Mountain story

BPO - People often say that any relationship that exists is certainly fate. But whether we can stay together or not depends on fate...

For me, "going up the mountain" is a destiny that I accept and "living in the mountain" is a "fate" that I have to do, to "pay" as my grandparents often say. Thinking about each of us, perhaps that is not wrong, when everyone has their own destiny from marriage, choosing a career, starting a business... of their own...

From the "conquest" of Ba Den mountain peak...

In the 1980s, when I was studying at the School of Radio and Television II - Tran Nhan Ton, Ho Chi Minh City, my classmates and I "conquered" the peak of this mountain...

At that time, the tourism and service system at Ba Den Mountain was still very simple and was considered a spiritual pilgrimage site for visitors from all over. Few people knew about or climbed to the top of this mountain because the road had not been opened for tourists to visit like it is now...

Ba Den Mountain today - Source: Internet

According to locals, there were two ways to the top of Ba Den Mountain, but both were from local trails. The trail behind Ba Temple was bad, difficult to travel, and had many dangers such as falling rocks, slippery roads, and poisonous snakes. Another path from the Martyrs' Monument, along the electric poles, was quite long and deserted.

To "conquer" Ba Den peak at that time, I and a group of 10 other siblings "carried" each other on "iron horses" (bicycles were a popular means of transportation for students in the 1980s) to the house of a classmate from Tay Ninh the previous afternoon.

At dawn, our group was at the foot of the mountain to begin the conquest... The weather in the mountainous area was quite cold, but sweat was already soaking our bodies just after climbing the steps at Hang Pagoda!...

Mr. Thang, our guide from Tay Ninh, told us: "Now is the road to conquer... Are you still determined!?". Seeing the determination of the brothers, Mr. Thang opened an Adidas bag full of hot home-cooked banana cakes, telling the brothers to eat them to gain strength to climb...

...At this time, everyone suddenly remembered that they did not bring much drinking water, only a small can, but there were 9 or 10 of us... Mr. Chuc - a demobilized soldier who studied with us - appeared to be the most experienced, he gave each person a lid to drink from, then assigned people to string each pair of sandals together to carry with them; others to carry food... then together we stuck close together and crept along the steep trail in the forest to climb to the top... stopping to rest at the gentlest part. It must have been more than 2 hours before we reached the top.

At that time, the top of Ba Den mountain had nothing but a few damaged containers lying among the wild trees... However, before we could explore much, suddenly from the leaves right where my friend named Tung (Dong Nai) was sitting, a huge, golden snake appeared and slithered out, scaring everyone so they quickly slid down the mountain...

Of course, at the height of 996m, we have truly conquered this mountain and can see far and wide... Obviously, if we keep standing at the foot of the mountain, how can we see the vast land and sky. To do so, the only way is for each of us to try to overcome all challenges and difficulties to stand on the top!

"Every mountain is within reach if you keep climbing" (Barry Finlay)

In recent years, when Ba Den Mountain has invested in tourism development with many large-scale projects, including a station system and cable car to the top... I had the opportunity to return to this mountain top...

Ba Den Mountain today - Photo: Internet

Every time I have the opportunity to set foot on this mountain again, I still remember the old story and am proud that I have overcome the challenge to stand on top of the highest mountain in the Southeast region since when...

To "the wish to conquer" Ba Ra mountain

Ba Ra Mountain - Source: Internet

After graduating, I worked at the Radio Management Department of Song Be Radio Station (later Song Be Radio - Television Station). One day, the Director of the Station at that time, Mr. Hai Dinh (deceased), called me to the department and assigned me to go on a business trip to Phuoc Long district (now Phuoc Long town).

Back then, when the director invited anyone to do something private, they were very "scared" because it was usually something important and related to them.

I was young at that time, so when I heard that, I also felt "scared" and worried!

While still hovering in the corner of the room, hesitating to say hello, Uncle Hai Dinh sitting at the desk looked up and asked:

- Ah... is that Thao... come sit here, I want to discuss this...

Uncle Hai carefully asked me about my school studies, gave some necessary requirements to open a training class for the grassroots radio staff... He wanted me to prepare a "lesson plan" to "become a teacher" and teach in Phuoc Long...

He advised: On this business trip, you will stay for about a month... Have you ever heard of or been to Phuoc Long?... as he spoke, he pointed to the map hanging on the wall...

I saw that it was the largest and furthest land of Song Be at that time...

