As one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Mekong Delta, more than 38,000 square meters, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is the largest monastery in Can Tho.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Can Tho Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: Half an hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food: Yes, big vegetarian restaurant
Shop: Yes
Parking lot: Yes for coach
Blog: https://vemekong.com/truc-lam-phuong-nam-zen-monastery-can-tho/
Address: 923 Road, My Khanh, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City.
Added values: If you make an attempt to discover, you will find that temples are usually built where there is abundant positive energy which helps your soul and beliefs a lot better.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Cai Rang floating market (30 minutes away), organic cacao farm (10 minutes away), fruit gardens (30 minutes away).
2. Travel Guide to Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
The monastery was built on an area of nearly 4 hectares, started construction on July 16, 2013 and completed after 10 months of construction. On May 17, 2014, the inauguration ceremony of Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery was solemnly organized by the Buddhist Board of Can Tho.
The entire building has a tiled roof structure, ironwood pillars, brick walls, floors and walkways. Besides the main hall, the campus is balanced with about 20 work items such as: ancestral house, spacious hall for teaching and studying for about 500 monks, Buddhists, 9-storey stupa, drum tower, bronze bell tower, monks’ quarters and guest houses, monasteries, libraries and medicine rooms, water houses, etc., were built around them, forming an architectural complex imbued with cultural and historical significance.
3. What to Do – See – Eat at Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
Southern Truc Lam Zen Monastery is quiet, spiritual and huge with several lakes, pagodas, and many Buddhist statues near the entrance.
Especially some items made of ironwood, about 1,000 blocks are imported from South Africa. Particularly, the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha worshiped in the main hall is made of bronze, weighs 3.5 tons, the great bell – Dai Hong Chung weighs 1.5 tons. Statues of Bodhisattvas and ancestors carved from Du Sam wood have a lifespan of 800 years.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Can Tho city center:
Route 1: Hotel in Can Tho center – boat station – floating market – rice noodle factory – Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery – hotel in Can Tho center [half day]
Route 2: Hotel in Can Tho center – boat station – floating market – rice noodle factory – biking in the village – Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery – hotel in Can Tho center [half day]
Route 3: Hotel in Can Tho center – boat station – floating market – rice noodle factory – biking in the village – organic cacao farm – Local lunch – Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery – hotel in Can Tho center [full day]
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Can Tho. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Can Tho day tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is not in the Can Tho city center, so you may reach there by motorbike or taxi. Budget travellers and adventure tourists can reach and visit this attraction by motorbike as well. If you have no guided tour, you are fine to explore this place, use Google Maps to get there. Sometimes it takes more time to find it, so you can ask the locals. Top tip: Wear appropriate clothing & take off your shoes sometimes.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery
It is always good to repeat “responsible travel” over and over. Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is a solemn place, so you should choose beautiful clothes that are still polite and discreet. There are many statues in the yard. If you go with the children, please remind them not to climb because these are sacred symbols of Buddhism. We do appreciate any of you who do visit and take good behavior to this temple. Top tip: Please do not make noise when you get in.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
If you plan to extend your travel to Can Tho homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Can Tho or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Can Tho responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Can Tho food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Can Tho cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cong cake in Can Tho, Ut Dzach Fine Rice Vermicelli…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Can Tho in the rainy season, as Can Tho always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Can Tho tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Can Tho Wildlife & Forest, Binh Thuy Ancient House, Organic Cacao farm, Can Tho Floating Markets, Can Tho Small Canals & Sampan Ride, Can Tho Fruit Garden, Can Tho Paddy Rice Fields, Can Tho Giant Ficus Tree – Secret VC base, Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory, Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho Old Market, Phong Dien floating market, Can Tho to Con Dao – Express boat, Son Islet – Community-based Tourism…
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
