Lady Buddha, Da Nang

How tall is Lady Buddha?

The statue stands 67 m tall including its lotus base, which is 35 m across. That’s the figure given by Da Nang’s official tourism portal, Vietnamese Wikipedia and most travel guides. Some international lists quote 70 m for the figure plus a 17 m pedestal, but Vietnamese sources don’t back that up.

The figure is Guanyin — Quan Am in Vietnamese — the bodhisattva of compassion, with a small Buddha about 2 m high set in her crown. She faces the sea, and locals see her as a protector of fishermen and everyone who works on the water.

Inside the statue are tiers of altars — guides say 17, the tourism portal describes 12 floors plus a top level for the Seven Buddhas of the past. Visitors usually only get into the shrine at the base; the upper floors are closed.

Is there an entrance fee?

No. Entry is free, with no ticket desk. The tourism portal lists the pagoda as open all day, with donations — including for motorbike parking — left to you. Incense is sold on site; buy it from the pagoda’s own stalls only.

Opening times aren’t published, and guides disagree: some say 6:00–21:00, others 6:30–17:30. In practice the courtyard is open from early morning into the evening, while the halls and the shrine inside the statue close around 17:30. Come in the daytime if you want to go in.

The only real cost is the ride. Grab takes foreign cards linked in the app or cash; keep small VND notes for incense and donations.

A short history of Linh Ung Pagoda

The pagoda takes its name from a local legend. Under Emperor Minh Mang, in the first half of the 19th century, fishermen are said to have found a small Buddha statue emerging from the sand below Son Tra. They built a little shrine on the spot, the cove became Bai But — “Buddha’s beach” — and their luck at sea improved. Guides present this as legend, not record.

Today’s complex is new. According to the tourism portal, building began in 2004 and the pagoda was inaugurated on 30 July 2010. It was the project of the monk Thich Thien Nguyen, who had already built the Linh Ung pagoda on Ba Na Hills. The statue was planned at 32 m and finished at 67 m.

It’s the largest of three Linh Ung pagodas in the city; the others sit on the Marble Mountains and at Ba Na Hills.

What to see at Linh Ung Pagoda

• The Guanyin statue — white, on a lotus, with a small Buddha in her crown. Walk all the way round: each side gives a different view of the bay, the city and the hills.
• The gate courtyard — a garden of bonsai and dwarf trees in pots, and the classic shot of the statue above the temple roofs.
• The avenue of 18 arhats — marble disciples of the Buddha in two rows, each with his own face and pose.
• The main hall — Shakyamuni Buddha in the centre, flanked by Guanyin and Ksitigarbha. Shoes off, and no close-up photos of people praying.
• The relic tower — a multi-tiered stupa on the grounds.
• The bay view — from the statue terrace you see Da Nang Bay, My Khe Beach and the city skyline. Best in early morning light.

Sunrise, sunset and the best time to go

Da Nang’s tourism portal names 5 am as the best time to visit: the statue faces the sea, the sun comes up over the water and the tour buses haven’t arrived. The sun rises around 6:00 in winter and about 5:15 in summer.

In the evening, roughly 18:00–20:00, the terrace looks over the lights of the city and the coast, with the sun going down behind the city. The halls are shut by then, and a Grab back may take a while to find you.

September to December is the rainy season in Da Nang: cloud can hide the top of the statue and the hill road gets slippery. Check the forecast and pick a clear morning.

The Son Tra peninsula around the pagoda

Son Tra is a hilly peninsula of about 4,400 ha northeast of the city, most of it a nature reserve covered in tropical forest. It’s home to red-shanked douc langurs — among the most striking primates in Vietnam — and to macaques.

The pagoda sits on the open coastal road. Three permitted routes lead deeper into the reserve: to the old banyan tree, to Ban Co Peak and down to Bac Beach. The tourism portal says their barriers open 7:30–17:30 in winter and until 18:30 in summer, with automatic scooters and large coaches kept out.

To spot langurs, go early, stay quiet and ideally take a local guide who knows where they feed. No feeding, no noise.

Is Lady Buddha worth visiting?

Yes, if you have two or more days in Da Nang. It’s the city’s most visible landmark, it’s free, and the bay view is excellent on a clear day. Allow an hour on site, about two hours with the ride from the centre, or half a day if you add the banyan tree or Ban Co Peak.

It’s less worth it as a special trip from Hoi An — an hour each way — on a cloudy day, or if you’ve already seen Vietnam’s big pagodas elsewhere.

It works well with kids: the grounds are flat, with shade and benches. Just keep small hands away from the monkeys.

Lady Buddha or the Marble Mountains

Marble Mountains prices are from Da Nang’s tourism portal; times are from travel guides. Choose the Marble Mountains for an active half day and Lady Buddha for a quick trip with a view — or do both: they’re about 20 km apart on the same coast road.

Temples in Da Nang

Temples and shrines in Da Nang rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

How to do it right

• Come at sunrise or before 8:00 — the courtyard is quiet before the tour buses and the light is soft.
• If you want to go inside the halls and the base of the statue, arrive before 17:30.
• Pack food and drinks away before you get out of the car: the macaques work the car park.
• Ask your driver to wait — Grab pick-ups on the peninsula are slower than in town.
• The best full-length shot of the statue is from the far end of the gate courtyard.
• In the rainy season pick a clear morning; on cloudy days the top of the statue can vanish into mist.
• Pair the pagoda with My Khe Beach or the Marble Mountains — they’re on the same coast road.

Questions