VietNamNet Bridge - A ceremony was held at Phat Lon Pagoda in the southern province of An Giang on May 29 to announce the largest Maitreya Buddha statue in Asia, seated on the Cam Mountain peak.

The record was recognized by the New Delhi-based Asia Book of Records on March 2, 2013.

The Maitreya Buddha statue is located on the peak of Cam Mountain, about 710 meters above sea level.

The 33.6m-high, 600-ton statue was constructed from March 2004 to December 2005 at a cost of more than VND33 billion (US$1.6 million).

In early 2006, it was named the biggest Maitreya Buddha statue in Vietnam by the Vietnam Book of Records (Vietkings).

The Buddha Maitreya statue can be seen from any spot on the Cam Mountain.

The statue was created by about 60 artisans in almost two years.

From the site where the Buddha Maitreya statue is placed, visitors can see the entired fields at the foot of the Cam Mountain.

The road to the Cam Mountain is crooked and dangerous...

...every day thousands of visitors flock to the pagoda.