Truc Lam Pagoda (or Truc Lam Zen Monastery) is the largest pagoda in Dalat, a city in the central highlands of Vietnam. The pagoda is hidden in the mountains and forests about 7 kilometers from the center. It’s a nice trip from the city, especially because you can combine it with the Dalat cable car, the beautiful Tuyen Lam Lake and the serene forest area to completely relax.
Truc Lam Pagoda
Truc Lam Pagoda is one of the nicest temples in Vietnam, due to its stunning location on top of the hill, surrounded by hills and views on Tuyen Lam Lake, the most beautiful lake of Dalat. More than just a temple, the complex is an actively used monastery housing about 100 nuns and monks who are dedicated to practicing Buddhism. The complex was built in 1994 and follows the practice of Truc Lam, started by Emperor Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), who gave up his throne to became a Buddhist monk and travel around Vietnam.
The inner complex has a monastery residence consisting of two houses, with a meditation hall, kitchen and warehouse. This part has limited access for tourists.
The outside complex is at the top of the hill with the best view, with the temples used for praying. These temples are surrounded by gardens and forests that make it a very peaceful place. The temples themselves may not be the most special in Vietnam, but the location makes it a great place to visit.
Visiting Truc Lam Pagoda
The temple is free accessible and always open. The best way is taking the Dalat cable car, but there is also a parking area close to the Truc Lam Zen Monastery. It is recommended to go by motorbike or car with driver for a day, so you can explore the area around the lake after visiting the pagoda.
Dalat cable car
There are two ways to get to the Truc Lam Pagoda. You can drive there directly with a taxi or motorbike, but the best way is with the Dalat cable car. The entrance to the funicular is 3 km from the center of town. It can be a bit busier on weekends or holidays, but in general you can walk straight from the ticket counter in the cable car here.
The cable car ride is not very long at 2.3km and takes around 12 minutes, but it is a scenic route that takes you over the forests of the central highlands to the top of Robin Hill (1,517m). You have a nice view from the cable car on the way over nature, the city of Dalat and you will see a number of small fruit plantations for which the region is very famous.
Prices and opening hours Dalat cable car
Location
Address: Robin Hill, Ward 3, Dalat city
The best way to get there is either taking a taxi or rent a motorbike in town.
Opening hours
- Opening hours: 7:30am to 11:30am and 1pm to 5 pm
It closed during lunch time, so plan your trip well.
Price
- Round trip ticket price for adults is 100,000 VND, children 70,000 VND
- One-way ticket price for adults is 80,000 VND, children 50,000 VND
Things to do around Truc Lam Pagoda and Dalat cable car
The main highlight of the area around the pagoda and cable car is Tuyen Lam Lake. It is the most stunning lake of the area around Dalat. You can take peaceful boat trips over the lake, but it is also great for kayaking, hiking and even camping. Around the lake are also a few attractions such as the Clay Tunnels and lavender gardens. The lake is large and some of the viewpoints and attractions are a bit further, so it is wise to arrange some sort of transportation to go around the lake.
