Backed by mountains and facing the Côn Sơn Bay, Nui Mot Pagoda (Vân Sơn Tự) stands gracefully amidst Côn Đảo’s majestic natural landscape. With its distinctive Buddhist architecture and breathtaking panoramic views, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam.
Vân Sơn Tự, also known as Nui Mot Pagoda, is located on Nui Mot Mountain in Côn Đảo. The pagoda sits halfway up the mountainside, overlooking Côn Sơn Bay, Côn Sơn Town, and An Hai Lake. Situated about 1.6 km from the town center, it was originally built in 1964. In 2011, the pagoda underwent major restoration and expansion, adding numerous new structures across nearly 2 hectares at a cost of nearly 100 billion VND. Today, the pagoda serves not only as a cultural, scenic, and historical landmark of Côn Đảo District but also as a spiritual refuge where locals and visitors come to pray, seek peace, and pay tribute to national heroes and martyrs.
The pagoda features quintessential East Asian Buddhist architecture, dedicated primarily to the Buddha and various Bodhisattvas. From afar, its tiered red-tiled roofs rise gracefully above the lush green mountainside. Passing through the entrance gate, visitors are greeted by a garden filled with fragrant flowers and rare plants, followed by a spacious courtyard surrounded by halls with curved roofs, a bell tower, statues, the Earth Store Hall, the Mountain Spirit Shrine, and the Ancestral Hall. The highlight is the 2-meter-tall statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Quan Âm), standing atop a lotus pedestal and holding a vase of heavenly water at the main courtyard. All structures are adorned with intricate carvings, refined motifs, and sturdy wooden pillars.
The resonating sound of the temple bell, the chanting of monks, and the whispered prayers of visitors blend with drifting incense smoke, creating an atmosphere of profound serenity. A visit here naturally melts away worries, allowing the heart to settle into peace and clarity. After offering incense and prayers, visitors may enjoy complimentary herbal “cooling tea” or receive a blessed bracelet from the pagoda as a token of peace and good fortune.
From Vân Sơn Tự, the sweeping views feel like a gateway to paradise. To the south lies an endless stretch of green mountains; to the east, the turquoise waters of Côn Sơn Bay and the peaceful town below; and to the north stretches An Hai Lake, carpeted with lotus flowers.
Leaving the pagoda, visitors can stroll to An Hai Lake to enjoy the sweet fragrance of lotus blossoms and look back toward the red-curved roofs of Vân Sơn Tự set against the sky, forming a breathtaking painting. As dusk settles, the rustling forest, the mountain breeze, and the soft, echoing chime of the temple bell create a tranquil symphony across the vast landscape of mountains and sea.
Vân Sơn Tự is the only pagoda in Côn Đảo — a magnificent spiritual and cultural architectural work that belongs to this sacred land. The pagoda has been recognized by the provincial authorities as a Provincial-Level Cultural and Historical Site. Today, it welcomes both local worshippers and pilgrims from across Vietnam and around the world.
