Private Car Route Linking Mang Den and Kon Tum: Khanh Lam Pagoda, 1913 Wooden Cathedral, and Kon Klor Bridge

Connecting four architectural and spiritual landmarks across the northern Central Highlands—Khanh Lam Pagoda, Our Lady of Mang Den, the Kon Tum Wooden Cathedral (with the Kontum Mission Seminary), and Kon Klor Suspension Bridge—along National Highway 24 relies on precise 4-, 7-, or 16-seat private car routing and gate access. Travelling with a local driver allows seniors and children to ride up the paved rear road directly to Khanh Lam Pagoda’s upper courtyard instead of climbing over 200 stone steps, while all suitcases stay secured in the trunk during midday stops in Kon Tum.

[!IMPORTANT] Sun Travel Private Car Standards for Khanh Lam Pagoda, Wooden Cathedral & Kon Klor Bridge

Our well-maintained 4, 7, and 16-seat fleet with local highland drivers tailors every stop for family and heritage travellers:

1. Upper-gate vehicle drop-off at Khanh Lam Pagoda for seniors and children: Instead of climbing 238 stone steps from the base gate, our driver can take older family members up the paved rear access road directly to the upper main hall parking lot.
2. Smart timing around midday closures at the Wooden Cathedral and Seminary: Because the Wooden Cathedral interior and Seminary museum close for lunch between 11:00 AM and 02:00 PM, we schedule your descent from Mang Den for either morning (08:00 AM – 10:30 AM) or afternoon (02:00 PM – 04:30 PM) visits.
3. Transparent base fare for 2D1N packages and 1-way transfers: Starting fares include fuel, Da Nang – Quang Ngai Expressway / BOT tolls, and parking fees; the 2D1N package (ST-TOUR-113) covers round-trip travel from Da Nang / Hoi An to Mang Den while the one-way transfer (ST-ROUTE-050) serves point-to-point trips, with multi-day stopovers confirmed prior to departure.

Visiting Schedule & Architectural Highlights of 4 Mang Den – Kon Klor Landmarks

These religious monuments and engineering landmarks span from Mang Den town in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum down to central Kon Tum City:

Heritage Landmark	Geographic Location	Reference Opening Hours	Architectural & Historical Profile	Walking Access & Private Car Parking
Khanh Lam Pagoda	Pine hill near Pa Sy Waterfall Eco-Zone, Mang Den	06:00 AM – 06:00 PM daily	Three-tiered curved roof blending traditional Buddhist temple design with highland Rong house lines; 17-metre Guanyin statue	Active walkers can climb the 238 mossy stone steps under the pines, while the private car drives seniors up the rear road
Our Lady of Mang Den Pilgrimage Centre	National Highway 24, about 2 km east of central Mang Den	Open daily (best light 07:00 AM – 05:30 PM)	Peaceful forest shrine centred on the revered statue of Our Lady of Fatima bearing indigenous highland facial features	Spacious parking lot for 4 to 16-seat vehicles right outside the main gate with flat, paved garden walkways
Wooden Cathedral & Kontum Mission Seminary	Nguyen Hue & Tran Hung Dao Streets, near the Dak Bla River	07:00 AM – 11:00 AM & 02:00 PM – 05:00 PM	Completed in 1918 from red ironwood (ca chit) blending Romanesque arches and Ba Na stilt-house style; 1935 Seminary lined with plumeria trees	Driver parks at the designated cathedral forecourt, then transfers your group 1.5 km to the Seminary museum
Kon Klor Suspension Bridge	Kon Klor Village, spanning the Dak Bla River	Open all day (golden hour 03:30 PM – 05:30 PM)	Largest steel-cable suspension bridge in the northern highlands (292m long, 4.5m wide), completed in 1994 and painted bright orange	Driver drops your group at the northern bridgehead beside the Rong house and can meet you on the far bank after you walk across

For families seeking a peaceful weekend getaway to visit Khanh Lam Pagoda, Our Lady of Mang Den, and the cool pine forests, check out our Da Nang & Hoi An to Mang Den 2D1N Car Tour.

Serene Pine-Hill Sanctuaries: Khanh Lam Pagoda and Our Lady of Mang Den

Perched on a high hill overlooking the Dak Ke stream valley and old-growth forest, Khanh Lam Pagoda greets visitors with an ornate triple-arched gate at the base of the slope. From there, a straight flight of 238 stone steps climbs through towering three-needle pines to a spacious courtyard housing the three-roof main sanctuary, drum and bell towers, and a 17-metre statue of Avalokiteshvara. Because a paved branch road loops around the back of the hill, your private car driver can drop younger travellers at the bottom steps for the scenic forest walk and drive seniors directly to the upper terrace.

