Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá

Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá is a Buddhist temple situated on the slope of Núi Nhỏ (Small Mountain), in Vũng Tàu ward, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam. The tịnh xá (Buddhist monastery) was organised for construction by Most Venerable Thích Thiện Huệ from 1969 to 1974 on the slope of Núi Nhỏ, formerly known as Tao Phùng Mountain, facing the sea. This is a grand complex comprising many rows of buildings, covering an area of nearly 10,000 m2, and is a famous spiritual tourism destination in Vũng Tàu.

On 14 December 1989, the temple was recognised and ranked as a national historical monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam.

Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá is located at Bãi Dứa, with the address 66/7 Hạ Long Street, Vũng Tàu ward, Hồ Chí Minh City.

This is considered one of the most beautiful temples in Vũng Tàu with modern architectural lines.

The temple "Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá", also known as the "Reclining Buddha Temple", was built on the slope of Núi Nhỏ, facing the sea.

The temple's construction began in 1969 and was inaugurated in 1974 with funds raised from Buddhist followers. The late Most Venerable Thích Thiện Phụng was entrusted by the late Most Venerable Thích Thiện Huê to oversee and be responsible for the construction.

In front of the temple stands a 21-metre-high tower, made with 42 steps symbolising the 42 Buddhist sutras first transmitted to Vietnam in the 2nd century. The tower is clad in yellow and red glazed tiles, and on top are three lotus buds spreading in three directions. Here there is also a bronze censer featuring the Four Sacred Creatures (Long - Dragon, Ly - Qilin, Quy - Turtle, Phụng - Phoenix). The temple gate bears the four characters "NIẾT BÀN TỊNH XÁ", meaning the most sublime place in Buddhism.

On either side of the temple gate are two statues: "Good Deity" and "Evil Deity".

The main worship hall is arranged as a Sala flower garden, depicting the scene of the Buddha entering Nirvana. The highlight of this main hall is the "Reclining Buddha" statue, 12 metres long, symbolising the "Twelve Links of Dependent Origination" and placed on an altar 2.5 metres high. The front of the altar is decorated with images of the disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha witnessing his entry into Nirvana. In front of the main hall is a bronze censer featuring the four sacred animals: Long (Dragon), Lân (Qilin), Qui (Turtle), Phụng (Phoenix), collectively called the "Four Sacred Creatures". This censer was the result of over two years of dedicated artistic labour by an artisan from Bến Tre province and was gifted to the temple in 1971. Flanking the censer on both sides are two towers, each about 5 metres high. The left tower houses a statue of Amitābha Buddha, while the right tower contains a statue of Medicine Buddha.

The rear hall is used to worship Shakyamuni Buddha and the patriarchs who contributed to propagating Buddhism. Behind the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha hangs a painting depicting "Bodhidharma", the first great monk to spread Buddhist teachings in Vietnam. There is also a statue with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes, symbolising the extraordinary supernatural powers of Buddhism.

On the second floor is a dragon boat, also called the Prajñā Boat, 12 metres long. This Prajñā Boat is said to rescue all beings from suffering and bring them to the eternal, indestructible realm.

Behind the Prajñā Boat is the altar of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. The statue of the Buddha is depicted in the form of a gentle and virtuous woman, pouring nectar from a vase to heal the people and purify the world.