largest Buddha in Vietnam

Here is the largest Buddha in Vietnam in Soc Son. Soc Son is more well known for the legend of a giant warrior whom helped the Vietnamese fight off the Chinese and his footsteps made the lakes and valleys in the mountains. Because of the largest Buddha which weighs thirty tonnes some other people want to make an even larger statue of Giong the warrior. This oneupsmanship is quite interesting I think! Here I am outside one of the many pagodas at Yen Tu mountain. It's a pilgrimage site and the ascent is very very steep! I bravely chickened out before the summit. Even though part of the way was by cable car.... We had an interesting conversation with Tam whom is a Vietnamese practictioner whom does translation with us. She talked about how Westerners like the ideas of Buddhism but only like the fluffy bits - and balk at stopping drinking etc. I guess this applies to me...but I think the more common misunderstanding about Buddhism is about impermanence- people sometimes view non attachment as having no emotions at all and trying to reach nothingness which I don't think is quite correct. It's the concept of interbeing I think that is central to Buddhism. And compassion. And love. Etc. Etc.