Thiền Viện Trúc lâm Đà Lạt

If you think you are coming here to find absolute silence and achieve Nirvana in five minutes, you might be disappointed. This is one of the most famous spots in Da Lat, which means you will be sharing your "Zen moment" with a few hundred other people trying to take the perfect selfie with a bonsai tree. 😅 But don't let the crowds scare you off because this place is actually spectacular. 😊 The grounds are immaculately kept. I am talking about lawns that look cut with nail scissors and flower gardens that put my house plants to shame. The main hall is impressive and smells amazing, like centuries of incense and peace. It is definitely worth doing a lap to admire the architecture and the sweeping views of the mountains. You feel smarter and more spiritual just standing there. 😁 However, the real adventure starts when you ignore the main gate and look for the path leading down. Most people take the cable car, walk around the top, and leave. Do not be those people. 😌 There is a "Secret" Staircase to the Lake and its not very obvious. When in the monastery grounds, point your Google Maps towards Tuyen Lam Lake. You will find a stone staircase that descends through the pine forest. There might be some banners advertising a lake boat rides, that’s the best way to spot them. Take these stairs. It is about 140 steps down. It gets you away from the tour groups and drops you right at the edge of the water. The walk is shaded, smells like fresh pine, and is arguably the best part of the entire complex. Plus, you can brag that you hiked today. 😊 THE BIG PRO TIP: The "Birding Highway" If you have any interest in nature, this staircase is not just a path. It is a goldmine. Because the stairs cut through the slope, you are walking right through the tree canopy. 😊 Stop halfway down. Seriously, just freeze on one of the landings for 5 minutes. Look up. You are now eye-to-eye with the birds that usually hang out at the tops of the trees. We saw Vietnamese Greenfinches (bright yellow and loud), lots of warblers and Red Crossbills just chilling in the branches. Look down. When you hit the bottom near the boat pier, check the bushes for Kingfishers. The entrance to everything I mentioned is free, there are no entry tickets. Pro tip #2: Go early to beat the buses, best time to visit is 7.30-9am, respect the monks, and for the love of nature, go down the stairs. It is the only place where you can switch from "cultural tourism" to "National Geographic explorer" in under ten minutes. Just remember you have to walk back up! 😁

Truc Lam Zen Monastery is beautiful — and it’s FREE! Visited in 2024 - Came here right after the cable car and just walked down. Fresh air, lots of trees and flowers, and so many aesthetic photo spots everywhere. Best time is early morning — cool breeze, quiet, and super peaceful. Such a calm and lovely spot in Da Lat.

So beautiful and peaceful. I cried so many times. I’m thankful for the opportunity to experience the beauty of Truc Lam monastery. I visited on a spiritual and healing journey. Lots of tourists here for photo ops. The grounds ate big enough to escape them for solitude, if you desire.

Lots of people even on a weekday but still felt peaceful as the space is big enough. The temple itself there is nothing much to see. The garden is well maintained and very nice landscape. Spent about 30mins here. If entrance is not free I don't think it's worth a visit. After visiting the temple, I walked to nearby Tuyen lam lake. If you go to see the lake first, it is not recommended to come here as it will be a uphill walk.

My favorite place to relax with a good book. To find serenity.

Monastery was beautiful with incredible nature and bonsais surrounding it. My wife and I were able to do some pretty good birding around the monastery, seeing bulbuls, spider hunters, laughingthrushes, doves, drongos, mynas.

This is one amazing and out of the world experience. It’s a must visit if you’re in dalat. You’ll experience real bliss and peace. The shrine as well as the flower gardens are magnificent and peaceful. The occasional chimes in the background feels really good A good place to sit and forget the busy life . The shrine has a beautiful life size of Buddha. A very picturesque place

Nice place. The monastery is located on Truc Lam Yen Tu Street, on the top of Phuong Hoang Mountain. About 5 kilometers south of the center of Dalat, it is an ideal location for visitors to come and explore. Truc Lam Zen Monastery also has an outstanding view of Tuyen Lam Lake - the most beautiful lake in Dalat, as it stands next to the lake and is surrounded by hills and forests. Truc Lam Zen Monastery’s opening hours are from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It is also open for people who want to stay here and learn about Buddhism. You can ask the monks or nuns here to be allowed to stay. Initiated by the Vietnamese government in an effort to restore and promote the teachings of Zen Buddhism and Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen School, Truc Lam Zen Monastery was built from 1993 to 1994 by Zen Master Thich Thanh Tu. This pagoda has harmoniously combined different Zen schools in the world with Vietnamese culture into Vietnamese Zen.