Bao Tich Tower is the most popular tousit attraction in Tu Van Pagoda, located at 3 Thang 4 Street, Cam Ranh Town, about 60 kilometers from the resort town of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province.

 

 

Tu Van Pagoda where the famous tower is situated has become a favorite destination among local and foreign visitors alike because of its one-of-a-kind design of coral rocks, clams and shells.

 

 

Bao Tich Tower is a manually-built structure five years in the making beginning in 1995. The tower itself is 39 meters high. It has two floors and eight doors, the latter named Bat chanh dao (The Noble Eightfold Path), in reverence to the basic Buddha teachings of ending suffering. As such, incense is burned and can be smelled all throughout the tower in line of the religious basis of the structure. Bao Tich Tower is also known as Oc (shell) Pagoda since the whole structure is built with corals, designed with shells and clams.

 

 

According to the history of the Tu Van Pagoda, monks in the place began gathering shells, clams and coral rocks way back in 1985. The local beaches were naturally filled with them and so the monks thought it was a practical thing to do collecting them. They built towers, caves, bridges, and tunnels, and decided to design these structures with the beach finds they had accumulated over time. Even statues, big or small, that the monks made, they decorated with the sea items.

 

 

As negative as it may sound, another favorite spot at the pagoda is a tunnel that locals say lead to hell. It's a 500-meter long tunnel which symbolizes the agony that sinners go through in Nakara, a Sanskrit term for hell. There are metaphorical, somewhat scary depictions along the way and the exit is big and shaped like a dragon's mouth. Although the tunnel is generally dark, tiny rays of sunshine can slip through, and visitors can bring flashlights or candles to the tour.

 

 

After visiting Tu Van Pagoda and Bao Tich Tower, tourists can end their tour by taking a refreshing dip at one or more of the local beaches. It is what Khanh Hoa Province is globally known for in the first place. The beaches are white and sandy, and even if one doesn't bathe in the waters, it is completely relaxing just staying along the shore and breathing in the fresh air and breathtaking atmosphere. Dai (long) beach and the beaches at Ba Ngoi Town are among the world-famous destinations.

 

 

As with every trip or vacation perhaps, it's never really complete without tasting the local delicacy. At Cam Ranh Town, the lobsters are a must-try, something that visitors should always include in their itinerary.