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Ta Cu Mountain and the Reclining Buddha, Phan Thiet

The giant white reclining Buddha on Ta Cu Mountain above stone steps, visitors walking along it
Photo: Dat doris, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Cable car about 250,000 VND
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Daytime; no published cable-car timetable — arrive before lunch
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
3 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Cable car
About 250,000 VND return for adults, 150,000 for children
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
On foot
About 3 km and two hours on a forest trail to the pagodas; another hour to the summit
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Reclining Buddha
49 m long, white concrete, 1963–1966
Where
Off highway QL1A in Ham Thuan Nam, ≈ 30 km from central Phan Thiet
Dress
Shoulders and knees covered — the pagodas are active
Payment
Cash in VND
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
10.81429, 107.89502YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

649 mthe height of Ta Cu; Noc Tru summit is an hour's walk above the pagodas
2 sourcesVietnamese WikipediaVnExpress (04.05.2025)
49 mthe length of the white reclining Buddha; it's 7 m high per VnExpress, 11 m per VNA
3 sourcesVietnamese WikipediaVnExpressVietnam News Agency (24.12.2012)
1963–1966when sculptor Truong Dinh Y made the statue, staying on the mountain until it was done
2 sourcesVnExpress (04.05.2025)VNA gives 1962 as the start
1,600 mthe cable car, up to 500 m above the ground; about 10 minutes each way
3 sourcesVietnamese WikipediaVietnam News AgencyVnExpress
≈ 563 mthe altitude of the terrace with Linh Son Truong Tho and Long Doan pagodas
2 sourcesVietnamese WikipediaVnExpress
1870–1880when Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda was built, according to VNA
SourceVietnam News Agency (2012)
"Old mountain"the meaning of the name in old Cham — "ta" mountain, "kou" old
SourceVietnamese Wikipedia
≈ 32 kmby road from the Water Tower in central Phan Thiet to the lower cable car station
2 sourcesOpenStreetMapOSRM route

How much is the Ta Cu cable car?

There's no official website or price list. According to VnExpress (2025) and MIA.vn, the return cable car costs about 250,000 VND for adults and 150,000 VND for children; older guides quote 100,000 VND, which is out of date. Walking up is free.

The cable car runs about 1,600 m, up to 500 m above the ground, in six-person cabins, and takes about 10 minutes. The pagodas and statue are active shrines; donations are optional. Bring cash in dong.

What is Ta Cu Mountain?

Ta Cu (Núi Tà Cú) is a 649 m mountain beside highway QL1A, 30 km south-west of Phan Thiet. Its name means "old mountain" in old Cham. It's part of a nature reserve of more than 10,000 ha, with forest on its slopes and dragon-fruit farms below.

On the slope at about 563 m stand the Linh Son Truong Tho pagoda (built in 1870–1880) and Long Doan pagoda, and above them the main sight: a 49 m white reclining Buddha. Sculptor Truong Dinh Y made it in 1963–1966; tradition says he took vows, shaved his head and didn't come down the mountain until he'd finished. It's one of the largest reclining Buddhas in South-East Asia.

What to see

  • The reclining Buddha — 49 m long, white, on a stone base against the slope, reached by a wide stairway.
  • Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda — 19th-century, with curved tiled roofs and stone steps.
  • Long Doan Pagoda and statues of the Buddhas of past, present and future.
  • The cable car over forest and dragon-fruit fields, with views over the plain and the sea.
  • The hiking trail — 3 km through forest and streams, almost deserted.
  • Noc Tru summit (649 m) — about another hour on foot above the pagodas, for keen hikers.

How to get to Ta Cu Mountain

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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destinationStreet view

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

  1. From the Water Tower in central Phan Thiet it's about 32 km south-west on highway QL1A — 35–45 minutes by Grab or taxi. Search for "Cáp treo Tà Cú".
  2. From Mui Ne (Nguyen Dinh Chieu street) it's about an hour by car via Phan Thiet.
  3. By scooter, ride QL1A towards Ho Chi Minh City; the turn for the cable car is by the highway, with parking at the lower station.
  4. On a tour — Ta Cu is often combined with Ke Ga lighthouse on a trip south.
  5. From Ho Chi Minh City it's about 170 km; buses to Phan Thiet or Ham Thuan Nam drop you on the highway, then take a taxi or motorbike taxi.
  6. Book your ride back in advance — there are few taxis waiting at the foot.

How long do you need, and when to go?

