A colossal Buddha statue carved from a single block of granite is rising above the hills of Da Nang, attracting growing attention despite remaining unfinished nearly a decade after construction began.
Standing approximately 65 metres tall at the foot of Phuoc Ly Mountain, the statue depicts Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha and founder of Buddhism. Once completed, it is expected to become one of Vietnam’s most remarkable Buddhist landmarks.
The project, launched in 2016, was approved alongside a second monument dedicated to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, according to local reports. While much of the statue’s head, face and body has now taken shape, work on the surrounding complex continues.
What makes the monument particularly distinctive is its construction material. The statue is being sculpted from a single granite mass quarried from nearby Cam Khe Mountain, a feat that has drawn comparisons with some of Asia’s largest stone-carved religious monuments.
The Buddha portrayed is Shakyamuni, born as Siddhartha Gautama more than 2,500 years ago in present-day Nepal. His teachings laid the foundations of Buddhism, which spread across South and Southeast Asia and continues to influence millions of followers worldwide.
The Da Nang project reflects Vietnam’s long Buddhist tradition, where giant Buddha statues have become important pilgrimage and tourism destinations. Similar monumental figures can be found across the country, particularly in major temple complexes and spiritual tourism sites.
Perched amid a rugged landscape of rock and forested hills, the giant Buddha already dominates the local skyline. Residents say it has become a landmark for travellers passing through the area, even before its official completion.
Supporters hope the monument will eventually evolve into a major spiritual destination, attracting both Buddhists and tourists seeking panoramic views and a deeper connection with Vietnam’s religious heritage.
For now, however, the immense statue remains a work in progress. Nearly ten years after construction began, the giant granite Buddha continues its slow emergence from the mountainside, a striking symbol of both faith and ambition in central Vietnam.
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