Ta Cu Mountain in Phan Thiet is made up of 250,000 square meters of dense rainforests, unusual birds, limestone caves, and ornate Buddhist buildings. Within an hour’s drive of Mui Ne City, tourists can choose between a two-hour walk through the lush rainforest and a 10-minute cable-car trip to the mountain’s summit.

The former alternative is ideally fit for travelers with moderate endurance, since they must ascend a fairly steep stairway followed by a twisting footpath through the forest to reach the main pagoda. There are several smaller shrines along the way, as well as a nearby restaurant where you can stop for snacks and refreshments.

If you take the cable car, the round-trip fare costs VND 160,000 and the ride takes only six minutes to reach the top of Ta Cu Mountain. Along the way, you’ll be treated to dizzying views of Thuan Nam Town, Ham Thuan An Sea, and Ke Ga Lighthouse, as well as rice paddies and a dragon fruit tree.

Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, located atop Ta Cu Mountain, has many worship rooms, three entrance walls, elaborate animal statues, primogenitor caves, and colorful paintings of deities. It was built in 1879, and its main attraction is a 49-metre-long reclining Buddha statue that is said to be the largest of its kind in Vietnam.

Not far from the magnificent building is a grouping of statues known as the “Three Buddha Postures,” one of which stands 7 meters tall.

This well-preserved Buddhist pagoda, open all year, draws throngs of tourists looking to pay their respects during the Lunar New Year or simply admire the tranquil scenery of Ham Thuan Nam and beyond.

Ta Cu Mountain

• Location: Ham Thuan Nam, Binh Thuan, Phan Thiet – Mui Ne
• Price Range: VND 160,000 return fare