Ba Den Mountain, located in Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam, is one of the most famous and sacred mountains in Vietnam. The Ba Den mountain complex is made up of three mountains: Heo Mountain, Ba Den Mountain, Phung Mountain, with many temples, pagodas and caves. The Ba Den Mountain has an altitude of 986 meters, making it the highest mountain in the Southeastern region of Vietnam. 

Among other attractions within the complex, the Ba Den Mountain is the most significant and is associated with a Vietnamese myth. In the past, there was a girl named Ly Thien Huong who came to a temple on this mountain, which was known as Mot Mountain back then, to worship. The girl, who had dark skin and a stunning beauty, fell in love with a man called Le Si Triet who rescued her from danger. Soon after, Le Si Triet was called into the army and had to leave Ly Thien Huong alone. One day, on her way to the temple, she was picked up and harassed by the servant of the district mandarin’s son. Too sorrowful, the girl committed suicide by jumping off a cliff. The people built a temple to commemorate her, gradually more and more people heard about the story and visited the temple in the spring, which has become a tradition. The temple and the mountain which it is located on is now known as Ba Den (Black Lady), which is based on her complexion.

Ba Den Mountain, with its impressive height, is referred to as “the roof of southern Vietnam” and is one of Tay Ninh’s signature attractions.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Ba Den Mountain ?

Dry season (from December to April) is generally considered the best time to visit Ba Den Mountain. The weather is cooler and more comfortable, and you'll have a lower chance of encountering rain. The peak of the dry season, from December to February, offers pleasant temperatures and clear skies. This is a great time for hiking and enjoying the mountain's natural beauty.

If you're interested in experiencing the religious and cultural aspects of Ba Den Mountain, visiting during Vietnamese Lunar New Year or during the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival (from the 4th to the end of January) is a great opportunity to witness local traditional customs. 

How To Get To Ba Den Mountain ?

Ba Den Mountain is located at about 110 km from Ho Chi Minh city. To get to Ba Den Mountain by car or motorbike from Saigon city center, you can take one of these two routes:

Route 1: Follow Route 22A then turn right at Trang Bang junction toward Provincial Road 782; continue for about 62 km until you reach Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province.

Route 2: Follow Route 22A then turn left at Trang Bang junction toward Go Dau Town, continue on Route 22B for 22 km until you reach Ba Den Mountain.

You can also get there by bus. Get on bus 703 from Ben Thanh to Moc Bai, and then take the Moc Bai - Tay Ninh bus to reach Ba Den Mountain, which costs about 60.000 VND for these rides.

What To Visit

Bodhisattva Statue - Tallest Buddha Statue On A Mountain

The statue of Lady Buddha Tay Bo Da Son on Ba Den Mountain has a total height of 72 meters and is cast from over 170 tons of pure red copper using high-pressure mechanical processing technology from Europe. This statue has set records as the "tallest copper Buddha statue in Asia located on a mountain peak" and the "tallest copper Buddha statue in Vietnam located on a mountain peak."

The Lady Buddha statue stands solemnly on a lotus pedestal made of copper, and the lotus petals are crafted in the architectural style of the Le dynasty, with cloud patterns and three water droplets, symbolizing prayers for favorable and harmonious weather. The Buddha's head is adorned with a crown that depicts the image of Amida Buddha. Her left hand holds a jar (called Cam Lo ) pouring an elixir downward, symbolizing the act of bestowing blessings, and her right hand is in the Abhaya Mudra gesture, signifying protection from harm.

The statue was influenced by various models of Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva statues in Tram Pagoda (formerly in Ha Tay), Gian Pagoda (Hai Duong), and some other national treasures.

Buddhist Art Gallery

At the feet of the Lady Buddha statue is a 4-storey Buddhist art gallery with a total area of 4,410 square meters. 

On the first floor of the art gallery in Ba Den Mountain is a grand hall with a vaulted ceiling, and it uses 3D-mapping video projection technology to showcase a video exploration of the universe from a Buddhist perspective. The vaulted screen has a diameter of up to 20 meters and a resolution of approximately 16 million pixels in a panoramic format.

The second floor houses an exhibition of Buddhist art using 3D hologram technology and displays Kinh Luan (prayer wheels). The third floor serves as an exhibition space displaying hundreds of artworks such as statues, paintings, and famous Buddhist reliefs from Vietnam and around the world dating from the 11th to the 13th centuries. The paintings are done in oil on canvas, the reliefs are made of wood, and the statues are gilded copper and wood covered in lacquer.

On the topmost floor inside the base of the Lady Buddha Tay Bo Da Son statue, there is a place for storing and displaying Buddhist relics. The relic room is surrounded by three water walls and nine paintings of the "Lotus Sutra" written in Sanskrit script.

Ba Den Pagoda

One of the most impressive features for tourists is perhaps Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda, where Ba Den is worshiped. Built in the 18th century, the pagoda lies at the altitude of 350 meters and boasts a total area of 6.151,8 m². This is the oldest and longest standing pagoda in Tay Ninh Province. The main worship area of the temple is a small cave with a 240 kg statue of Ngoc Linh Son Holy Mother.

Currently, there are two green stone pillars, sculpted in the early 20th century, that stand in the front gate area, with each pillar measuring 2.5 meters in height and 0.25 meters in diameter, featuring dragon carvings that the temple still preserves. The main hall of the temple covers an area of approximately 200 square meters, with many rafters and a worship area adorned with red and gold. The temple also houses a 2.5-meter tall statue of Buddha, with statues of Bodhisattvas and Eighteen Arhats on either side. The temple has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a national historical and cultural heritage.

Ba Den Station - Largest Cable Car Station In The World

If you’re visiting Ba Den Mountain, make sure not to miss out on the largest cable car station in the world recognised by Guinness World Records with an area of 10,959 square meters and take a ride to the top of the mountain in its modern cable cars. Situated at an elevation of approximately 42 meters above sea level, Ba Den Station has a roof designed to appear wave-shaped. When viewed from above, these three roof clusters symbolize the three mountains: Ba Den Mountain, Phung Mountain, and Heo Mountain (part of the Ba Den Mountain range). The central hall of the station features five large and uniquely styled columns, resembling ancient trees sheltered by the Mother Mountain. There are currently 3 cable car stations: Ba Den Station, Van Son Station and Hang Pagoda Station; and 3 cable car lines. 

Cable car line 1 goes from Ba Den Station all the way to the top of Ba Den mountain, where Van Son Station is, with 113 cabins, each cabin can take up to 10 people per ride, and a speed of 8m/s which takes only 8 minutes to take visitors to the summit. 

Cable car line 2 extends from the foot of the mountain, Ba Den Station, to Hang Pagoda Station with 78 cabins, which takes 5 minutes each way to and from the summit.

Cable car line 3 was recently opened in January of 2023, connecting Ba Den Pagoda and Ba Den mountain summit. It contains 76 cabins, taking 5 minutes each ride, and is considered to be the cable route with the best views in the complex and one of the steepest cable routes in the world.

Final Thoughts

Ba Den Mountain is not only a place of religious significance but also a destination that showcases the natural beauty of the Tay Ninh region in Vietnam. It is a place where spirituality and nature converge, making it an appealing spot for those interested in exploring both cultural and natural aspects of the area.

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