Cái Bầu Temple

About

Cái Bầu Temple, officially Trúc Lâm Giác Tâm Zen Monastery, stands on a hillside facing Bái Tử Long Bay. Its mountain-and-sea landscape offers an open setting for Buddhist worship, peaceful visits and learning about the continuation of the Trúc Lâm tradition in Vân Đồn.

Visitor information

Founded

The present monastery was built from 2007 and inaugurated in 2009 on the site of the old Phúc Linh Temple.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours may change with the temple’s practice schedule; please ask the temple before your visit.

Fees

No fee has been confirmed by the temple. Please check notices at the site; external services may be charged separately.

Address

Khu vực thôn 1, xã Hạ Long trước đây, nay thuộc đặc khu Vân Đồn, tỉnh Quảng Ninh.

Highlights

• ✓A hillside setting facing Bái Tử Long Bay.
• ✓A Trúc Lâm monastery constructed during 2007–2009.
• ✓A gateway, main sanctuary and landscaped courtyards linked by the terrain.

History and origins

Local sources describe the monastery’s predecessor as Phúc Linh Temple, with origins in the Trần dynasty. Construction of the present complex began in 2007 and it was inaugurated in 2009; the history of the old temple should therefore be distinguished from the age of the buildings now visible. In recent years it has remained a pilgrimage destination and a centre of Buddhist activity for residents and visitors.

Architecture & surroundings

The buildings follow the hillside, connected by courtyards and steps. The complex includes a gateway, main sanctuary, bell and drum towers, and facilities for Buddhist study and practice. The main sanctuary enshrines Śākyamuni Buddha with the bodhisattvas Mañjuśrī and Samantabhadra. From the upper courtyard, visitors can appreciate the relationship between temple roofs, woodland and the bay below.

Cultural value

The monastery helps sustain the Trúc Lâm tradition in the northeastern coastal and island region. Ceremonies and community activities encourage Buddhist learning, a measured way of life and care for the temple landscape.

Events & festivals

Local records describe Buddhist worship, spring visits and vegetarian meals during the Bính Ngọ Lunar New Year in 2026. Individual ceremonies, practice sessions and meal arrangements depend on monastery announcements; please ask in advance, especially when visiting as a group.