Purification Pagoda and the Dragon Labyrinth (Tu Van Pagoda & Dragon Labyrinth)

The construction of the Tu Wan Pagoda (or the Purification of Sins Pagoda) was started in Cam Ranh in 1968 and completed in 1995, when the Coral Tower (Chua Oc) was finally completed.

The first thing you will see on the territory of the temple complex is a large statue of a reclining Buddha and a boat, which are located near the main entrance to the pagoda. It is believed that with the help of this boat, the Buddha carried righteous and noble people across the ocean of suffering after their death. On the sails of the boat you can see excerpts from the Buddhist book of prayers, which are designed to allow visitors to enter the temple with a calm soul and heart.

Walking further into the temple complex, you will see countless statues symbolizing the key periods and moments in the life of the Buddha: birth, austerity, attainment of enlightenment, the first commandment, turning the wheel of Dharma, going to nirvana and so on.

The main attractions of the temple complex Tu Van are two unique buildings: The Coral Tower (Chua Oc) and the Dragon Labyrinth (18 levels of hell) were built by monks from corals and sea shells.

The Coral Tower was built in 1995, reaches 39 meters in height and consists of two floors. There is a lower floor for visitors. Inside, this unusual tower is decorated with hundreds of Buddha statues and unique inlays of handmade seashells. On the second floor is a statue of the Goddess of Mercy with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes on each palm. The eight gates of the tower symbolize the “Noble Eightfold Path” to deliverance from suffering, which the Buddha pointed out. This path leads to the exit from samsara and enlightenment through wisdom, morality and spiritual discipline. According to the teachings of the Buddha, in order to walk this path correctly, each person must fulfill 8 main rules: have the right view, the right intention, express yourself correctly, behave correctly, make the right effort, lead the right way of life, focus correctly, and also have the right mindfulness.

The second unique structure of Tu Wang Pagoda is the Dragon Labyrinth (or 18 levels of hell). It is an underground tunnel about 600 meters long, which from above looks like a huge body of a dragon, built of countless corals and sea shells. Buddhists associate this labyrinth with 18 levels of hell, each of which symbolizes the punishment for sins on earth. You will have an unforgettable journey through the narrow, dark and winding passages of the tunnel. It is believed that passing through 18 levels of Buddhist hell warns visitors to the labyrinth not to do wrong and bad things later in life.

Today, Tu Wang Pagoda (Pagoda of Purification from Sins) is not only a place of practice of Buddhist monks, but also a picturesque corner that attracts Buddhists and tourists from many countries of the world.

Travel time from Nha Trang to Tu Van Pagoda by comfortable car/bus takes about 1.5 hours. Duration of excursion: about 4-5 hours, from approximately 8:00 to 12:00 / 13:00