Just 10 minutes east along National Highway 24 sits the Our Lady of Mang Den Pilgrimage Centre, sheltered beneath tall pine trees. Known for its tranquil atmosphere, flat stone pathways, and outdoor altar surrounded by flower beds, the shrine is effortless to navigate for multigenerational families and older travellers.

The 1918 Ironwood Cathedral and Kontum Mission Seminary Museum

Descending 60 km west from the Mang Den plateau along National Highway 24 brings your group to the iconic Wooden Cathedral (Nha Tho Go), constructed between 1913 and 1918 by French missionaries and skilled master carpenters from central Vietnam. Every column, vaulted truss, and the 24-metre bell tower were crafted from durable red ironwood (go ca chit) joined entirely by mortise-and-tenon woodwork without iron nails. The exterior walls—built from a traditional mixture of clay and straw—frame stained-glass Romanesque windows while echoing the elevated lines of a Ba Na stilt house.

A 5-minute drive away stands the Bishop’s Building and Kontum Mission Seminary, completed in 1935. Visitors walk down an avenue of ancient white plumeria (hoa su) trees toward a nearly 100-metre-long timber-and-brick structure. On the upper floor, an ethnographic museum displays hundreds of indigenous carvings, weaving looms, musical instruments, and historical maps of the Central Highlands. This full architectural route continuing to Pleiku’s volcanic lake is included in our Da Nang – Mang Den – Pleiku 3D2N Car Tour.

Sunset Photos on the 292-Metre Kon Klor Suspension Bridge and Dress Code Tips

Late afternoon between 04:00 PM and 05:30 PM is the ideal window to visit Kon Klor Suspension Bridge, located just steps from the Kon Klor communal Rong house. Stretching 292 metres across the Dak Bla River with a 4.5-metre deck, the orange steel cables glow warmly in the setting sun against green sugarcane fields and alluvial sandbars below.

When entering Khanh Lam Pagoda, Our Lady of Mang Den Shrine, the Wooden Cathedral, and the Seminary museum, wear respectful attire covering shoulders and knees, remove hats inside prayer halls, and observe quiet hours during Mass. For complete vehicle capacity charts and intercity route planning, consult our South Central Vietnam & Central Highlands Road Trip Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Wooden Cathedral, Kon Klor Bridge & Khanh Lam Pagoda

How much is the 3-day, 2-night private car tour covering the 1913 Kon Tum Wooden Cathedral, Kon Klor Suspension Bridge and Khanh Lam Pagoda? +

Current starting rates for Da Nang / Hoi An ↔ Mang Den – Kon Klor – Bien Ho, Pleiku (3 days, 2 nights): 4-seat car from US$309, 7-seat car from US$351 and 16-seat van from US$438. The listed price includes fuel, road tolls and parking; Sun Travel quotes the final fare based on your pickup and drop-off points, itinerary and departure time.

Do the Wooden Cathedral and Kontum Mission Seminary close at midday? +

Yes. The interior of the Wooden Cathedral and the ethnographic museum inside the Kontum Mission Seminary close for a midday break from 11:00 AM to 02:00 PM; our driver times your arrival for either 08:00 AM – 10:30 AM or 02:00 PM – 04:30 PM.

Can our private car drive seniors to the top of Khanh Lam Pagoda so they do not have to climb the 238 stone steps? +

Yes. Your driver can drop anyone who wishes to walk at the lower triple-arched gate and then drive seniors and young children up the paved rear road to the upper parking lot right beside the main temple courtyard.

Is there an admission fee for Khanh Lam Pagoda, the Wooden Cathedral, or Kon Klor Suspension Bridge? +

No. Khanh Lam Pagoda, Our Lady of Mang Den Pilgrimage Centre, the Wooden Cathedral, Kontum Mission Seminary, and Kon Klor Suspension Bridge are all open to visitors free of charge.

What is included in the Mang Den – Kon Klor private car package fare and how does cancellation work? +

Quoted package fares cover round-trip fuel, Da Nang – Quang Ngai Expressway tolls, parking fees at all heritage sites, ; any schedule changes or extra stops are confirmed directly with dispatch prior to departure.