Pho Da Son Quan Am Tu blends classic Buddhist design with tranquil seaside vistas and spacious grounds.

Nestled beneath Nui Lon in Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Pho Da Son Quan Am Tu Pagoda exudes a serene beauty, centered around an 18-meter statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva gazing out to sea.

Built in the mid-20th century, Pho Da Son Quan Am Tu blends traditional Buddhist architecture with its natural setting across a campus of nearly 5,000 square meters.

According to local residents and monastics, the pagoda was originally built by Venerable Thich Hue Quan in 1969. In 1979, Venerable Thich Hue Quan entrusted management to lay Buddhist Dieu Hoa.

After taking over, the lay caretaker received contributions from pilgrims far and wide, as well as the local Chinese community in Vung Tau, who joined efforts to restore the pagoda into its present, dignified state.

The pagoda's layout includes the triple-arch gate, the Avalokitesvara statue, the main hall, an octagonal pavilion, a hexagonal pavilion, a bell tower, and areas for dining and daily activities.

The triple-arch gate is built of brick with layered, overlapping roofs. Stylized dragon motifs crown the eaves, while the roof ridge bears the emblem of two dragons facing a pearl.

Standing prominently in the central courtyard is the 18-meter Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue, facing the sea with tranquil poise. Around it are spacious grounds with miniature landscapes, fish ponds, Buddha statues, and a corridor inscribed with Buddhist sutras.

The main hall measures 25 meters in width, 13 meters in height, and 23 meters in length. It follows a three-bay, two-wing layout with a two-tiered roofline rising high above. The sanctuary is simply arranged with three statues of Shakyamuni Buddha. Auxiliary structures such as the octagonal and hexagonal pavilions add vitality to the scene.

Visiting with his family, Nguyen Van Tuan, 35, from Dong Nai Province, said he had been to Vung Tau many times but this was his first stop at Pho Da Son Quan Am Tu. He was genuinely surprised by the peaceful atmosphere. "The pagoda is not overly grand, yet it feels solemn and pure. The tall Buddha statue at the gate immediately gave me a sense of the sacred," he shared.

Beyond a place of worship, Pho Da Son Quan Am Tu is also a favored weekend destination for locals and visitors to stroll and pray for peace, especially on June 6, September 6, and the full moon of the seventh lunar month.