Truc lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery is constructed on the old foundation of temple for favour from heaven and Buddhism, from 250m - 300 m above the sea level in Tam Dao-Tay Thien range, a fame of Ly Tran dynasty.
On April 4, 2004 or February 15 of the leap Dragon year, the rock laying ceremony for construction of the Truc Lam Tay Thien monasty organized in Thong Temple in Dai Dinh Commune, Tam Dao District, Vinh Phuc Province. After 15 months of construction, a new fame inaugurated and it becomes a place for tourists and Buddhists from every corner of the country to come.
Its sanctum is 17 m high with the area of 673.2 m2 (20.4 m x 33 m). There are only four pillars Inside to support the roof so it is spacious as a meeting hall, high and large space, bright and majestic. Inside the sanctum, there is an altar with three statues, which wanted to show that the leading to a religious life of the monastery is Buddhism is in the heart, the target of the Buddhism is to enlighten the perspicacity, develop the desire, enlighten and deliver. Both sides of the sanctum are bell and drum steeples. At the back of the sanctum is the show room, house of ancestor, monk guesthouse, and female guesthouse. In the left side hand, there is a nun guesthouse. The public WC is located near to the car parking. From Vinh Yen City, you can go by car to the foot of Tam Dao range. From there, you go on the concrete road along the range to the park of the monastery. Here you start walking on the stone stairs to the huge three-door temple gate. Brethren Nguyen Quoc Toan used Thanh Hoa marble to make big stone plates and the incense-burner putting in front of the sanctum. Passing the three-door temple gate, you have to walk another tens of stone stairs to a small yard then to the sanctum.
Truc Lam Tay Thien Monastery is an imposing and splendid architecture works bearing the stamp of Buddhist architecture and aesthetics. It is not a copy from the ancient pagodas in Viet Nam in the 16-17 centuries but mixing the harmonization with modernization. The Monastery maintains the special characteristics of the Buddhist pagoda but bearing deep national culture characteristics, meeting the demand of the spirit life of the present Buddhists, safeguarding the landscape, the eco-environment and the attractiveness of Tam Dao National Forest.
