Tay Thien Pagoda is known as one of the 3 largest monasteries of the Truc Lam lineage, located on a majestic mountain with charming scenery along with unique ancient architecture. In particular, the unique name "Tay Thien" is also one of the reasons that tourists want to explore more about this place.

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1. Where is Tay Thien?

Located about 65 km northwest of Hanoi capital, Tay Thien tourist area is an integrated cultural and tourist complex in the Tam Dao primeval forest basin.

The name Tay Thien meaning "Western sky", is the root of the Sino-Vietnamese word. Buddhism believes that Tay Thien is the world of ecstasy, where Buddha resides. The word Tay Thien is used to refer to Thach Ban mountain of the Tam Dao range. This place is considered as one of the origins of the strong development of Buddhism in Vietnam and is the place to worship Tay Thien National Mother, one of the two National Mothers who were ordained during the reign of Hung Vuong.

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2. Guide to Tay Thien

Private vehicles

• Motorcycle

From Hanoi, go to Pham Van Dong street (or ring road 3 straight up) then go to Thang Long bridge, motorbikes are not allowed on the 2nd floor of the bridge, so you should pay attention to the signposts to go to the 1st floor. Cross Thang Long bridge, go straight Noi Bai street to Nam Hong intersection (with overpass crossing) you turn left in the direction to Me Linh (Phuc Yen), go straight this road follow the signpost to go to Vinh Yen. At the beginning of the city, there will be a sign directing you to Tay Thien - Tam Dao, follow the signpost about 20km to the Tay Thien scenic area.

• Car

If you go by car, go in the direction of Nhat Tan bridge, at the intersection of Highway 2, turn right to Vinh Yen and then turn into Hanoi - Lao Cai highway, exit the highway at IC4 intersection (National Highway 2B intersection), then turn around and run straight along this highway in the direction to Tam Dao. At the foot of Tam Dao slope, you go straight along with the signpost to Tay Thien.

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Public transport

Going by public transport will take a little longer (about 2.5 hours from Hanoi) and it will take time to transfer between vehicles, but you will not have to worry about finding your way. Take bus number 58 (Hanoi Bus) to Me Linh plaza stop, continue to take bus VP01 (Vinh Phuc bus) to Vinh Yen bus station, then transfer to Vinh Phuc bus route VP07 to Tay Thien.

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3. Traveling means in Tay Thien

Walk

If your health is good enough, you can absolutely choose to climb to the top of Tay Thien. The total distance is about 4km with many walks under the shade of trees, wading streams, it's very cool and interesting. The last part from Co Temple to Thuong Temple is the most difficult to walk due to the steep slope, but the other rest part is quite easy to go. Time to the top is about 2-3 hours, depending on the time you stop along the way.

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Cable car

Walk up to the platform, you buy tickets here and then move to the 2nd floor to enter the cabin. With this option, it will only take you about 10 minutes to move up to the Thuong Temple. From Thong Temple area, you can walk or rent a tram to get to the cable car station.

The cable car's operation time is from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays

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4. Service price in Tay Thien

You can reference the following prices:

Motorbike parking: 10k

Two-way tram ticket: 40k

Cable car ticket: 200k round trip, 130k one way

Sugarcane juice: 10k

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5. Tourist attractions in Tay Thien

Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery which belongs to the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen lineage is located in Dai Dinh commune, Tam Dao district, about 85 km away to the west of Hanoi. Along with Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat and Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Yen Tu, Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Vietnam. Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery was built right next to the ancient Tay Thien scenic area.

Tay Thien Monastery is a place for systematic Buddhist training, creating conditions for Vietnamese Buddhism to develop in both breadth and depth, and promoting exchanges with Buddhist lines of other countries.

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Truc Lam An Tam Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Zen Monastery system in Tay Thien area includes Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery (monk temple) and Truc Lam An Tam Zen Monastery (ni temple). Truc Lam An Tam Zen Monastery was built in 2009 by nun Thuan Giac and the main part was completed in 2012. An Tam has the main temple to worship Shakyamuni Buddha, the ancestral house to worship the Zen Buddhism ancestors, a guesthouse and a restaurant that can serve 200 people at the same time. There are also meditation halls for meditators to practice; many meditation rooms for nuns to practice.

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Great Stupa Mandala

The Great Stupa, built in the traditional Vajrayana architecture, was first built in Vietnam by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa who directly guided the design and instilled the mind according to the Buddha's teachings in the scriptures on how to build the Great Mandala Universe. The Great Stupa started construction on 16/3/2011, with the height of 29m, the total floor area is more than 1500m2, along with a spacious sound floor, designed according to Vajrayana Buddhist architecture.

The base diameter is 60m, 3 floors have different shapes, representing the 6 elements forming the universe and life: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Void and Consciousness. The three parts of the Stupa represent the Buddha's enlightened Body, Speech, and Mind. The second floor is a place for tourists from all over the world to worship and pray, this floor is decorated with a lineage tree with more than a hundred Buddhas and Bodhisattvas seated on the branches of the tree.

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Thong Temple

Thong Temple is also the place that tourists often visit first during their journey. The pagoda was built on the old temple, in front is a nine-root banyan tree creating a prominent highlight for Thong temple.

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Cau Temple

According to the people, the temple started from Truong Sinh valley, has a bowl of incense and a stone. It is said that Cau lived here, gathered and raised troops before sending his troops to the Mau temple. The temple was repaired by the management board and local people together in 1993.

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Co Temple

Following the journey, from Cau temple go about 2km more, we will come to Co temple. Co Temple was built a long time ago and is currently worshiping Co Be. According to the story, Co Be is a child of heaven and stayed here to help the people and the country. Located in a national forbidden forest, Co Temple encountered some difficulties during the planning, construction and remodeling process, but the scenery here is beautiful. Surrounding the temple are rich plants and fresh air creating an elegant, airy and peaceful scene.

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Temple of National Mother Tay Thien

The highlight of Tay Thien temple is the national mother temple located on the top of Tay Thien mountain. This place is known as the place to worship Mother Lang Thi Tieu - a royal consort ordained during the 7th Hung Vuong reign.

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Tay Thien Silver Waterfall

Far in the distance, at the top of the mountain, standing out against the dark green background of the old forest is a soft white silk stripe that stretched straight down to a deep abyss below. It is Silver Waterfall, a high, wide waterfall with silver luster water as its name suggests. Also named Silver Waterfall originates from the stream running along with Tam Dao town or the waterfall at the top of Sa Pa town, but the waterfall in Tay Thien is wider than the others. In the dry season, healthy young people can find their way across the stream to the other side and then follow the cliff to climb to the top of this waterfall.

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6. Some notes when traveling to Tay Thien.

- If you go in the summer, remember to prepare long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats and bring the necessary amount of water. In addition, if you go through noon, you should also prepare snacks to eat along the way.

- If you drive by yourself, when you come to the beginning of Tay Thien Festival Center, don't turn there, just go straight to the foot of the mountain to avoid having to walk far.

- If you decide to hike to Tay Thien, remember to prepare sandals (or rent at the foot of the mountain) because when climbing, you will have to pass a lot of streams, wearing shoes that are easy to get wet.

- If you like the bustling atmosphere of the festival, you should remember to come to Tay Thien on February 15, 16, and 17 (lunar calendar) every year. This is one of the biggest festivals of the North, held in memory of Tay Thien National Mother.

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Source: collected