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Long Son Pagoda

Rating: 4.4

A 24 m white Buddha on the hill, 152 steps, and the whole city below

City centre2.2 km from the centre

Jame Healy · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Address
22 23 Thang 10 street, Phuong Son ward, Nha Trang
Opening hours
Roughly 7:30 – 17:00
Price range
Free
Best time to go
Early morning, before the heat — the 152 steps have no shade
Open in Google Maps

On the map

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · 12.2513, 109.1806

Overview

Long Son Pagoda sits in the middle of town at the foot of Trai Thuy hill. What everyone knows it for is the white seated Buddha, roughly 24 m tall, on the hilltop — visible from much of the city. Reaching its base means climbing 152 steps.

On the way up there's a reclining Buddha and a terrace with Nha Trang spread out all the way to the sea. The pagoda is open to all, with no admission charge.

About those 152 steps: there is no shade over them, so going early before the heat is real advice rather than filler. Anyone who cannot manage the climb can still visit the temple buildings at the foot of the hill — the large statue needs the full ascent. Cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where signs ask.

The pagoda is free, with no ticket — which makes one common pattern at free temples in Vietnam worth knowing: someone may offer incense, present a donation book, or offer to guide you. You are under no obligation to accept. Giving is voluntary, and the temple's own donation box is the unambiguous way to do it.

Don't miss

  • The 24 m white Buddha on top of Trai Thuy hill
  • The reclining Buddha partway up the hill
  • A view across the whole city out to the sea
  • The main hall, with tiled roofs and dragon finials

Practical tips

  • Entry is genuinely free — if someone claiming to be a guide asks for a fee, you don't owe it
  • Cover shoulders and knees. Remove hats inside the main hall
  • Bring water. The steps are steep and fully exposed

Frequently asked

Is Long Son Pagoda free to enter?

Entirely free. If someone claiming to be a guide asks for a fee, you don't owe it.

How hard is the climb to the white Buddha?

There are 152 steps, steep and fully exposed. Go early before the heat, and bring water.

What should I wear?

Cover shoulders and knees, and remove your hat inside the main hall.

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