The Vietnam Buddhist Monastery Lumbini is situated in Kapilvastu District of Lumbini Zone the western of Nepal, that is about 250 kilometers South-West of Kathmandu.

Reaching Lumbini today is easy. A 35-minute flight from Kathmandu will wing visitors to Bhairawa, an industrial town situated 284 km southwest of the capital. 

There are five flights a week for about US$75. The buses from Kahtmandu take about 10 hours and cost about US$2.  From here, regular taxis and buses leave for Lumbini, 22 km away.  It run every hour or so between neighboring Bhairawa and Lumbini from about six in the morning to about five in the afternoon. They are crowded and slow: it almost takes an hour for the 22km trip. Slightly more expensive, but worth it if you are a small group, you can hire a cab for the day for about US$15. You can also hire a three wheeler tempo for about half the price. 

Depending on how long you want to stay in Lumbini, a bicycle would be nice go around but not necessary (expecially for the fact that one cannot find a bike for rent easily). 

Some of the interesting things to be seen in and around Lumbini include : 
-Ashoka pillar with ancient inscription. 
-Mayadevi Mandir dedicated to the mother of Lord Buddha. 
-Siddhartha pond where Gautam Buddha was bathed after his birth. 
-Mahayana Monastery. 
-Lumbini garden. 
-Ramagrama, the maternal home town of Buddha.

Vietnam Buddhist Monastery Buddha Gaya, India 
(To be continue)