The Lady Buddha Atop Monkey Mountain

In central Vietnam, where the mountains meet the sea, there stands a statue of the bodhisattva Quan Am.  She measures sixty-seven meters, or seventeen stories, tall. A small Buddha sits on her head, and beneath her feet, a temple is tucked inside the lotus pedestal she stands on. Residing at the Linh Ung Pagoda on top of Son Tra Mountain and Peninsula, this white marble Lady Buddha can be seen from nearly every corner of the city of Da Nang.

Since her construction began in 2004, monks and locals have reported thirteen sightings of a colorful halo that forms around her head, often appearing at auspicious times, such as on the Buddha’s birthday. It is also said that she protects the city from typhoons and sends good fortune to fishermen out at sea. Across Da Nang there are two other pagodas also named Linh Ung. Together, they form a triangle, cloaking the city in peace and safety.

Lady Buddha is surrounded by a diverse natural ecosystem that serves as the habitat for many different species, including, most famously, macaques and the endangered red-shanked douc (hence “Monkey Mountain”). These Curious George–size monkeys are easy to spot, as they often roam around the temple grounds and swing through nearby trees. Though they are sometimes loud and occasionally steal people’s food, the monkeys are generally well-behaved in the presence of Quan Am.