On the day of "departure", that afternoon, Mr. Vo Hung Phong, former Deputy Director of Binh Duong Radio and Television Station, at that time Head of Radio Management Department, Song Be Radio Station, took me to his house to sleep, so that I could go to the bus station early in the morning to be closer.

At 5:00 a.m., the first bus to Phuoc Long departed. The road to Phuoc Long at that time was very difficult. From Phu Giao, it was a red dirt road, winding, full of red dust and potholes... At 5:00 p.m., the bus arrived at Phuoc Long parking lot, right at the foot of the towering Ba Ra mountain. That image left a deep impression on me when I first came to this land...

Having never worked far away for a long time, especially in a mountainous area, hearing Uncle Hai's sincere instructions like that made me worried... Luckily, during the days I stayed at Phuoc Long District Radio Station at that time, the brothers and sisters took good care of me.

Mr. Mai Trang, the station chief at that time, took care of the sleeping place; Ms. Anh and Mr. Nghia took care of the meals and boiled water for bathing; in the morning, Mr. Rang and Mr. Phi took me out for breakfast... The care and attention of the staff helped me feel more secure during the days there.

Now, you guys are all retired but the story from nearly 30 years ago is still in me and those are the favors that I can never forget...

During those days staying at Phuoc Long Radio Station, every early morning, in the cool weather, standing and looking towards Ba Ra Mountain covered in fog... I suddenly thought... I wish I could "conquer" the second mountain of this Southeast region once again!...

***

A few years later - around the end of 1988 to 1989, Song Be Radio conducted surveys to build a radio and television relay station on this mountain, to cover information to the people of 5 districts north of Song Be at that time (now Binh Phuoc province).

"Whenever you finish one climb, there's always the next thing you can try" (Alex Honnold)

Since 1990, this project has entered the "mountain-cutting, road-opening" phase and that was also the opportunity for me to have a second chance to "conquer" the second highest mountain in the Southeast region - as my previous "wish"!

…Difficulties from the “inner mountain”

The day I decided to "volunteer" to take on the task of going up to the mountain (Ba Ra) to work, Uncle Ut Tuyen - Mr. Ngo Thanh Tuyen, former Director of Song Be Radio and Television Station (deceased) called me to give me many instructions: He told me that there would be many difficulties and challenges; he told me to think carefully and not to make a hasty decision, but to go home and discuss my opinion with my family...

I heard that you were going to work in the mountains... My mother shouted loudly: "Quit! Quit!... quit your job... you'll die if you go up there!... Didn't you hear what people said?!...

"First Con Lon, second Ba Ra!" (*) - sacred forest, poisonous water! How can one live up there!?...".

This saying, perhaps few people know and now also rarely hear anyone say the word "Con Lon" but only call it Con Dao. Actually, Con Dao or Con Son in the past was often used to name the largest island in this archipelago.

Vietnamese history books before the 20th century also often called Con Son Island Con Lon Island (now called Phu Hai Island). According to researchers, the name Con Lon originated from ancient Malay and was called Poulo Condor by Europeans (internet source).

This same saying, perhaps, was the fate that brought me and a friend of the same age together and became close friends. I will always remember the day he came to find me in the early days after Song Be province was separated…

… Standing right at the gate of the station, neither of us knew each other. He asked: Ba Thao? “Lord of the mountain” Ba Ra, right?… Nodding slightly, I asked again for his name and reason? He simply said that he was coming to this province, had heard a lot about me and wanted to meet me, if possible, be friends… Later, we became close and told each other many things that had similarities in life - except that, while he told me a lot about the sea and islands, I told him about “mountain stories”…

Many times, we had the opportunity to go to Con Dao together. We also had the opportunity to talk to each other about the saying: “First Con Lon, second Ba Ra”. I understood more about him and what he had devoted to this sea and island. I also witnessed the hearts of the islanders for him every time I returned. I jokingly said, “Lord of the island” is here… The story of “mountain” and “island” seems to be a fate like that. Our friendship over the years has become closer and more precious, just like the word “lover” (in the South) that we often use for each other…

***

Back to the mountain story.

At that time, my mother was so determined, but my father gently advised: "If possible, I want you not to go!...".

My second brother listened to the story, pondered and said nothing, then invited me to go for coffee to talk more...

The coffee cup was empty, after several rounds of tea, both of them were still silent... Impatient, I spoke up: "Do you support me?... I know living in the mountains and forests is very difficult, but I want to test myself...".

