From the East coast, visitors can see an enormous white statue with the mountain backdrop, that is the Lady Buddha DaNang. Located in the ground of Linh Ung Pagoda, she was sculpted by artisans in Non Nuoc marble village. Thanks to huge sizes and importance in local belief, hundreds of visitors come to this statue daily. That makes it one of top tourist attractions in the city. So why did people place it there? What does it mean? Why Lady Buddha? These are frequently-asked questions. Now all secrets are opened, in order to help visitors to know better about the monument and everything around it.
What is Lady Buddha Da Nang?
Sitting on a hilltop by the sea, Lady Buddha is a 67-meters-tall statue in Linh Ung Pagoda, in Son Tra Peninsula. It’s known as Tuong Phat Ba Quan Am in Vietnamese, or Statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Thanks to its height, this work became the tallest of its kind in the country. Lady Buddha is not only a statue, it is a temple as well, as each of its 17 floors houses twenty-seven Buddha statues for worship. A 2-meter Great Buddha statue is placed in the head. Local people call Buddha in Buddha to describe the characteristic. On the first and 15th days of every lunar month, locals come here to pray and seek peace of mind.
Note: In the surrounding, naughty monkeys that can snatch food and personal items from the hands of visitors, should be aware! The monks also advise not to bring fruits, snacks or other things for them, to encourage their forest return (their home).
Lady Buddha Da Nang Meaning
Lady Buddha is the Goddess of Mercy who is believed to see, hear and sympathise cries of people in the world. Her right hand holds a water vase, containing nectar of life, and she holds a willow branch in her left hand, used to sprinkle the nectar on the prayers. For fishers, she also is a patron saint who follows, gives fortune and saves them on the sea. That’s why they come to pray before setting sail. Standing on a blooming lotus, this perfect depiction faces the city, aiming to shelter its citizens from disasters. Locals have been believing that since her presence, typhoons don’t hit their hometown. In a wider view, as a part of the third Linh Ung Pagoda, itself and two other temples in Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains, create a triangle. Once again, that fences bad things to locals.
History and Construction
The Statue of the Lady Buddha was built at the same time as Linh Ung Pagoda, from 2004 to 2010. Construction of this pair was initiated by Thich Thien Nguyen monk who became the leader of Linh Ung pagoda in the Marble Mountains. Just about the statue, skillful artisans from Non Nuoc marble village in those hills, were responsible in forming. Two sculptors Thuy Lam and Chau Viet Thanh who had experiences in other huge works, were in charge of giving the soul and attitude to her. During the construction, people saw the glories occuring 13 times. One of the most unforgettable times for Buddhists is Buddha’s birthday in 2009. Money used to build it was from donations of monks, followers, locals and firms.
Lady Buddha Da Nang Ticket
DaNang’s Lady Buddha entry is free of charge. Locals often drop a small amount of money into donation boxes, to fund monk life, activities and charity. Parking is also free of charge.
Da Nang with a Local Guide
lady buddha danang
Lady Buddha and its neighbor, Linh Ung Pagoda Son Tra Peninsula are famous Buddhist sites in the city. Both have their own grand architecture and interesting stories linked with Buddhism and Buddha teachings. Not far from there, visitors have the chance to explore stunning places, including sandy beaches, snorkeling spots, peaks, old trees and Vietnam war memorial sites. If traveling with a local guide, all of them can be arranged properly, based on the visitor’s requirements and the guide experience. Moreover, the guide will also share history, architecture, and everything around every stop, in fluent English. Your itinerary will include includes Cham museum, Marble mountains, Hoi An old town and My Son sanctuary.
