An Giang: spiritual and ecological rendezvous of the Mekong Delta

VTV.vn - Located in the southwestern border region, An Giang has long been considered an important gateway to the Mekong Delta.

With the rare advantage of both possessing spiritual values ​​and rich ecological landscapes, this place has become one of the unique tourist centers of the region.

The legend of Ba Chua Xu Temple in Sam Mountain and the wish for peace

When mentioning An Giang , it is impossible not to mention Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain - a famous and sacred temple located at the foot of Sam Mountain, Vinh Te Ward, Chau Doc City. This is the largest religious center in the South, associated with many legends and unique cultural imprints.

According to legend, the statue of Ba Chua Xu was discovered on the top of Sam Mountain in the early 19th century. Local people invited the statue to build a temple, and since then this place has become an important spiritual place, a place to place faith and hope for protection and peace.

Statue of Lady in the main hall area

Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the temple, especially during the Via Ba Chua Xu festival which takes place from the 22nd to the 27th of the fourth lunar month. This is an occasion to pray for peace and prosperity, and is also a vivid demonstration of the Southern people's tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking water". The special feature of the festival is the cultural exchange between the Kinh, Hoa, Khmer and Cham communities, creating a rich identity.

On December 4, 2024, the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival was officially recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This is the first traditional festival of the Mekong Delta to receive this honor, opening up new opportunities for An Giang to promote its spiritual cultural image to the world .

Unique architecture of Ba Chua Xu Temple

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest - "green lung" of the West

If the Lady Temple brings spiritual tranquility, the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest takes visitors into a green and fresh natural space. With an area of ​​nearly 850 hectares, this is an important ecological reserve, gathering hundreds of endemic species of flora and fauna in the wetland, including many rare bird species.

Tra Su in flood season

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest was formed in the 1980s and was once a barren, alum-flooded area. Thanks to restoration and conservation work, this place has now become the "green lung" of the That Son region, playing a role in regulating the climate, preventing erosion, and protecting the ecological balance of the entire area.

Coming to Tra Su during the flood season (from September to November), visitors will experience a sampan weaving through small canals covered with green duckweed, under the shady canopy of cajuput leaves. This is also the season when water birds gather to breed, creating a vivid natural picture, blending the lush green of the trees and the chirping of birds.

Tourists experience rowing a sampan

This place has a peaceful and rustic beauty.

Tra Su is also a typical eco-tourism destination of the Mekong Delta, contributing to raising community awareness of environmental conservation. This is truly an ideal place to find peace and fully experience the rustic beauty of the Mekong Delta.

Cam Mountain : majestic and sacred

Standing out in the That Son range, Cam Mountain is over 700m above sea level and is known as the "roof of the West". With a cool climate all year round and majestic mountain scenery, this place attracts a large number of tourists to visit and worship.

The largest Maitreya Buddha statue in Vietnam

Unique spiritual architecture

The highlight of Cam Mountain is the 33.6m high Maitreya Buddha statue - one of the largest Buddha statues in Southeast Asia. On the top of the mountain, there are many unique spiritual architectural works such as Van Linh Pagoda, Big Buddha Pagoda, caves and ancient temples. All create a space that is both sacred and has a harmonious beauty between human hands and nature.

Van Linh Pagoda is massive and ancient.

Large bell towers inside Van Linh Pagoda

Visitors can choose to take the cable car to see the whole view of An Giang from above, visit the pagoda to pray for peace, or participate in festivals associated with the religious life of the residents of the Bay Nui region.

In addition to its majestic landscape, Cam Mountain also contains many mysterious legends, contributing to the attractiveness of this destination.

Source: https://vtv.vn/an-giang-diem-hen-tam-linh-va-sinh-thai-cua-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-100250919224253559.htm