THE IMPRESSIVE LADY BUDDHA (Center Vietnam): It's the Vietnam's largest Buddha statue depicts a female sage, Stunning beach views and a giant Lady Buddha...

There’s something different about Vietnam's tallest Buddha statue. It isn’t your typical male Buddha effigy—this enormous structure depicts a woman.

Buddhists the world over have built plenty of tall statues of Buddha. But “Buddha” does not just mean the man born Siddhartha Gautama. “Buddha” also means “Enlightened One,” and there’s no reason why a great sage can’t be a woman.

The Linh Ung Pagoda, just outside Da Nang, Vietnam, decided to build the world’s largest statue of an indisputably feminine Buddha. The resulting Lady Buddha towers 220 feet (67 meters) tall and is perched atop of a lotus-shaped temple. Be careful, book before because the pagoda is a bit over six miles (10 kilometers) from downtown.

The statue has 17 floors, with each floor dedicated to a different Buddha. Though the multi-level trek is tough, it’s worth it for the spectacular views of the city.

There’s more to see at the temple in addition to the Buddha. The grounds display an impressive collection of relatively life-sized statues and topiaries, and also boasts a quiet mountainside view of the bustling city of Da Nang.

The complex was built in the 18th century during the reign of Emperor Ming Mang and has recently been restored. Stone stairs and a beautiful gate lead to a wide courtyard, lined with bonsai trees and sculptures of 18 spiritual rites that express love, hate, anger and joy. The plaza is crowned with a stunning pagoda, which is busy with praying devotees and visitors

If you love panoramic views, fear not. You can admire Da Nang from the terrace, located at the feet of the Lady Buddha. There is quite a lot of moisture in the air in Da Nang, which creates a lot of mist, so the pictures will always look a little foggy. The views are still magnificent though.

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