Vietnam's cliff-side Buddha statue: Why surpass Leshan Giant Buddha to break the world record?

When this statue of Buddha is completed, it will be the world's tallest "meditating Buddha carved into a cliff . "

Recently, visitors to An Giang often mention a giant Buddha statue being built on Sam Mountain , a place with wild beauty and about 284m above sea level. This is a project honoring Buddha, of international stature, of special significance, belonging to the overall planning of Sam Mountain Cultural Park .

The statue of Buddha meditating was built on the cliff of Sam Mountain, in Vinh Tay Hamlet (Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province). (Photo: Trinh Cuong)

According to Thanh Nien newspaper, the statue of Buddha meditating is 81m high, this project is located on a 5,500m2 land area ^and has a total construction cost of about 255 billion VND . Currently, the upper body of the Buddha statue has been completed, while the legs and lotus throne are still being sculpted. The total construction cost is taken from the capital of Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain and calls for contributions from sponsors, organizations and individuals at home and abroad.

According to Vietnam.vn, the construction of this Shakyamuni Buddha statue began in 2015. If completed, this statue will become the tallest "meditating Buddha statue carved into a cliff" in the world. It is known that the Leshan Giant Buddha in China is 71m high, also a meditating Buddha statue and is currently the tallest Buddha statue carved into a cliff in the world. However, if the Vietnamese Buddha statue is completed, this project will break the record of the Leshan Giant Buddha statue.

If the Vietnamese Buddha statue is completed, this project will break the record of the Leshan Giant Buddha statue. (Photo: NDT)

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Hoan - Head of the Sam Mountain Mausoleum Management Board shared with Mot The Gioi magazine, "The Buddha statue is part of the 10-hectare Sam Mountain Cultural Park project with a budget of nearly 1,200 billion VND from the money of the mausoleum management board (mainly donations from the Ba Chua Xu Temple of Sam Mountain) and socialized sources. The three other Buddha statues in the overall park with the theme of Buddhism are the Buddha's birth statue (21m high), Tuyet Son Buddha (35m, carved into the mountain) and the reclining Buddha (49m long)."

The 81m high meditating Buddha statue is located on a 5,500m2 land area ^. (Photo: 1 world)

The project of the meditating Buddha statue on Sam Mountain is expected to be completed in 2025. Currently, the upper body of the Buddha statue has been completed, while the legs and lotus throne are still being sculpted. The statue is still under construction. When completed, this will be a unique and meaningful spiritual symbol for the Vietnamese people and tourists around the world.

Currently, the upper body of the Buddha statue has been completed, while the legs and lotus throne are still being sculpted to completion. (Photo: Trinh Cuong)

Sam Mountain is one of 37 mountains in An Giang recognized as a National Tourist Area with a complex of historical and cultural relics, ranked at the national level, such as: Ba Chua Xu Temple of Sam Mountain, Tay An Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb, Hang Pagoda in 2018. Every year, the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain attracts millions of tourists. Currently, the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain is permitted by the Government to build a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Summary of information about the statue of Buddha meditating at Sam Mountain. (Table created with AI tools).