Xuan Huong Lake
Da Lat, Vietnam
Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Da Lat
i
Photo: Diane Selwyn, Public domain, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; donations optional
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily roughly 7:00–17:00; one guide says 8:00–16:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Address
- 120 Tự Phước, Trai Mat — ≈ 8 km from central Da Lat on highway QL20
- Train
- Da Lat station to Trai Mat — 7 km, about 30 minutes; then a 5-minute walk
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off in the halls
- Payment
- Cash in VND for donations
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
49 mthe length of the mosaic dragon in the courtyard, its scales made from 12,000 beer bottles
Sourcei
English and Vietnamese Wikipedia37+ mthe seven-tier Linh Thap bell tower — said to be the tallest bell tower in Vietnam
Sourcei
Vietnamese Wikipedia8,500 kgthe weight of the 4.3 m bell, cast in 1999
Sourcei
Vietnamese Wikipedia1949construction began; it was finished in 1950 or 1952 — sources differ
Sourcei
Vietnamese and English Wikipedia1990abbot Thich Tam Vi began rebuilding the temple and covering it in mosaic
Sourcei
English and Vietnamese Wikipedia33 × 12 mthe main hall, with dragon pillars and mosaic reliefs of the Buddha's life
Sourcei
English and Vietnamese Wikipedia"Ve Chai"the pagoda's nickname — the "bottle pagoda", after the bottle dragon
Sourcei
Vietnamese Wikipedia≈ 300 mfrom the Trai Mat tourist-train station to the pagoda — a 5-minute walk
Sourcei
OpenStreetMapOpening hours, entry and how long to stay
Entry is free, with donations optional. There's no official timetable: Vinpearl says 7:00–17:00, VinWonders 8:00–16:00. About an hour is enough for the pagoda; 2–3 hours including the train there and back.
Come on a sunny morning, when the mosaics glitter and there are fewer groups. Weekends and Buddhist festivals — especially the 1st and 15th of the lunar month — are busier. In the rainy season, roughly May to October, go in the morning, as afternoons are often wet.
What is Linh Phuoc Pagoda?
Linh Phuoc (Chùa Linh Phước) is a Buddhist pagoda in Trai Mat village, east of Da Lat. Work began in 1949, and from 1990 abbot Thich Tam Vi rebuilt the temple and covered it in mosaics of broken ceramics, porcelain and glass — hence its nickname, "Ve Chai", the bottle pagoda.
Its records and details: a 49 m dragon in the courtyard, scaled with 12,000 beer bottles; the seven-tier Linh Thap bell tower, over 37 m and said to be the tallest in Vietnam; and inside it a 4.3 m, 8.5-tonne bell cast in 1999. The 33 × 12 m main hall is decorated with dragon pillars and ceramic reliefs of the Buddha's life.
What to see
- The mosaic dragon, 49 m long in the Hoa Long Vien garden, with a statue of the Maitreya Buddha in its mouth.
- The Linh Thap bell tower — seven tiers and 37+ m, housing the 8.5-tonne bell.
- The main hall, with dragon pillars and ceramic reliefs of the Buddha's life and the sutras.
- Mosaic walls and roofs — shards of crockery and bottles forming flowers, dragons and patterns.
- The statue of Quan Am, the Bodhisattva of compassion, in front of the courtyard.
- An exhibition of stones, old ceramics and carved wood.
How to get to Linh Phuoc Pagoda
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- By tourist train from Da Lat Railway Station to Trai Mat — 7 km, about 30 minutes — then about 300 m on foot, 5 minutes.
- By Grab or taxi — about 8 km east of Lam Vien Square on highway QL20, 15–20 minutes. Search for "Chùa Linh Phước".
- By scooter, take QL20 towards Trai Mat and park at the pagoda gate.
- From Lien Khuong Airport (DLI) it's about 30 km to central Da Lat, then 15–20 minutes to Trai Mat.
- Return by train to Da Lat station or by Grab; there are fewer cars in the evening, so book ahead.
Is Linh Phuoc Pagoda worth visiting?
Yes: it's Da Lat's most unusual temple — mosaics of bottles and crockery, a huge dragon and a towering bell tower. With the train from the old station, it makes a great two to three hours.
The YesGo take: the pagoda isn't ancient — almost everything you see dates from after 1990, and some will find the style busy. If history matters more to you than unusual architecture, Truc Lam Monastery is the better choice. Taking a taxi just for the pagoda is less fun than the train, which is half the outing.
Before you go: checklist
Ready: 0 of 6Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Station, train and mosaic pagoda
Da Lat Railway Station in the morning, the tourist train to Trai Mat and Linh Phuoc Pagoda, then a walk around Xuan Huong Lake when you're back. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Da Lat Railway Station45 min · 50,000 VND; train extra
- 84 min walk from the previous stopLinh Phuoc Pagodayou are here1 h · Free
- 99 min walk from the previous stopXuan Huong Lake1 h · Free
3 places · about 5 h 48 min with walks · 183 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- The best shot of the dragon is from the side, framing both its head and the bell tower behind.
- Climb the bell tower's tiers if they're open — from up there you see the mosaic roofs and Trai Mat.
- Look closely at the mosaics: you can spot bottle bottoms and bits of plates in the patterns.
- Check the return train time as soon as you arrive in Trai Mat.
- Start the day at Da Lat Railway Station, where the train leaves from.
Questions
Is there an entrance fee at Linh Phuoc Pagoda?
No — entry is free, and donations are optional.
What are Linh Phuoc Pagoda's opening hours?
There's no official schedule; it's usually open roughly 7:00–17:00. Treat this as unofficial.
How do I get to Linh Phuoc Pagoda from Da Lat?
Take the tourist train from Da Lat Railway Station to Trai Mat (about 30 minutes) and walk 5 minutes, or take a Grab — about 8 km, 15–20 minutes.
Where is Linh Phuoc Pagoda?
In Trai Mat village at 120 Tự Phước, 8 km east of central Da Lat.
Why is it called the bottle pagoda?
The temple is covered in mosaics of broken ceramics, porcelain and glass, and the courtyard dragon is made of 12,000 bottles.
How long is the dragon at Linh Phuoc Pagoda?
49 m, with scales made from 12,000 beer bottles.
How long do you need at Linh Phuoc Pagoda?
About an hour at the pagoda, or 2–3 hours including the train there and back.
Is Linh Phuoc Pagoda worth visiting?
Yes, for the unusual mosaics, the dragon and the bell tower — especially combined with the train from Da Lat station.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Vietnamese Wikipedia — Chùa Linh Phước (based on the pagoda's own published history): address, construction dates, 1990 rebuild, dragon, bell tower, bell, main hall
- English Wikipedia — Linh Phước Temple: construction dates, dragon, main hall
- Vinpearl and VinWonders guides — free entry, hours
- CafeF (02.11.2026) — Da Lat–Trai Mat tourist train: 7 km, about 30 minutes
- Wikidata Q10748461; OpenStreetMap — coordinates of the pagoda and Trai Mat station; OSRM route — distance from Lam Vien Square
- YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cash and Grab
Top YesGo picks: Da Lat
Da Lat Railway Station
Da Lat, Vietnam
Truc Lam Monastery
Da Lat, Vietnam
Crazy House
Da Lat, Vietnam
Da Lat Flower Park
Da Lat, Vietnam
Datanla Falls
Da Lat, Vietnam
Prenn Falls
Da Lat, Vietnam
Pongour Falls
Da Lat, Vietnam