Bach Ma Truc Lam Zen Monastery - A Place of Worship to Visit Once

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is located on the top of Bach Ma Mountain, often likened to a fairyland with clouds covering it year-round. Here, visitors will experience relaxation and tranquility in the realm of Buddha. At the same time, they can explore nature and enjoy delicious regional dishes.

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, a famous spiritual site in Hue

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is situated in Loc Hoa Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province on Bach Ma Mountain. It is about 10km from National Highway 1A and over 30km from Hue City. The monastery began construction in 2006, featuring various areas including the laymen's quarters, monk's quarters, and nun's quarters with a total of 20 different sections.

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is a famous worship site in Hue

The monastery's principle is to promote the spirit of the Truc Lam sect, serving as a place for monks and nuns to practice meditation. The monastery also contributes to enhancing the majestic natural landscape. It is closely linked to the ecological tourism area of Bach Ma National Park. Therefore, every year, this site attracts many Buddhist followers and tourists for pilgrimage.

What interesting things can you find at Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery?

The monastery is a peaceful place where one can meditate and relax, forgetting all worries. Here, you not only find tranquility but also admire many beautiful landscapes.

Admire the 24m tall statue of Buddha

This is a seated meditation statue located on a hill in the middle of a lake. The statue is made of stone, weighing about 15 tons, with a height of 24m. Surrounding the statue are many paintings depicting the life of Buddha. All of this creates a vivid and unique atmosphere for this place. The statue is also a destination for many Buddhist followers and visitors who come to worship and pray for peace.

The giant Buddha statue is 24m tall

Visiting Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

The monastery is also famous for its majestic and ancient architecture. The main areas include the monk's quarters, the laymen's quarters, and the nun's quarters. First, when you pass through the entrance, you will arrive at the main courtyard in front of the main hall, where the bell tower and drum are located. The first impression is one of serenity and relaxation, with the sound of the bell blending with the chirping of birds in the vast space.

In addition, visitors can stroll around, explore the structures rich in Buddhist architecture, and enjoy the beautiful scenery around. Since it is located in Bach Ma National Park, it is not difficult to spot various animal species from the monastery. The laymen's quarters is the most solemn area, with the Dai Hung Hall entirely made of wood and an airy space.

The surrounding space of the monastery

Visit the poetic Truoi Lake

The lake is part of the Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, covering an area of over 400ha. Here, visitors will be amazed by the clear, poetic water that resembles a giant mirror. It is often likened to a pure lotus flower blooming early amidst the vast and majestic mountains.

In the past, the lake was not as wide as it is now, as it only served agricultural irrigation purposes. However, due to increasing demand and landscape improvement, its area has gradually expanded. In the early morning or autumn, the mist surrounding the lake creates a beautiful watercolor painting effect.

At Truoi Lake, you can experience sitting on a boat, drifting on the water, immersing yourself in nature, and listening to the sound of the temple bells. This is a feeling of returning to a peaceful place and releasing all worries in life.

The picturesque scenery of Truoi Lake

Delicious dishes at Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is not only famous as a pilgrimage site but also for its unique specialties.

• Fragrant Jackfruit: According to history, jackfruit has been grown since 1831 along with other plants to protect the dikes. Truoi jackfruit is famous for its aroma, sweetness, and appeal to all visitors.
• Thanh Tra Fruit: It has a refreshing taste, with a faint aroma, juicy, and a sweet-sour flavor that stimulates the palate.
• Wet Cake: It is thinly rolled but still very chewy, served with roasted pork, fried onions, lean pork belly, fresh vegetables, pickled onions, and bean sprouts. All of these blend into a unique flavor that is characteristic of Hue.
• Truoi Strawberry: The strawberries here are famous for their delicious taste and sweet flavor, making anyone who tries them remember them forever.
• Delicious Stream Fish Dish: During your journey to Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, stream fish is a dish you should not miss. The fish is caught directly from the streams and fried crispy, with a fragrant and firm texture that is irresistible.

Crispy fried stream fish

How to get to Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Depending on your starting point, you can choose to travel by bus, plane (Phu Bai Airport), personal vehicle, or rent a car to reach Hue. For convenience, personal transportation is the best option. Other means of transportation will depend on the fixed schedule of the vehicles.

If you go by yourself, this monastery is about 10km from National Highway 1A, over 30km from Hue City, and about 60km from Da Nang. Therefore, traveling is not too difficult; just follow the right direction. Starting from the center of Hue City, head south to Truoi Bridge. Then take a boat to reach Truc Lam Bach Ma, and remember to prepare life jackets for a smooth journey.

There are many ways to get to Hue

A few things to note when visiting Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

When visiting the monastery, as it is a spiritual place, you need to pay attention to the following things for a smooth journey:

• Visit during opening hours: In addition to choosing to go on sunny days and avoiding rainy times, you also need to visit between 6 AM and 5 PM.
• Appropriate clothing: Wear respectful, modest, and comfortable clothing, and wear sports shoes for easy climbing.
• Maintain a respectful attitude at the Buddha's door: You should keep quiet and not make noise in this sacred place.
• Ensure safety when boating: On the boat, wear life jackets and follow the instructions of the boatman.
• Prepare light snacks: The tourist site does not have many places selling food, so bring along some light snacks.

Be sure to prepare appropriate clothing when visiting the monastery.

When is the best time to visit the meditation center?

The weather in Hue is relatively pleasant throughout all four seasons. Therefore, visitors can come to the meditation center at any time of the year. Each time frame here has its own unique beauty with interesting activities. For example:

• Visiting for worship in the summer: The atmosphere is very cool and fresh, suitable for sightseeing and hiking in dry weather.
• Visiting the meditation center in the winter: The scenery resembles a mystical painting with mist and drizzling rain, incredibly poetic.

Choose the right time to visit the meditation center during opening hours.

It can be said that the Truc Lam Bach Ma Meditation Center is an ideal stop for sightseeing and worship in Hue. With the majestic and poetic landscape of this space, it brings a sense of tranquility and relaxation. Let NVK Travel accompany you to create memorable journeys in the dreamy land of Hue.!