Samten Hills Dalat Transforms Tu Tra, a Barren Land in Vietnam’s Lam Dong, into an International Destination

Nestled approximately 35 kilometers from the heart of Da Lat, a popular tourist destination and capital of Lam Dong, Tu Tra is a commune located within the Don Duong District.

Despite its challenging terrain, marked by rugged mountain ranges, Tu Tra has faced difficulties cultivating rice, coffee, and vegetables due to the scarcity of water sources and unfavorable soil conditions.

However, a revitalizing force emerged over a year ago with the commencement of the Samten Hills Dalat project, initiated by Hanoi-based Kim Phat Production and Trading Company Limited.

Encompassing an area of 220 hectares, the complex showcases the architectural grandeur of Vajrayana Buddhism, originating from India.

It houses an array of significant Buddhist artifacts, including the colossal Maitreya Buddha statue, and the world’s largest prayer wheel, crafted from bronze and adorned with 24k gold, alongside other revered relics.

Since its inception, Samten Hills Dalat has welcomed approximately 400,000 visitors, predominantly from international destinations, within its first year of operation.

Based on insights from renowned travel agencies, Samten Hills Dalat has gained prominence among other attractions in Da Lat.

It has garnered recognition from travelers across Europe and Asia as a must-visit destination within the city and its surrounding regions.

The complex has forged collaborations with numerous travel operators to attract visitors from countries such as Laos, Thailand, South Korea, India, Switzerland, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

In late 2023, the Lam Dong administration designated Samten Hills Dalat as a catalyst for promoting tourism cooperation between the province and the Ladakh union territory of India, recognizing the cultural affinities between the two regions and the project’s concept.

During a recent tourism promotional event, Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the popularity of Samten Hills Dalat among Indian travelers.

He pledged to promote the complex, Lam Dong, and Vietnam as a whole to Indian businesses and individuals, seeking to enhance trade and investment ties between India and Vietnam.

The diplomat additionally expressed his commitment to sharing insights on the travel preferences of Indian tourists with Vietnamese travel companies, enabling them to effectively attract visitors from the South Asian nation.

During a working trip to Lam Dong in early 2024, Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, acknowledged the architectural style of Samten Hills Dalat as a bridge between India and Vietnam, fostering the flow of Vajrayana Buddhism from one country to another.

The complex has contributed to showcasing Vietnam’s image to the international community, while simultaneously introducing the essence of Buddhist culture and art to the Vietnamese people.

Gyalson highlighted the cultural similarities between Ladakh and Tu Tra, enabling Indian travelers to feel a sense of familiarity when visiting Samten Hills Dalat.

Expressing his delight in representing Ladakh and sharing its diverse cultural characteristics with Vietnam, Gyalson emphasized the fondness of Ladakh’s people for Vietnam, with some having already ventured into the Southeast Asian nation.

He expressed hope for increased exchanges between the two regions, encompassing cultural exchanges and collaborations in various fields such as economy and agriculture.