With the cable car both ways, the pagodas and the Buddha take 1.5–2 hours; walking up or down makes it half a day, and Noc Tru summit nearly a full day. Come in the morning — cooler, softer light on the statue and fewer groups.

The best season is the dry season, roughly November to April, when skies are clear and the trail is dry. In the rainy season, May to October, afternoon showers are common and the rocks get slippery.

Is Ta Cu Mountain worth it?

Yes, if you're in Phan Thiet or Mui Ne for more than three days: a 49 m reclining Buddha, old pagodas in the forest and views over the plain make a welcome change from the beach. With Ke Ga lighthouse it's an easy trip south.

The YesGo take: it's a long drive from Mui Ne — about an hour each way — and the cable car isn't cheap for a 10-minute ride. If temples and views don't interest you, the dunes near Mui Ne are a better use of a morning. Keen walkers should hike up — the trail is quiet and shady.

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Temples around Phan Thiet: compare and choose

Temples and shrines around Phan Thiet rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Van Thuy Tu Whale Temple3930 min≈ 15,000 VND, children ≈ 5,00025.5 km
Po Sah Inu Cham Towers3345 minAbout 10,000–15,000 VND30.6 km
Ta Cu Mountainyou are here193 hCable car about 250,000 VND—

South of Phan Thiet in a day

Ta Cu Mountain and the reclining Buddha in the morning, Ke Ga lighthouse on the coast in the afternoon, then central Phan Thiet and the Water Tower towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Ta Cu Mountainyou are here3 h · Cable car about 250,000 VND
  2. 292 min walk from the previous stopKe Ga Lighthouse1 h 30 min · boat ≈ 40,000–100,000 VND, climb ≈ 10,000–35,000
  3. 494 min walk from the previous stopPhan Thiet Water Tower20 min · free (outside only)

3 places · about 17 h 56 min with walks · 786 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • The best shot of the Buddha is from the stairway below, so the whole statue fits in the frame.
  • Ride up and walk down — the trail down takes about an hour and a half.
  • Bring water: you can buy drinks at the pagodas, but not on the trail.
  • Morning light is softer and there are fewer groups — arrive early.
  • Afterwards, head to Ke Ga lighthouse, also south of Phan Thiet.

Questions

How much is the Ta Cu cable car?

Unofficially about 250,000 VND return for adults and 150,000 VND for children. There's no official price list.

Can you hike up Ta Cu Mountain?

Yes — about 3 km and two hours on a forest trail to the pagodas and the Buddha, and another hour or so to the summit.

How long is the Ta Cu reclining Buddha?

49 m — one of the largest reclining Buddhas in South-East Asia. It was made in 1963–1966.

How do I get to Ta Cu Mountain from Phan Thiet?

About 32 km south-west on highway QL1A — 35–45 minutes by car. From Mui Ne it's about an hour.

What are the Ta Cu cable car hours?

There's no official timetable; it runs in the daytime. Arrive before lunch and ask about the last ride down.

How long do you need at Ta Cu?

1.5–2 hours with the cable car; half a day if you hike up or down.

What should I wear?

Cover shoulders and knees — the pagodas are active. If hiking, wear proper shoes and carry water.

Is Ta Cu Mountain worth visiting?

Yes, for the reclining Buddha, old pagodas and views — especially with Ke Ga lighthouse. It's a long drive from Mui Ne.

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 — Núi Tà Cú: height, distance from Phan Thiet, name, cable car, pagodas, reclining Buddha, nature reserve
  • VnExpress (04.05.2025) — cable car price, ride time, the statue's history, hiking trail, Noc Tru summit, route from Ho Chi Minh City
  • Vietnam News Agency (24.12.2012) — cable car length and cabins, pagoda dates, statue dimensions
  • MIA.vn — address, adult and child cable car prices
  • OpenStreetMap — coordinates of the reclining Buddha, lower cable car station and Water Tower; OSRM route — distance
  • YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cash and Grab
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 08.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe tourist area has no official website or price list, so prices, hours and travel times are marked unofficial. The 250,000 VND return cable car fare is from VnExpress (05.2025) and MIA.vn (150,000 VND for children); MyTour quotes an older 100,000 VND. No source publishes a cable-car timetable. The statue's 49 m length is from Wikipedia, VnExpress and VNA; its height is 7 m (VnExpress) or 11 m (VNA), so we show both; work began in 1963 (VnExpress) or 1962 (VNA). The 1,600 m cable car is per Wikipedia and VNA (2012). Trail: about 3 km and two hours per VnExpress, 2,290 m to the summit per Wikipedia. Distance is from an OSRM route from the Water Tower.

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