TAKOU MOUNTAIN
The hilight here is the white reclining Buddha (Tuong Phat Nam). At 49m, it’s the largest in Vietnam, The pagoda was constructed in 1861 (Nguyen dynasty), but the Buddha is muchmore recent (1972). It has become an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists, who stay overnight in the pagoda’s dormitory/ Foriengers can’t do this without police permission – not easy to get.

The mountain is just off National Hwy 1, 28km south from Phan Thiet, from which the Buddha is a beautuiful two hour trek.