Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Chùa Linh Phước), Dalat, Vietnam

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is a beautiful Buddhist shrine in Da Lat, every surface of which is covered in stunning mosaics. Completed in 1952, the pagoda is often referred to as the pagoda of broken glass due to the 49-metre-long dragon’s head at the entrance gate, which was meticulously pieced together from 12,000 glass bottles. The main hall consists of two rows of cobblestone mosaics and there are also many intricate mosaic bas-reliefs featuring the histories of the Lotus Sutras and of Shakyamuni.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda is 15 minutes away from the Dalat City. To get to here, you can take a taxi, rent a motorbike or take a nice scenic train ride from Dalat Railway Station. There is no entrance fee and you do not even have to pay any money to offer your incense. However, you are highly encourage to contribute a small donation for them to maintain the temple. 

One of the thing that impressed me is an 18-metre-high golden statue of Bodhisattva, which is decorated with over 600,000 flowers. It is in the world record.

This is it! I am trying my best to capture the best view of this majestic tall statue. It is truly amazing. A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who helps show ordinary people the path to understanding. There are bodhisattvas such as the Chinese/ Vietnamese Guan Yin or the Tibetan Tara, who represent the personification of active compassion, and Manjusri, the manifestation of wisdom. Bodhisattvas are often spiritualised beings who were disciples of the historical Buddha, but who delayed their own enlightenment, choosing to remain on earth until all beings are freed from suffering. Their power can help practitioners who know the correct way of invoking it.

Linh Phuoc Pagoda, also called Ve Chai Pagoda, was built from debris of glass, pottery bowls and porcelain between 1949 and 1952 in a remote residential area of Da Lat City. The pagoda has been led by many Buddhist monks and was renovated by Monk Thich Tam Vi in 1990.

The pagoda was built in 1949 and finished in 1952. It had being managed by 4 Buddhist monks, including Mr. Thich Minh The (1951 – 1954), Mr. Thich An Hoa (1954 – 1956), Mr. Thich Quang Phat (1956 – 1959) and Mr. Thich Minh Duc (1959 – 1985). Since 1985, Mr. Thich Tam Vi has managed this pagoda and it had a big restoration in 1990.

The Buddhism is very strong in Vietnam. You would be surprised that it is much more stronger than China. People here are very religious and often very superstitious. However, no matter what religion you are, they welcome you without any bias but when you are here please mind your words and best thing is to keep quiet.

The next thing is the 7 levels Da Bao pagoda. Yes, they have another two levels below of this pagoda. 

Da Bao tower with 27m height, is a seven-tiered-27-meter-tall-tower made from thousands of pieces of broken bowls. On two sides of the tower, bell and drum are put. In the tower, there are some statues of Quan The Am Bodhisattva. This is really the ideal place for visitors to learn more about Buddhism as each floor of the tower is for the worship of each of the gods and goddesses.

You can't walk out of the pagoda after the 3rd level. So this is the 7th level which is shot from their window hole. The panoramic view is amazing.

Visitors can write wishes on small yellow pieces of paper, stick them to the bell, and chime the bell three times to send their prayers to Buddha - a sacred experience.

First level of the underground is mostly souvenir shop, furniture shop and god statues and praying items for purchase.

What lies another level below is the creepy underground. This is the hell's gate. 

There are scary background voice and sound which makes me think I am in a ghost house in an amusement park.

Do not worry. There is nothing coming out to scare the hell out of you. 

Basically it is just to show you what will happen to you in the hell if you are doing any bad deed. The writing on the wall is written in Chinese language and the back ground voice is in Vietnamese.

It does gave me the goosebumps but it is really depend on how superstitious you are. I do believe that whatever bad deed you do, you will have to pay eventually even after you died. For example, what happened to Qin Hui who framed the national hero, Yue Fei during Song Dynasty. He still being mocked and cursed even after 800 years. All his blood related relatives and children are not admitting they have any blood connection with him to avoid being treated nastily.

This is the main temple but this is the only place we cannot take photograph inside the temple. I do not know why but we just have to obey and respect it.

What is interesting beside of the temple is this table which is known as bàn xoay than kỳ. Close your eyes and put your both palm on the table and start using your mind to tell the table to spin to the right or to the left. No, I am not joking. Not all the table can do this trick. Only this old ancient table can do it. It won't really spin, but you can see the table jerking to the left or to the right. It works for us. It is for you to find out if it is working or not.

Overall, I really do believe this is one of the place you have to visit no matter what religion you are. It is amazing! The best part is...it is free!!!

Total Damage: Free
Ambiance: 4/5
Cleanliness: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Recommended?: Yes

Linh Phuoc Pagoda
120 Tự Phước Thành Phố Đà Lạt, 
Phường 11, Thành phố Đà Lạt, 
Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8.00am - 5.00pm (daily)