Thưởng thức sự đáng yêu của đàn 'quỷ nhỏ' tại chùa Khỉ Vũng Tàu

Trong hành trình khám phá Vũng Tàu gần đây, nhiều du khách đã chọn Thiền Viện Trúc Lâm, hay còn được biết đến với cái tên thân thương là chùa khỉ, là điểm dừng chân lý tưởng. Hãy bước đi dọc theo bờ biển Long Hải, nơi biển xanh mênh mông và núi Kỳ Vân hiên ngang, bạn sẽ bắt gặp một ngôi chùa yên bình nằm dưới bóng những tảng đá to lớn.

Cổng chào của Thiền Viện Chân Nguyên (Ảnh: St)

1. Lộ trình đến chùa khỉ Vũng Tàu

To reach Chùa Khỉ, you can travel by bus, private car, or motorbike.

• By Bus

If you prefer taking the bus to Chùa Khỉ, buy tickets at the Eastern Bus Station or directly contact bus companies to reach Long Hải. From Long Hải, take a taxi to Núi Kỳ Vân.

Chùa Khỉ is a peaceful sanctuary on the mountain of Thiền Viện Chân Nguyên (Photo: ST)

• By Private Car, Motorbike

If traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Long Hai, take National Highway 1 to Vung Tau roundabout, then turn right onto National Highway 51. At the Ba Ria town intersection, turn left towards Long Hai. This route is easy to find but relatively long.

Accommodation at the monastery for tourists (Photo: ST)

You can also choose the route from Ho Chi Minh City towards Cat Lai ferry, through Nhon Trach industrial zone, take the national highway to Long Hai. This route may be challenging to find and less populated, but it's shorter by approximately 20km.

The monastery after reconstruction looks quite beautiful (Photo: ST)

From Long Hai beach, follow the winding road, enjoy the view of the blue sea, white sandy beaches, and the majestic Ky Van mountain. Eventually, you will reach Vung Tau Monkey Pagoda.

Monkey Pagoda is also a destination for schools to take students on excursions (Photo: ST)

2. Monkey Pagoda in Vung Tau

The Monkey Pagoda is located at the foot of Ky Van Mountain in Phuoc Hai town, Long Dat district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. The locals affectionately call it the Monkey Pagoda, which is the Truc Lam Chan Nguyen Zen Monastery. The pagoda has simple architecture, with the Buddha Thich Ca Zen Monastery sitting on a lotus tower.

The road up the mountain surrounded by green trees and rocky mountains (Photo: ST)

The surrounding landscape of the pagoda is beautiful, with a fresh atmosphere. If you walk to the right of the pagoda to climb Ky Van mountain, you will see many rocks with interesting animal shapes: dolphins, snake heads, elephants, turtles, and more.

The Zen Monastery is located in a picturesque landscape (Photo: ST)

On the mountain, there is an ancient Bodhi tree with roots embracing a large rock, adding a venerable touch to this place. The Monkey Pagoda is named so modestly because it is home to many, many monkeys.

Rock formation resembling a snake's head on the way to Ky Van mountain (Photo: ST)

The monkey troop originally lived on the mountain but descended in search of food due to hunger. The monks in the pagoda fed them regularly, making them accustomed to coming down to the pagoda frequently. Therefore, if you mention Chon Nguyen Zen Monastery, few people may know, but if you mention the Monkey Pagoda, almost everyone is familiar.

The monkeys coming down from the mountain to the monastery for food (Photo: ST)

In the past, the Zen Monastery consisted of makeshift wooden houses perched precariously on the mountainside. Later, the pagoda was renovated and improved, gradually taking on the architecture it has today. The monkey troop is a special attraction that draws visitors to the pagoda; they are a wild group of nearly 200 monkeys residing on Ky Van mountain for about 20 years.

Fresh air, tranquility, and no noise or dust attract visitors to the monastery (Photo: ST)

The monkeys here are famous for their friendliness, cuteness, and their love for food. Particularly, they do not snatch items from visitors like some other monkey groups elsewhere. Every early morning, the monkey troop usually descends to the pagoda, begging for food and engaging in playful antics until the sun rises high before returning to their caves on the mountain.

The monks at the pagoda provide food for the monkey troop (Photo: ST)

Chùa Khỉ serves not only as a sanctuary for people to seek Buddha's refuge but also as a fascinating destination in Vũng Tàu. Many visitors come to the pagoda, seeking tranquility for their souls or praying for peace in their journeys.

Playful monkeys and food competition under the pagoda (Photo: ST)

3. Other places to visit

If you have visited the Vũng Tàu Monkey Pagoda, consider exploring nearby attractions to discover the interesting sites in Long Hải.

• Minh Đạm Mountain   

This area served as a fierce military base and is a symbol of Vietnamese heroes during the resistance war. As you ascend about two-thirds of the mountain pass, the panoramic view of Long Hải Sea unfolds before your eyes, with the vast seascape on one side and the picturesque hills on the other.

Scenery of Minh Đạm Mountain (Photo: ST)

You can conquer the summit of Minh Đạm Mountain by walking leisurely under the trees, rocks, listening to the murmuring stream, and the melodious song of birds to enjoy the fresh air and relieve the fatigue of yourself.

Path to Minh Đạm Mountain (Photo: ST)

• Dinh Cô Beach

Situated right under Dinh Cô Power Plant, this beach stretches for miles with its smooth, golden, and fine sand—flat without rocks. The expansive beach is suitable for sports activities, group events, and weekend relaxation.

Untouched beauty of Dinh Cô Beach (Photo: ST)

As the water recedes and the sea retreats, travelers can comfortably explore the lives of various creatures and fish beneath the fine sand, indulge in beach bathing, or venture far from the shore with carefree splashing. There is always a vigilant lifeguard on the shore observing beachgoers.

Dinh Cô Temple near the beach (Photo: ST)