Column: Abroad in Vietnam, visiting Lady Buddha and the Sun Wheel
As our time at the American University of Vietnam is coming to a close, we are making the most of our days here in Da Nang by checking items off our bucket lists and trying new things. This week, we visited the Lady Buddha, also known as the Goddess of Mercy, statue and took a ride on downtown Da Nang’s Sun Wheel Ferris wheel. I have always loved day trips, but since our time in Da Nang is nearly up, this trip was particularly memorable.
Our weekend started with our drive out to the Lady Buddha statue, which is up on the mountain north of the city, about half an hour from our dorm. We enjoyed views of the ocean, the hills and the blue boats wading in the marina as we drove along the coast. On its own, the journey there was incredible. Have I mentioned how much I love living near the coast?
Once we got to the Lady Buddha statue, we were stunned by the beauty of the grounds and the sheer size of the statue. According to Embark, Lady Buddha stands tall at nearly 67 meters. Surrounded by ornate gardens and pagodas, the entire site is like a small haven in the hills. Looking out, you can see incredible views of city and the ocean, the same view Lady Buddha is said to protect.
Lady Buddha, also known as the Goddess of Mercy.
From what we learned at the site, Lady Buddha was built as a place to worship and as a protector of the city and the people of Da Nang. Fishermen are said to pray to the Goddess of Mercy, and in return, they claim there hasn’t been a typhoon since the statue was erected. For what it’s worth, I think she certainly looks intimidating enough to scare away any natural disaster that comes her way.
Lady Buddha’s view of the city and the sea.
Even though the statue is spectacular, there are also a lot of small, beautiful things to be found within the grounds themselves. Monkeys run back and forth from small ponds, wreaking havoc and threatening to steal away your small possessions. Dogs nap in the sun in front of the pagodas, smiling up as you walk by at the hopes you’ll give them a pet. Gorgeous flowering trees and bushes line the sidewalks and provide relief from the heat of the day. The smell of incense wafts around each and every pagoda and fills the entire hill with a sense of peace.
Dogs bask in the sun in front of a pagoda.
It was such a fun and unique experience, and I am so glad I got to share it with my friends here in Da Nang before we have to leave.
After that, we walked around the city and grabbed some coffee before heading off to downtown Da Nang’s amusement park. For a while now, we have wanted to ride the giant Ferris wheel you can see from the city, so we finally decided to do it. We walked around the park at night, watched some of the performances and then traded in our six-dollar tickets for a trip around the Sun Wheel.
Watching the sunset high above the city in our little pod, I couldn’t help but feel I haven’t had enough time here. No matter how many times we travel into downtown, there is always something new to see and do. You could spend a lifetime here and still find new streets to walk, bakeries to eat at and experiences to have.
Emily Hill, Lindsey McBrayer, Lily Child and I sit at the top of the Sun Wheel in Da Nang.
As we made our way around the Sun Wheel, laughing and taking photos, I was humbled by how lucky I am to be living through these incredible experiences. If you had asked me a year ago what I would be doing right now, I never would have been able to guess. For me, I think that’s the best part.
I can’t wait to share more updates with you, but for now, keep a look out for more things to come, and as always, see you soon!