Linh Ứng Pagoda, Da Nang, Vietnam

If you’re planning to visit Da Nang, Vietnam, and enjoy visiting temples, you probably have Linh Ung Pagoda on your list of places to visit.

But before heading out to see it though, make sure you have the correct address! Because there are actually 3 different Linh Ung pagodas throughout Da Nang!

Linh Ứng Pagoda - Which One?

In 2019, I had wanted to visit the one on the Son Tra Peninsula, but ended up visiting the one at Ba Na Hills instead, thinking that must have been the same one, and despite the fact that it was no where near where I thought it was supposed to be!

Eventually, I realized there are in fact 3 different Linh Ung temples in Da Nang…

• Linh Ung - Bai But (the one I wanted to visit)
• Linh Ung - Ba Na Hills
• Linh Ung - Marble Mountains

So, if you’re looking for the one on the Son Tra Peninsula like I was, make sure you’re looking for the one called Linh Ung - Bai But.

Linh Ứng - Bãi Bụt Pagoda Info

• Address: Vườn Lâm Tỳ Ni, Hoàng Sa, Thọ Quang, Sơn Trà, Da Nang, Vietnam
• Hours: Daily, 06:00 - 21:00
• Time needed to visit: 1 - 2 hours
• Entrance fee: Free
• Official website: vietnamtourism.gov.vn

Getting There

The pagoda is up in the mountains (over 600 meters above sea level), as is the case with most pagodas in Vietnam, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees. At 10km from the Da Nang city center though, it’s also a bit out of the way, so you’ll most probably need to take a car (grab or taxi) or motorbike to get there.

Linh Ứng - Bãi Bụt Pagoda

“Bai But”, which apparently translates to “Buddha’s Land on Earth” or “Land of Buddha”, is the pagoda on the Son Tra peninsula, and the one you see from most parts of Da nang. With an area of 20 hectares, it’s the largest of the 3 Linh Ung pagodas in Da Nang, and is the one with the 67 meter-high white Bodhisattva (Lady Buddha) statue that you see from far.

Locals believe that the Lady Buddha statue protects the fishermen and gives them a safe journey out to sea, and that’s why it’s facing the water.

The Main Gate

After arriving at the main entrance, you’ll need to climb up a few steps to pass the main gate.

Once you pass the main gate, there’s a few different ways you can head. We headed off towards the left to see Lady Buddha, which was the main reason I wanted to visit this particular Linh Ung temple.

Lady Buddha

It’s always so hard to capture the immense size of these statues in photos, as you really only get a sense of their incredible height in person!

I checked inside the main floor the see if there was a way to get up to the top of the statue, but it didn’t look like it was open to regular visitors. There are however 17 floors inside the statue, with 21 Buddha statues on each floor.

After my wife paid her respects to Buddha, we headed to the main temple, which is off to the right of Lady Buddha, or straight ahead if you’re coming from the main gate.

The Main Temple & Complex

Inside the main temple, you’ll be greeted by a statue of laughing Buddha, behind which is the main altar with a large golden Buddha statue.

Behind the main temple you’ll find an interior/exterior central area before reaching the assembly hall and eating area.

The Stupa / Thap Xa Loi

After visiting the main temple, we headed off to see the stupa, or tháp xá lợi. It’s off from the main area, to the right from the main gate and temple. You need to actually leave the main site and cross a road, however it’s all part of the same “Bai But” complex and is only a few steps away.

It’s really quite gorgeous, and as you approach you’ll be greeted by a lying marble Buddha statue.

The stupa is behind the lying Buddha statue, and the gate behind the Buddha. You pass on either the right or left side of the gate to get to the stupa, which is protected by fierce-looking guards (dvarapalas) on either side.

Linh Ứng Bãi Bụt Views

The sun was beginning to set as we were finishing up our visit, and looking out from the stupa was a pretty stunning site!

You’ve actually got a lot of incredible views from the complex, being situated up in the mountains.

The Local Residents

As a final treat, while we were leaving the stupa, one of the monkeys that lives in the area stopped by to grab a bite to eat! Can’t imagine it was very tasty though. 🤨

Conclusion

Linh Ung - Bai But is the pagoda you can see from most of the city in Da Nang. It’s a really beautiful complex, and being up in the mountains means it offers some amazing views of the city.

So if you’re in Da Nang, I’d definitely recommend adding this pagoda to your list of places to see, if it isn’t already on it! Oh, and if you can’t make it out during the day, not to worry, because it’s especially beautiful at night!