Thích Ca Phật Đài

Thích Ca Phật Đài (lit. 'Platform of

It is set on a plot of around five hectares, with a Zen Buddhist monastery at the foot of the plot and the Thích Ca Phật Đài at the top. The Zen monastery is a small brick temple built by a government official from Vung Tau in 1957. In 1961, the Buddhist association organised for a renovation of the monastery and decided to build the Thích Ca Phật Đài further up the mountain. Additional lodgings were built to cater to Buddhist pilgrims who come and visit the site.^[1]

The temple is reached by taking a left turn from the Bến Đình markets and travelling one kilometre to the foot of the Lớn mountain. This leads to the front of the temple, which is marked by a triple gate held up by four imposing and solid pillars. Past the triple gate, there is a long path of stone steps leading up the hill to the temple. The path overlooks the city down to the South China Sea below. The grounds are dense with foliage, resembling a jungle and heavily populated by birds.^[1]

Along the path up to the temple, the way is decorated with various statues that depict important events in the life of

The main statue of Gautama Buddha sitting on a lotus seat stands 10.20 m. The white colour of the statue and the stupa contrast against the blue and green background of the surrounding sky and forest. The site has become a major tourist location in the city as well as a tourist lookout.^[1]

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