Ta Cu Mountain Cable Car Tour & Buddha: Private Guide

Summary

Private Ta Cu Mountain tour with reclining Buddha views

You’ll ride a cable car up Ta Cu Mountain with your local guide, visit ancient Cham Towers overlooking Phan Thiet, see Vietnam’s largest reclining Buddha statue, and taste fresh dragon fruit straight from the farm. Expect quiet moments among temples and lively ones with locals — it’s more than just sightseeing.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the smell of incense — not strong, just a thin thread of it drifting near the Cham Tower as our guide, Minh, explained how old these bricks were. I tried to imagine building something like that in the 11th century, but honestly, I was mostly distracted by the way the city spread out below us. Minh pointed out little details — fishermen’s hats bobbing at Phan Thiet Harbor in the distance, and I remember thinking how different life must feel down there compared to up here on this hill.

We wandered through Van Thuy Tu Temple next. There’s a whale skeleton inside (22 meters — Minh said it twice because I didn’t believe him at first), and apparently local fishermen come here for luck before heading out. The air was thick and salty from the sea nearby. A few old men nodded at us as we passed; one grinned when he saw me squinting at the bones. “Big fish,” he said in English, then laughed.

The drive to Ta Cu Mountain took about forty minutes — long enough for me to doze off for a bit and wake up right as we pulled into this patchwork of green fields and dragon fruit farms. The cable car ride was quieter than I expected; just the whirring overhead and birds somewhere below. At the top, there’s this sudden hush broken only by temple bells and someone chanting softly. The reclining Buddha is huge — 49 meters long — but what stuck with me was how peaceful everyone seemed around it. Minh showed us where to leave a small offering if we wanted (I did), and then let us wander for a while without hovering.

On the way back, we stopped at a dragon fruit garden. The farmer handed me one straight off the cactus — still warm from the sun, skin rough in my hand. Tasted sweeter than any I’d had before, maybe just because of where I was or maybe because he smiled so much when he watched me eat it. We got dropped off at our hotel after that, sticky-fingered and tired in a good way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ta Cu Mountain and Phan Thiet tour

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00 a.m.
• Visit Cham Tower and admire ancient towers
• Explore Van Thuy Tu Whale Temple
• See Phan Thiet Harbor and local fishing life
• Drive 40 minutes to Ta Cu Mountain
• Take cable car up Ta Cu Mountain
• Visit Linh Son Truong Tho pagoda
• View Sakyamuni's nirvana statue
• Visit local dragon fruit garden
• Return to hotel and end tour

Top questions

How far is Ta Cu Mountain from Phan Thiet?

It’s about 35 km south of Phan Thiet city, roughly a 40-minute drive by private car.

Is hotel pickup included in this Ta Cu Mountain tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included with private transport by air-conditioned car.

What does the Ta Cu Mountain cable car experience involve?

You’ll take a modern cable car up Ta Cu Mountain for panoramic views before visiting Linh Son Truong Tho pagoda and the reclining Buddha statue.

Are entrance fees covered on this day trip?

Yes, all entrance fees including cable car tickets are included in your tour price.

Will we visit local attractions besides Ta Cu Mountain?

Yes, you’ll also see Cham Towers, Van Thuy Tu Whale Temple, Phan Thiet Harbor, and a dragon fruit farm during your half-day tour.

Is lunch provided on this private tour?

No lunch is included but you will get bottled water; you can try fresh dragon fruit at the farm stop.

Is this day trip suitable for families or kids?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup by private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking local guide throughout. All entry fees are covered — including Cham Tower, Whale Temple, cable car tickets up Ta Cu Mountain — plus bottled water to keep you cool along the way before drop-off back at your hotel.