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VietnamDescription and Is It Worth Visiting
Thien Vien Monastery (Thien Vien Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery) is a kind of tourist attraction and simultaneously an important religious site all in one. After all, to get to this monastery, you are offered to take a cable car ride to the top of Phung Hoang Hill, where it is located. In this case, you only have to pay for the cable car ride; visiting the monastery itself is free. If desired, you can also get to the monastery by road by taxi, rented transport, or on tour buses, but the cable car is more interesting.
This, by the way, is the only cable car in Da Lat. Its length is 2267 meters, travel time is 10-12 minutes. While you are ascending, from the cabin you will be able to see wonderful bird's-eye views of the surroundings. It's just a pity that the ride is too short. But no problem, stunning views also open up at the top, and in general, you will see a lot of interesting and beautiful things in the monastery.
The monastery has a recent history, built only in 1994. It is considered one of the largest Da Lat monasteries; only Van Hanh Zen Monastery is larger. Essentially, it is a small Buddhist village consisting of several separate structures (pagodas, a gilded stupa, pavilions with a huge bell and drum, monks' dwellings, etc.). There is even its own artificial lake with fish. The monastery complex territory is very picturesque, with well-kept lawns and bushes shaped like animals, gazebos. And there are always many tourists here, as this is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city.
If you descend from the main monastery square, where all tourists usually stroll, you will find yourself in its utility and residential part, where the monks' houses are located. Nearby is a small artificial pond Tinh Tam. Not far from it, near the guest house, there is a descent of 140 steps that will lead to the shore of Tuyen Lam Lake. There you can take a boat ride on the lake on multi-passenger boats or kayaks.
When visiting, do not forget about the rules of conduct and clothing: no short skirts, shorts, or tank tops. You must walk around the inner courtyard in modest clothing, as this is a monastery.
🕐 Opening Hours
The cable car operates from 7:30 to 17:00, with a break from 11:30 to 13:00. The monastery gates on the Tuyen Lam Lake side close at 16:30.
💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Prices
Entrance to the monastery is free. Cable car tickets:
- Adult round trip - 150,000 VND / 5.7 USD, see Vietnam currency.
- Adult one way - 120,000 VND / 5.7 USD.
- Children round trip - 120,000 VND / 4.56 USD.
- Children one way - 100,000 VND / 3.8 USD.
🚶 How to Get There
The monastery is located 5 kilometers from the city center on Phung Hoang Hill (monastery on the map). There is a normal road leading here, you can easily get there by rented motorbike, car, or taxi. Parking is free.
But it is more interesting to get here by cable car. You can arrive, including to the top by cable car, and then walk back to the city center.
The lower cable car station is located almost in the city center next to the bus station (cable car station on the map). You can even walk to it from many hotels in the center, or by taxi from 40,000 VND.
Thien Vien Truc Lam Monastery is included in many sightseeing tours of Da Lat, although typically visitors are brought here directly by buses, bypassing the cable car. You can buy such tours online on websites like Klook, Weatlas, Trip.com (accepts Russian cards).