha is Manjushri Bodhisattva riding a lion. On the left is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding a white elephant with six tusks.

Around the top of the main hall are bas-reliefs carved with 8 appearances of the Buddha and elaborately carved wooden envelopes and altars. The corridor in front of the main hall is a row of columns consisting of four wooden round columns. The ceiling is covered with shiny glazed tiles, the slightly curved tile roof exudes the humility of the Vietnamese people, the serenity of the Zen house. On the right side of the main hall is the bell tower carved with reliefs with deep Buddhist meanings, very sophisticated and beautiful. Inside is a big persimmon weighing about 1.1 tons, engraved with meaningful verses full of morality.

Looking down from the main hall is Tuyen Lam Lake, the scenery here is very beautiful, the lake is blue in the shadow of pine trees on the side of Thanh Luong hill. Halfway down the hill, near Tinh Tam lake is a 2-storey guesthouse tucked away on a hill with a green garden. This is where women come to apply for a short stay at the monastery. In front of the house is a verdant bamboo forest. Standing in front of the yard, you can see the top of the elephant mountain reflecting on the majestic Tuyen Lam lake.

How to Get There and Best Time to Visit Thien Vien Truc Lam:

From the center of Da Lat city, visitors can move to Truc Lam Zen Monastery by the following route:

• By road: Take Highway 20 to the foot of Prenn Pass, go about 4km, turn right towards Truc Lam Yen Tu street. When you see Shakyamuni Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree, just go another 1km to the gate of Truc Lam pagoda.
• Cable car: From the city center, move to ¾ road about 3km, after passing through the Da Lat intercity bus station, go a further distance to the cable car station at Robin Hill. Buy a ticket and go straight to Truc Lam Zen Monastery in about 12 minutes.

Adventure Journey

See Also:

• Dalat Vietnam Travel Guide - Things You Need to Know
• Best Things to Do and Places to Visit in Da Lat Vietnam