# Ta Cu Mountain and the Reclining Buddha, Phan Thiet > Ta Cu is a 649 m mountain 30 km south-west of Phan Thiet. On its slope, at about 563 m, are the Linh Son Truong Tho and Long Doan pagodas and a 49 m white reclining Buddha made in 1963–1966. Go up by cable car (about 10 minutes; roughly 250,000 VND return, unofficial) or on a forest trail of about two hours. Allow half a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/ta-cu-mountain - City: [Phan Thiet](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet), Vietnam - YesGo score: 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: Cable car about 250,000 VND - With kids: Fine with kids - Cable car: About 250,000 VND return for adults, 150,000 for children - On foot: About 3 km and two hours on a forest trail to the pagodas; another hour to the summit - Hours: Daytime; no published cable-car timetable — arrive before lunch - 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 - Coordinates: 10.81429, 107.89502 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **649 m** — the height of Ta Cu; Noc Tru summit is an hour's walk above the pagodas (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia; VnExpress (04.05.2025)) - **49 m** — the length of the white reclining Buddha; it's 7 m high per VnExpress, 11 m per VNA (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia; VnExpress; Vietnam News Agency (24.12.2012)) - **1963–1966** — when sculptor Truong Dinh Y made the statue, staying on the mountain until it was done (source: VnExpress (04.05.2025); VNA gives 1962 as the start) - **1,600 m** — the cable car, up to 500 m above the ground; about 10 minutes each way (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia; Vietnam News Agency; VnExpress) - **≈ 563 m** — the altitude of the terrace with Linh Son Truong Tho and Long Doan pagodas (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia; VnExpress) - **1870–1880** — when Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda was built, according to VNA (source: Vietnam News Agency (2012)) - **"Old mountain"** — the meaning of the name in old Cham — "ta" mountain, "kou" old (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **≈ 32 km** — by road from the Water Tower in central Phan Thiet to the lower cable car station (source: OpenStreetMap; OSRM 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. > **Cable car up, walk down** The cable car takes about 10 minutes to the pagodas and the Buddha; on foot it's about 3 km and two hours on a shady forest trail. A good plan: ride up and walk down, seeing the forest and streams on an almost empty path. There's no published cable-car timetable, so arrive before lunch and ask at the ticket office about the last ride down. ## 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. > **What to wear and how to behave** The mountain has active pagodas and shrines. Cover shoulders and knees, take your shoes off before the halls, keep your voice down and don't climb on the Buddha for photos. If you're hiking, wear proper closed shoes and carry water — the trail is steep in places and tiring in the heat. ## How to get to Ta Cu Mountain 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. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Clothes covering shoulders and knees - [ ] Cash in dong for the cable car - [ ] Leaving in the morning — before lunch - [ ] Comfortable shoes and water if hiking - [ ] Ride back booked in advance - [ ] Next stop planned — Ke Ga lighthouse ## Temples around Phan Thiet: compare and choose Temples and shrines around Phan Thiet rated by YesGo. - [Van Thuy Tu Whale Temple](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/van-thuy-tu-temple) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 15,000 VND, children ≈ 5,000 - [Po Sah Inu Cham Towers](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/po-sah-inu-towers) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · About 10,000–15,000 VND - [Ta Cu Mountain](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/ta-cu-mountain) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Cable 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 Mountain](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/ta-cu-mountain) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Cable car about 250,000 VND 2. [Ke Ga Lighthouse](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/ke-ga-lighthouse) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · boat ≈ 40,000–100,000 VND, climb ≈ 10,000–35,000 3. [Phan Thiet Water Tower](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/phan-thiet-water-tower) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · free (outside only) ## Good to know Ta Cu Mountain is beside highway QL1A south of Phan Thiet — not the resorts and hotels named "Ta Cu", nor the reclining Buddhas of Thailand or Myanmar. Since 2025 Binh Thuan province has been merged into Lam Dong, so addresses now say "Lâm Đồng". ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/phan-thiet/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. ## How we checked The 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.