81m Buddha Statue Carved into Mountain in Western Vietnam Aims for World's Tallest

Construction is underway on an 81-meter-tall Buddha statue, carved directly into the mountainside at Sam Mountain in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Expected to be completed by the end of 2027, it is poised to become the world's tallest rock-carved Buddha statue. The Sam Mountain Cultural Park is themed around Buddhism and plans to feature a complex of four statues recreating key milestones in the life of Siddhartha Gautama. The prominent 81-meter-tall seated Buddha will be the centerpiece. It will be accompanied by a 21-meter-tall infant Buddha, a 35-meter-tall Buddha in the Snow Mountain period, and a 49-meter-long reclining Buddha. The massive sculpture will utilize approximately 198,000 cubic meters of grey granite. The entire statue will measure around 70 x 81 x 34 meters, with the seated Buddha alone standing 68 meters tall, atop a two-tiered lotus pedestal measuring 13 meters in height (9 meters for the first tier and 4 meters for the second). Upon completion, the project is anticipated to surpass the Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan, China (71 meters tall), to become the world's highest rock-carved Buddha. The carving process is being executed from top to bottom, with the sculpting team employing scaffolding made of pipes inserted into the mountain. This statue is the main component of the Sam Mountain Cultural Park project, with a total investment exceeding 456 billion VND (approximately $18 million USD). Funding is being sourced from public donations to the Sam Mountain Shrine Management Board. The cultural park itself is scheduled for completion in June 2028, six months after the Buddha statue. Currently, two construction teams comprising nearly 50 workers are simultaneously engaged in rock breaking to create the mold and the carving process. Rock breaking using explosives is expected to conclude by August. The statue has reached the hand portion, with approximately 70% of the work completed. Tran Quoc Sy, the manager of the sculpting team, mentioned that initially, without a prepared work surface, the crew had to climb the mountain daily to carve the head of the Buddha. Later, iron pipes were inserted into the mountain to serve as scaffolding, a system that will remain until the entire statue receives approval from the art council. Workers are seen moving planks secured on iron pipes driven into the mountain rock. "Working on a sheer cliff face requires extreme caution. Sculptors must wear safety harnesses and work only during sunny weather. Work is mandatory halted during rain, wind, or thunderstorms," Sy stated. With its spatial organization tied to Buddhist philosophy, the Sam Mountain Cultural Park is expected to become a significant cultural and spiritual hub, adding a new focal point to the Sam Mountain national tourist area. This area already boasts attractions like the Mieu Ba Chua Xu Sam Mountain (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), the Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum, Tay An Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, and Chau Phu Communal House. Source: VnExpress