One of the most famous and interesting attractions in Da Lat, Vietnam, is Linh Phuoc Pagoda, or as tourists often call it, the “Temple of a Thousand Dragons”. Not only is the pagoda itself interesting, but the way to get there can also be considered a separate, exciting adventure. If you are looking for what to see in Da Lat, this location should be added to your itinerary among the very first.
Navigation:
- How to get to Linh Phuoc Pagoda
- About the pagoda: records and architecture
- What to see near the temple
How to Get to Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is located 8 km from the center of Da Lat. There are many ways to get here on your own, even if you don’t rent a motorbike and don’t take guided tours.
Exact address for maps: Linh Phuoc Pagoda
By Train
A vintage retro train runs specifically to the pagoda from almost the very center of Da Lat. This is the most interesting, atmospheric, but also the most expensive way to get to the attraction.
Both the walk around the historical station and the train ride itself are interesting here. The Da Lat railway station was built by the French. Unfortunately, the original railway line has barely survived: today, the train only runs between Da Lat and the village of Trai Mat, where the pagoda is located. In 2001, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture added this station to the list of national cultural sites.
Departure station in Da Lat: Dalat Railway Station
The fare is 150,000 VND for a round-trip ticket. But there is a slight inconvenience: the train runs only 4 times a day, and only on days when there is sufficient tourist demand. Only one train is guaranteed to depart on a daily basis.
The entire train excursion lasts 1.5 hours: the train ride takes 30 minutes one way, and you are given only 30 minutes to walk around the pagoda itself. This is really very little time. Therefore, if you decide to go on a railway journey, I strongly recommend buying a one-way ticket. You can calmly and cheaply return to Da Lat at any time convenient for you on a public bus.
By Bus
We went to Linh Phuoc Pagoda by bus because we arrived at the railway station too late. Public bus No. 6 goes to the village of Trai Mat. Almost all minibuses and buses in Da Lat depart from the central market. Just wave your hand, and the driver will stop.
The fare is only 20,000 VND per person.
Be sure to tell the driver that you are going to Linh Phuoc Pagoda, and he will drop you off right at the temple gates.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda: History and Records
The construction of the pagoda began in 1949 and was completed in 1952. In the early 90s, the temple was massively reconstructed and expanded — for example, the famous bell tower was added.
Linh Phuoc Pagoda is the absolute record holder in Vietnam for the number of “mosts”:
- Unique mosaic. The most amazing thing is that the pagoda is completely (absolutely all walls, handrails, ceilings, and dragon columns) made of mosaics. Or rather — from the remnants of broken dishes, glass, and porcelain. According to legend, broken glass and ceramics were collected all over Vietnam. I don’t know how true this is, but it looks incredibly cool. We really enjoyed examining the patterns on small pieces of porcelain.
- The heaviest bell in Vietnam. The bell is 4.3 meters high, 2.33 meters wide, and weighs a colossal 8,500 kg. It was cast in 1999. What is interesting for tourists: anyone can write their cherished wish on a piece of paper. A monk will attach it to the bell, and then you can strike it with a wooden log so that your wish will definitely come true.
- The largest floral statue of Bodhisattva Guan Yin. Bodhisattva Guan Yin is the Asian goddess of mercy. The local statue reaches 17 meters in height, and it is completely made of dried everlasting flowers (strawflowers). It took about 650,000 buds to create it!
I can’t imagine what you can manage to see here in the 30 minutes allotted when traveling by tourist train. We spent about an hour just slowly climbing the bell tower, looking around the surroundings from its top, making a wish, and ringing the bell. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go down to the dungeon — the “Room of Heaven and Hell”, although we really love such places. Temples of Heaven and Hell can often be found in Thailand (the largest one is in Chiang Mai). I advise you to definitely visit this room in Linh Phuoc, but try to perceive the installations not literally, but as an instructive Buddhist philosophy.
After the journey and an eventful walk around the temple, we were insanely hungry. But, unfortunately, there are practically no normal cafes and restaurants in the area. Right at the gates of the pagoda, you can have a snack with simple Vietnamese street food: they sell baked corn and sweet potatoes. They also offer peeled strawberries here (Da Lat is famous for them), but alas, they look dirty. For ourselves, we found delicious homemade yogurt for 10,000 VND and warmed up with hot jasmine tea for free.
What to See Near the Pagoda
After seeing the Temple of a Thousand Dragons, do not rush to leave back to Da Lat. Near it are other interesting and highly unique locations for photos.
Literally 600 meters (or a 9-minute walk) away is the Cao Dai Temple. I confess, until that day we hadn’t even heard anything about this religion. As Wikipedia told us, Caodaism originated in southern Vietnam in the early 20th century. This religion is unique in that it synthesizes elements of Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and Buddhism.
And besides religious sites, in the vicinity of Linh Phuoc there are very cool scenic coffee shops, popular with local bloggers. Unfortunately, there is almost no full meal in them — only drinks. But it is definitely worth stopping by here for the atmosphere and chic photo zones. The grounds are decorated incredibly stylishly: there are tables in the shape of hot air balloons, “stairways to heaven”, picturesque swings, and, of course, huge flower beds and decorations.
There are several such establishments in the pagoda area, but we chose the nearest one — IXORA HOMESTAY & COFFEE. I wouldn’t be lying if I said that the coffee shop impressed us almost more than the pagoda itself. It is ideal to come here around 16:30 to relax for an hour after the excursion, and then enjoy the stunning sunset in the mountains of Da Lat.
Entrance to the cafe territory is free (yes, in Vietnam you often have to pay separately for entrance to beautiful locations). Any drink from the menu costs about 60,000 VND.
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