Long Son Pagoda Nha Trang 2026: White Buddha & Visiting Tips

Long Son Pagoda (Chùa Long Sơn) is Nha Trang’s best-known Buddhist temple, founded in 1886 at the foot of Trai Thuy Hill on 23 Thang 10 Street, about 400 m from the railway station. It is famous for the giant White Buddha, a 24 m seated statue from 1964 reached by about 150 steps, with views over the city. Entry is free.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal and free of charge (donations welcome). The pagoda is busiest on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month and at Lunar New Year; the address is now in Khanh Hoa Province, which absorbed Ninh Thuan on 1 July 2025.

Why Long Son Pagoda is worth seeing:

The White Buddha: a 24 m seated Buddha on a lotus, Nha Trang’s most recognisable landmark, visible from much of the city.
A 17 m reclining Buddha carved in stone on the hillside on the way up.
Over a century of history: founded in 1886 and honoured with a royal title in 1938.
A moving memorial to the monks and nuns who died during the 1963 Buddhist crisis.
City views from the statue platform over rooftops, the cathedral and the hills.
Free and central, an easy stop on any city tour.

Long Son Pagoda at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Chùa Long Sơn (Sắc tứ Long Sơn Tự; originally Đăng Long Tự)
Location	22 23 Thang 10 Street, at the foot of Trai Thuy Hill, central Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province
Distance	About 400 m west of Nha Trang railway station; about 2 km from Tran Phu beach road
Founded	1886; moved to the present site after a storm in 1900
Known for	24 m White Buddha (Kim Thân Phật Tổ), 17 m reclining Buddha, dragon mosaics, city views
Opening hours	Daily, from early morning until early evening
Entrance fee	Free (donations welcome)
Time needed	45–60 minutes
Best time	7:00–9:00 or late afternoon; January–August for dry weather
Nearby	Nha Trang Cathedral, railway station, Dam Market, Ponagar Cham Tower
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Long Son Pagoda Worth Visiting?

Yes, it is the most important Buddhist site in Nha Trang and the White Buddha is worth the climb. It is free, close to the centre and gives a quick insight into Vietnamese Buddhism and the city’s modern history, with a good viewpoint as a bonus.

Best for: culture lovers, photographers, families, anyone wanting a city overview.
Skip if: you cannot manage stairs in the heat and have already seen bigger Buddha statues elsewhere in Vietnam.
Short on time: walk straight up to the White Buddha, then visit the main hall on the way down; 40 minutes is enough.

History of Long Son Pagoda

Founding and relocation

The pagoda was founded in 1886 as a simple thatched temple named Đăng Long Tự, led by the monk Thích Ngộ Chí (1856–1935). In 1900 a powerful storm destroyed it, and it was rebuilt at the foot of Trai Thuy Hill and renamed Long Sơn Tự. In 1938, under Emperor Bao Dai, it received a royal title and became Sắc tứ Long Sơn Tự.

The White Buddha and the 1963 Buddhist crisis

The giant White Buddha was built in 1964 and inaugurated in 1965 as a memorial to the monks and nuns who gave their lives during the 1963 Buddhist crisis against the Ngo Dinh Diem government, the most famous being Thich Quang Duc. Portraits of those monks are displayed around the base of the statue.

War damage and restoration

The pagoda was badly damaged in 1968 during the war. Restoration started in 1971 and was about 60% complete when it was interrupted in 1975; the temple has been restored and expanded several times since.

What to See at Long Son Pagoda

1. The entrance gate and dragon mosaics

At street level, the three-entrance gate and the roofs of the main buildings are decorated with dragons made from broken glass and ceramic tiles, a typical central Vietnamese technique.

2. The main hall

The main hall houses a large bronze Buddha and altars for incense and offerings, with classical motifs given a modern touch. Remove your shoes before entering and keep your voice low.

3. The bell and drum towers

Beside the hall stand the bell tower and drum tower used for daily rituals; the deep bell sound marks morning and evening chanting.

4. The reclining Buddha

About a third of the way up the hill, a granite reclining Buddha about 17 m long depicts the Buddha entering Nirvana. It is a peaceful spot to pause before the final climb.

