MINH DUC PAGODA, The first spiritual cultural area to own the highest Buddha statue in Vietnam.

Quang Ngai is famous for the masterpiece of An Mountain, Tra River which owns many peaceful and tranquil beautiful scenes. However, recently, Minh Duc Pagoda in Quang Ngai has emerged as a topic of discussion among tourists. Minh Duc Pagoda is the first spiritual tourism area in Quang Ngai, not only that, it also owns the highest statue of Quan The Am Bodhisattva in Vietnam.

WHERE IS MINH DUC PAGODA LOCATED?

Minh Duc Pagoda is located in Tinh Long commune, Son Tinh district, Quang Ngai province. The pagoda is located on Thien Ma Mountain, one of the three famous mountains in Quang Ngai including Thien An Mountain, Thien Ma Mountain, and Thien But Mountain. Minh Duc Pagoda is located on the My Tra - My Khe route, which is a road along the river bank and also an inter-provincial route. Traveling on this route, you will feel every sea breeze blowing over your face with a bit of salty taste of the sea. The pagoda is located next to the peaceful Tra River, opposite the newly built Co Luy bridge.

Minh Duc Pagoda is located in the 90ha Thien Ma cultural area. It is known that when this project is completed, Thien Ma cultural area will be the first spiritual tourism area in Quang Ngai. The cultural area and Minh Duc Pagoda are built on Thien Ma mountain with a height of 75m above sea level, so standing from this Minh Duc Pagoda you can have a panoramic view of Quang Ngai city.

In the future, when Minh Duc Pagoda and Thien Ma tourism areas are opened and put into operation, this place will surely be a famous tourist destinations, not only attracting local people to visit but also impressing tourists from other provinces. Visiting Minh Duc Pagoda you not only worship Buddha but also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Quang's peaceful and dreamy land. Moreover, you can also enjoy extremely fresh and cool air.

MOVING TO MINH DUC PAGODA?

Minh Duc Pagoda is located about 15km from the center of Quang Ngai. You can move to Minh Duc Pagoda from the center of Quang Ngai by motorbike or taxi. If you travel by taxi, it will be safer but may cost more. The taxi fare ranges from 450,000 VND/trip - 500,000 VND/trip from Quang Ngai bus station to Minh Duc Pagoda.

For motorbikes, you will be more convenient during the move, but you will spend more energy when moving on a long road. The route from the center of Quang Ngai City to Minh Duc Pagoda is as follows: you go east on Nguyen Nghiem Street, and at the intersection with Nguyen Du Street you turn left. Move about 600m you follow the road into Truong Sa. Move along Truong Sa Street along the Tra Khuc river bank, cross Co Luy Bridge, turn right and head up Co Luy Bridge. When you just get off the bridge, you will encounter a roundabout and choose the entrance to My Tra - My Khe Street, move 600m you turn around again on My Tra - My Khe Street. Move another 1.5km you will meet the road up to Thien Ma Mountain, where Minh Duc Pagoda is located.

SPECIAL STORIES

The special thing about Minh Duc Pagoda is the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with a height of up to 122m, considered as the tallest statue in Vietnam if completed. In addition, before that Minh Duc Pagoda also successfully cast a very impressive Laughing Buddha statue. As of now, the statue of Avalokitesvara has been cast about 70m and in the future when the statue is completed it will become a famous architectural work at Minh Duc Pagoda.

The statue at Minh Duc Pagoda is expected to be cast with an image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva standing on a lotus pedestal, holding an orange water bottle. Inside the water bottle is holy water that helps wash away pain, illness, and suffering in this world. The statue is cast with a view towards the sea as if looking through human suffering and helping those who are struggling below overcome adversity and pain.

"The statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva at Minh Duc Temple will be built with 25 floors. Visitors can enter inside and use the elevator to reach the upper floors. After completion, the statue will become the tallest Buddha statue in Vietnam. With a height of 122m, the statue is taller than the statues at Ba Mountain (Tay Ninh) at 72m and at Linh An Temple (Da Lat City) at 71m.

From the 11th floor, which is located at the belly of the Guan Yin statue at Minh Duc Temple, architects have built windows with views in four directions and overlooking the vast blue sea. In addition, you can use the elevator to reach the top floor. If this project at Minh Duc Temple is completed, Buddhists and tourists can move to the highest area of ​​the statue, which is the hand of the Guan Yin statue to admire the vast blue sea. From here, you will see the green rice fields of the peaceful Quang Ngai countryside, wide beaches, and fishing boats far away.

All areas at Minh Duc Temple are in harmony with nature with a system of green trees and extremely cool hills. Along with fresh air and spacious space, all bring Minh Duc Temple a very peaceful and pure scene. Minh Duc Temple will definitely be a place you need to visit when facing difficulties in life. Stepping here, you will see a vast sea, you will send away your worries with the wind and clouds, and you will be sheltered and protected.

Currently, Minh Duc Temple has not been completed and is under construction. However, during the Tet holiday in 2023, many local people visited Minh Duc Temple to take pictures of the peaceful scenery from Thien Ma Mountain. It is expected that in the future Thien Ma tourist area and Minh Duc Temple will become famous tourist destinations.