Menu
Provinces→Locations→Experiences→Blog→Map→
📍 pagoda · heritage · da lat

Linh Phước Pagoda

Linh Phước Pagoda in Trại Mát village is Vietnam's most elaborate ceramic mosaic temple - every surface covered in dragons, phoenixes, and Buddhist imagery assembled from millions of broken glass and ceramic fragments, with a 7-storey bell tower and a 49-metre dragon staircase.

⛩️ Ceramic Mosaic Pagoda🐉 Dragon Staircase📸 Photography🚂 Train Access
🧭 Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Year-round; morning for best photography light on the mosaics
Entry Fee
🎟️ Free
Opening Hours
🕐 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address
📌 120 Tự Phước, Trại Mát, Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng

Things to Know

👥Crowds
Tour buses arrive around 8:20am onwards. Extremely busy during midday, especially afternoons and weekends. Parking congestion with buses and vehicles creating chaotic conditions on temple grounds
⚠️Safety
Heavy vehicle and bus traffic directly on temple grounds creates unsafe pedestrian conditions. Cover shoulders and knees before entering certain buildings. Bike parking locks at 17:30
🚶Accessibility
Accessible by one-way train from Dalat train station (30 minutes, departs 09:55) or Grab taxi. Round-trip train limits on-site time to 15-20 minutes. Walking distance between Trai Mat station and temple is 10-15 minutes
🌤️Seasonal
Better to visit in good weather. Visit early morning before 10am to avoid crowds
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Linh Phước Pagoda Special

Linh Phước Pagoda in Trại Mát village, 7km from central Đà Lạt, is the most visually extraordinary religious building in the Central Highlands. The entire complex is covered in mosaics assembled from broken glass, ceramic shards, and porcelain fragments: the main hall facade has dragons and phoenixes in vivid green, blue, and gold; the bell tower is encrusted with floral and figural patterns from base to top; a 49-metre dragon staircase winds up the hillside behind the main hall, its body made entirely from hundreds of thousands of glass bottle bottoms set in concrete. The pagoda was built in 1949 and expanded repeatedly, with mosaic work added over decades by teams of local craftsmen.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Linh Phước Pagoda is in Trại Mát village, 7km northeast of Đà Lạt city. The most atmospheric approach is by the tourist train from Đà Lạt Railway Station (30 minutes, departures when 5+ passengers present). By motorbike from Đà Lạt, 15–20 minutes on the road toward Trại Mát. The pagoda is 5 minutes walk from Trại Mát station, signposted from the platform.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

The pagoda complex is large - the main hall, bell tower, dragon staircase, and several ancillary shrines spread across a hillside. The main hall facade is the first visual impact: dragon columns, mosaic walls, and a multi-tiered roof entirely covered in ceramic work. The interior houses a large jade Buddha and a reclining Buddha figure. The dragon staircase behind the main hall winds up the hillside framed by the dragon's tiled body, giving views over the surrounding pine and flower farm landscape from the upper sections.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Linh Phước is the best reason to take the Đà Lạt tourist train - the pagoda on its own justifies the excursion and the train adds the pleasure of a preserved colonial railway journey. The combination of train ride from the 1938 French station and the extraordinary mosaic pagoda at the other end makes for one of Đà Lạt's most varied half-mornings.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Arrive by 8am or before 10am to avoid tour buses and crowds for peaceful exploration
Purchase one-way train ticket and return by Grab or local cab for flexible timing instead of limited round-trip schedule
Explore all levels including basement 'Hell exhibition', flower-made Guan Yin statue, and wooden table collection downstairs
Reach the pagoda by the tourist train from Đà Lạt Railway Station - the 30-minute journey is part of the experience
The detail in the mosaics rewards slow examination - look closely at the dragon bodies and you'll see they're assembled from individual ceramic shards, each one placed by hand
The 7-storey bell tower (49 metres) can be climbed for views over the surrounding pine forest and farmland
The interior has a 4.9-metre jade Buddha and a large reclining Buddha - the scale of the interior is larger than the exterior suggests
Early morning has the best light on the south-facing main facade - the mosaics catch the morning sun and the colours are most vivid

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

When should I visit to avoid crowds?›
Arrive before 8:20am or before 10am. Tour buses typically begin arriving around 8:20am and peak midday and weekends
What is the best way to get there from Dalat?›
Buy one-way train ticket from Dalat station (departs 09:55, 30 minutes). Return via Grab taxi, as round-trip trains limit on-site time to 15-20 minutes
Is there an entrance fee and what should I not miss?›
Completely free entry and parking. Don't miss basement levels, bell tower climb, 49-meter dragon made of 12,000 beer bottles, and unique 'Hell exhibition'
Explore more
da lat - Full Guide
View destination guide →