Ta Cu mountain

The highlight here is the white redining Buddha (Tuong Phat Nam). At 49m, it's the largest in Vietnam. The pagoda was constructed in 1861 during the Nguyen dynasty, but the Buddha was only added in 1972. It has become an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists, who stay overnight in the pagoda's dormitory. Foreigners can't do this without police permission, but there's now a guesthouse (Tell: 867 484;r200,000d; on the mountain. The mountain is just off Hwy 1A, 28km south from Phan Thiet, from which the Buddha is a beautiful two-hour trek, or a two-minute cable-car ride (55,000d return) and a short, but steep, hike.