Large reclining Buddha statue at Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang — A large reclining Buddha lies on the hillside halfway up. Photo: Jame Healy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

5. The White Buddha (Kim Thân Phật Tổ)

At the top of about 150 steps sits the White Buddha: 24 m from the ground, made up of a 14 m seated Buddha on a 7 m lotus throne and its base. Seven smaller statues surround it and two large dragons guard the stairway.

6. The viewpoint over Nha Trang

The statue platform looks over Nha Trang’s rooftops, the cathedral’s bell tower and the green hills inland. Morning and late-afternoon light are best for photos.

Long Son Pagoda Entrance Fee and Opening Hours

Item	Detail
Entrance fee	Free; donation boxes inside
Opening hours	Daily, early morning to early evening; avoid very early or very late visits
Busiest days	1st and 15th days of each lunar month, Lunar New Year, Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday)
Steps to the White Buddha	About 150

Long Son is an active pagoda managed by its monks, so there is no ticket office; any donation is entirely voluntary.

Rules and Etiquette at Long Son Pagoda

Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees.
Remove your shoes before entering the main hall.
Do not climb or sit on statues, and never point your feet at a Buddha image.
Keep quiet during chanting and ask before photographing monks.
Donate only into the official boxes and politely decline unofficial guides or sellers who attach themselves to you.

How to Get to Long Son Pagoda

From	How	Time
Tran Phu beach hotels	Grab car or bike, taxi	5–10 min
Nha Trang railway station	Walk west along 23 Thang 10 Street	About 5 min
Nha Trang Cathedral	Walk or Grab	15–20 min walking / 5 min by car
Ponagar Cham Tower	Taxi or Grab	15 min
Cam Ranh International Airport	Taxi, Grab or airport bus	45–50 min

More options are in our Nha Trang transport guide.

Best Time to Visit Long Son Pagoda

When	What to expect
January–August (dry season)	Sunny and dry; hot by late morning from May to August
September–December (rainy season)	Heavy rain and typhoon risk in October–November; steps can be slippery
7:00–9:00	Cool climb, soft light on the White Buddha, few tour groups
Late afternoon	Golden light and city views; quieter than midday
Lunar New Year and full-moon days	Crowds of worshippers and incense; atmospheric but busy

Local Expert Tips for Long Son Pagoda

These tips come from years of arranging Nha Trang tours for international travellers.

Go early: the stone steps heat up fast and there is little shade near the top.
Bring water and wear shoes you can slip off at the main hall.
Be firm but polite with anyone offering to guide you or sell incense; nobody official will ask you for money.
Read the memorial portraits at the base of the White Buddha for context on the 1963 events.
Walk on to Nha Trang Cathedral afterwards; together they take about 90 minutes.
Try a vegetarian lunch nearby or local noodles from our Nha Trang food guide.

Long Son Pagoda vs Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat

Feature	Long Son Pagoda	Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Setting	Hillside in the city centre	Pine hills above Tuyen Lam Lake
Highlight	24 m White Buddha and city views	Zen gardens, flowers and lake views
Age	Founded 1886	Built in the 1990s
Entry	Free	Free
Time needed	45–60 minutes	1–2 hours (with cable car)

Our view: Long Son is the quick, historic city stop; Truc Lam is a calmer, scenic half-day in Dalat. If your trip links the coast and the highlands, both are worth it.

Nearby Attractions

Nha Trang Cathedral: the Gothic Revival Stone Church about 1 km east.
Ponagar Cham Tower: Champa temples from the 8th–13th centuries north of the Cai River.
Dam Market: the city’s main market for dried seafood and souvenirs.
National Oceanographic Museum: sea life and specimens near Cau Da port.
Hon Mun Island: Nha Trang’s top snorkelling spot.
VinWonders Nha Trang: theme park and water park on Hon Tre Island.

Sightseeing in Nha Trang for First-Time Visitors: Where Long Son Pagoda Fits

Most first-timers combine Long Son Pagoda with the Ponagar towers and the cathedral on a morning city tour, then relax on the beach or soak in a mud bath in the afternoon. Use the rest of your stay for the bay: Hon Tam, Hon Noi or Monkey Island. Choose a base with our where to stay in Nha Trang guide and read the Nha Trang travel tips before you go.

Plan your trip with our Nha Trang travel guide and Nha Trang tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.