Location: 18 mi (30 km) South of Phan Thief, Binh Thuan province
Info: (062) 386 7484
Ta Cu Mountain is situated 18 mi (30 km) South of Phan Thief in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province of Vietnam. This nature reserve is covered by a network by hiking trails and beautiful views. Tu Cu Mountain is famous for its giant statue of Reclining Buddha. Ta Cu Mountain was considered sacred by local population for centuries. In the 18th century Vietnamese emperor ordered construction of Sean Tho pagoda to honor Buddhist monk who saved his wife. Later small Buddhist temple began to grow as more monks flocked to Ta Cu Mountain. Monks built new living quarters, statues of Buddhist and graves of deceased brethren. Obviously its largest landmark is a massive statue of a Reclining Buddha in the Ta Cu Mountain. It is white, it is huge, you can't miss it.
Location: Phan Thiet
The main landmark in a town of Phan Thiet is a religious Buddhist complex with several ancient pagodas ana large statue of Reclining Buddha. This massive statue was constructed on Ta Cu Mountain in 1963- 66 despite a Vietnam war that went on in the region. Statue portrays Buddha who is about to enter nirvana. It measures forty-nine meters long and eleven meters high. Number 49 symbolized the number of steps of self- knowledge according to Buddhist teachings, while 11 is the number of stages of Buddhism.
Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here from various countries to this impressive statue. You can walk up a steep slope of Ta Cu Mountain, but it requires certain degree of stamina and strength. Most of them uses pathways and stairs that reach an elevation of 400 m, but you can also take a cable car that will take you to the summit of the mountain faster.
Another interesting destination on a Ta Cu Mountain is a Ta Cu Pagoda. It was constructed in the 19th century by Abbot Nguyen Huu Duc. This monk became famous for his wisdom and an alleged power to heal people who came for help. Many Buddhist pilgrims still come to Ta Cu Pagoda in hope of a miracle. During reconstruction of Ta Cu Pagoda pilgrims were asked to pick few bricks with them. On one hand they were promised remission of sins and on the other hand they helped deliver heavy stones fore reconstruction of the historic religious building.
Initiated in 1996, the Ta Cu climbing competition was organized and
became a local competition. To reach the top of Noc Tru mountain located
in the forbidden forest, visitors may need 2 hours to cross 2,290 m of
road. steep. Bang Lang is the highest slope, inclined at 45°. Or
visitors can sit for 10 minutes in the cabin "flying" along a 1,600 m
long cable at an altitude of 500 m, admiring the vast green forest.
Located at an altitude of 563 m (not yet reaching the top) are two
pagodas: Upper Pagoda (Linh Son Truong Tho) and Lower Pagoda (Long
Doan), with high stone steps and towers. There is a reclining Buddha
statue here, made of concrete and whitewashed, 49 meters long, longer
than the reclining Buddha statue at Thailand's famous Wat Pho temple.
The mountain is located in the Ta Kou Nature Reserve, which is more
than 10,000 hectares wide
Average temperature ranges from 18 to 22 °C. In the past, this was a volcano of the first era, so the soil contained placer gold and sulfur
Tà means "to lean" or "to go back", Cú means "the owl" or "opinion" and indicates the history of the mountain, according to which the fate of the queen, who was actually terminally ill, turned out for the better.
The righteous master Trân Huu Dúc (1812-1888), who tamed wild animals, founded the pagoda on the mountain. At this time, King Tu' Dúc the 33rd treated the terminally ill Queen of Huê´ with medicinal plants in the mountains of Tà Cú and saved her. The king therefore named the pagoda: "Linh Sơn Trường Thọ" (English: effective painting longevity). In addition, the death anniversary of Master Trân Huu Dúc is celebrated on the mountain every year on October 5th. The pagoda can be reached via a cable car or along a stony hiking path.
In 2002, the 1.6 km long and 505 m high cable car was installed, transporting 700-1000 passengers a day to the pagoda. On the mountain itself there is a 49 m long and 11 m high reclining Buddha statue (Tuong Phat nam = "reclining white Buddha"). There are also numerous tombs, a Buddhist temple that is still inhabited today, and 3 statues of the Gods of Mercy, which stand below the Buddha statue. The over 100-year-old Linh Son Truong Tho Monastery can also be reached by a two-hour walk.