Sam Son beach as seen from Co Giai islet and Truong Le mountain range. Photo: Le Cong Binh (Contributor)
1. Sam Son is a narrow strip of land, formed by alluvial deposits from the sea, creating a beach with mountains and rivers... opening up a fascinating landscape. The harmonious blend of a long stretch of beach with "light yellow, fine, flat, shallow, gently sloping sand and clear blue water" with the image of Truong Le Mountain – a dark gray mountain range, sloping towards the southeast – creates a blend of resonant, majestic, yet soft and poetic beauty. Composed of a series of mountains extending from the land towards the sea, the Truong Le range forms a rocky wall, protecting the beautiful Sam Son coastal area. At the foot of Truong Le Mountain are bays that are both romantic and expansive, breathtakingly beautiful: Tien Bay, Ngoc Bay, Vinh Son Beach, Nich Beach... offering visitors new and exciting experiences when visiting Sam Son.
When writing the book "Sam Son's Sacred Sites" (Volume I, 2020, Thanh Hoa Publishing House), the late poet and "Sam Son scholar" Hoang Thang Ngoi offered some very interesting insights surrounding the name of this mountain: "The inhabitants here, on the north side of the mountain, informally call it Mount Gam. Perhaps, the sounds of the waves crashing against the mountain cliffs echo into the village...". Thus, the affectionate connection between the mountain and the sea not only beautifies the landscape but also weaves beautiful ideas of connection into the human consciousness over the years.
Within itself, Truong Le Mountain holds and preserves countless unique historical and cultural values. These include a diverse and rich collection of religious and spiritual relics such as the Doc Cuoc Temple, Co Tien Temple, To Hien Thanh Temple, Tranh Pagoda, and the tomb of General Van Quang Dat... Notably, Truong Le Mountain still retains traces and foundations of villas and resorts built by the French in the early 20th century.
Besides its picturesque natural scenery and dense network of historical sites, the Truong Le mountain range attracts tourists with its legends, myths, folk tales, and folk stories. Legends tell of the god Doc Cuoc who defeated sea demons, splitting his own body in two to protect the people of this coastal region and ensure their eternal peace; legends of a faithful and unwavering love that transformed into the Drum and Rooster rock formation; and stories of a beautiful female healer who practiced medicine to save lives before ascending to heaven with her husband... These folk tales have imbued the Truong Le mountain range in particular, and the entire Sam Son coastline in general, with a shimmering spiritual aura.
It seems that Truong Le Mountain has entrusted all its beauty and sacredness to the waves and winds of Sam Son, so that whenever visitors stand on Co Giai Island and look out at the sea towards the Co Tien Temple, their hearts are filled with even more enchantment and a lingering attachment.
2. Linh Truong Mountain is located north of Hai Tien beach, and locals often call it Lach Truong Mountain or Ha Ro Mountain. The book "Hoang Hoa Cultural Geography" (2000, Social Sciences Publishing House) describes this mountain in detail: "Seven peaks connected to each other, along the riverbank, the mountain body has rocky outcrops extending to the water's surface... In the middle, several large and small peaks rise up, which is Na Son Mountain, also called Hai Ti Mountain or Hoang Nguu Mau Tu Mountain."
Tourists visit the area around Hon Bo Island and Linh Truong Mountain.
The book "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" records: "In the 7th year of Hong Duc (1476), King Le Thanh Tong visited this place and composed a poem titled 'Linh Truong Sea Gate' and the preface said: Beside the sea, towering mountains rise, strangely shaped, standing at the sea gate. At the foot of the mountain is a cave, deep and boundless, said to be the mouth of a dragon. Outside the cave is a stone shaped like a nose, said to be the dragon's nose. Below the mountain rises a round, smooth, lovely stone, said to be a pearl. Large rocks jut out, in many shapes, some sparse, some dense, too numerous to count, said to be the dragon's whiskers."
It is truly commendable how the hand of nature or the rich imagination of humankind has depicted the appearance of Linh Truong Mountain with such vivid and fascinating images. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, the appearance of Linh Truong Mountain as described in ancient historical records has changed somewhat and is no longer preserved in its original form. Even so, the beauty of Linh Truong Mountain today is still enough to add a distinctive touch to the picturesque natural landscape, inviting tourists from all over to experience tourism in the Hai Tien coastal area.
Following the trail through the cool, green pine forest, visitors can immerse themselves in nature, listening to the harmonious blend of mountains and sea, or gaze out at the vast ocean, admire the winding Lach Truong River around the foot of the mountains, and in the distance, the clam farms with their watchtowers evoking a peaceful and tranquil daily life.
More significantly, from this mountain, every Vietnamese person can listen to the resounding echoes of the history of the tenacious and heroic resistance against the Americans. It was on this mountain that the Hoang Truong veteran militia platoon, undeterred by danger and hardship, firmly held their weapons and raised their cannons towards the enemy to safeguard the nation's independence and freedom. To commemorate their contributions, the Monument to the Heroic Hoang Truong Veteran Militia was built not far from Linh Truong Mountain. Right at the Lach Truong estuary, where Hon Bo island juts out into the sea, the Monument to the First Victory of the Vietnam People's Navy and the Hon Bo - Lach Truong Spiritual Tourism and Cultural Park have been constructed. All of this has become a source of pride for the land and people of this region.
Mountains and sea – two distinct aspects, two different tones, yet harmoniously blended in a symphony of nature. And it is this blend that contributes to the unique and captivating appeal of tourism in Thanh Hoa province.
Text and photos: Dang Khoa
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ban-hoa-ca-cua-nui-va-bien-285041.htm
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