Seemingly still hesitating, he said: "The fact that my parents don't agree, also has their reasons... because that is a sacred forest, poisonous water... my parents love me, so they oppose... Let me find a way to convince my parents... You should think carefully... Be careful, because once you have decided, you cannot give up!... You must try hard no matter how many hardships and difficulties there are...".

A few days later, I sat with Uncle Ut Tuyen and Uncle Bay Hieu to talk about going up the mountain... Both of them were very happy, but kept asking what I told my family? What did I tell Vinh? (my second brother)...

Uncle Bay said: "If there is Hieu, there must be Thao!"... You go there to stay for about 3 years, when everything is stable, we will take you back!...

"The hardest mountain to climb is the mountain within" (J. Lynn)

Uncle Ut kept stroking my head: "...I feel so sorry!... Honestly, I don't want you to go to the mountain, but hearing you decide to accept the mission, I feel relieved... just try your best, my child...".

... Mountain Day

At that time, the mountain road from the foot of the mountain was being opened up to Bang Lang hill... The house on this hill was also completing the interior.

At that time, Trong, Su, Phong, and Lon also participated in this construction process... Those were also the brothers who later became attached to me as a family...

The car carrying the Board of Directors and me up the mountain stopped right at the steps of Bang Lang hill house... as soon as I opened the door and stepped out, I unexpectedly met an old high school friend from the same hometown...

- Hey...Fuck Thao!?...

- Force...!?...

- Me!!!...

- What... What are you doing!?...

- F.u.m... I'm building a house for you to live in...

- ...!???...

- Today, I heard Thao's name mentioned as being the station chief here... but I didn't think it would be you...!!!

The two of us quickly hugged each other, patting each other's shoulders "pop, pop" to the surprise of everyone and... of both of us - the most unexpected meeting of two middle school students...

***

..."Boom, boom!"... "keng, keng!"... The Chemistry class of Mr. Phu, my homeroom teacher of class 9A2, was "quiet" during homework... suddenly those "strange" sounds rang out...

- "Surely dead!"... I thought for a moment, when I saw Luc sitting in front of me banging the table "boom, boom"... then Phu Hai knocked 2 pieces of iron together making "keng, keng"!... Following the direction of the sound, Mr. Phu came to my table, asked who!?... and it wasn't difficult to "make" the 2 friends stand up to punish...

In my middle school, Luc was considered a "bad student" because he was disruptive in class and often bullied his classmates... but for some reason, Luc really liked me, defended me and "protected me"...

***

I never expected that in the middle of Ba Ra mountains and forests; in the middle of a strange land and people... I would meet Luc again, I would have someone to "protect" me like before...

Listening to Luc's story, I learned that after dropping out of school, Luc became a bricklayer... and then, by fate, he went to Ba Ra mountain, became a foreman, and built a "house" for me to live in.

During the time of building Ba Ra Radio Station, I can never forget the cement slabs used as steps that Luc carried, shouldered, and connected to the top... The isolation transformer weighing tens of kilograms that Luc shouldered for me to carry up to the top of the mountain... or the days when Luc and I waded through waterfalls, into deep forests... and Luc climbed up high dry branches to pick wild orchids for me...

However, a few years after Ba Ra Radio started operating, I no longer had the chance to see Luc again because of the terrible cancer that Luc suffered from....

That year, I went to Luc's family in Lo Muoi hamlet, Di An... lit a stick of incense, and said goodbye to my friend!

The day I went up the mountain, Bang Lang hill was the place chosen to gather construction materials such as sand, stone, cement, iron, steel... from here, people continued to carry and transport them to the top of Ba Ra mountain to build a house to install a transmitter.

The name Bang Lang hill was given by the uncles in the Board of Directors of the Station at that time. The reason for this name is because when the road leading to the top was opened, this forest was a gentle, flat area with many wild Lagerstroemia trees, which could be used to make doors, beds... to serve the project.

The uncles said that after many times, many points were chosen to open the road up the mountain, the chosen point to open the mountain started from Mr. Hai Lang's cashew garden (near the area from the current statue of the Immaculate Conception). Compared to the previous survey points in the forest of Phuoc Binh area, this point is more favorable because it has a moderate slope, few vertical cliffs, so it will be easy to bring in bulldozers to open the road; easy to go up and down, transport construction materials as well as significantly reduce construction costs...

Bang Lang Hill is 452m above sea level, facing northeast. Leaning against the mountain to look down in this direction, if not blocked by trees, one can see the silver light of Thac Mo hydroelectric lake and far away in the clouds are the mountain ranges, the last range of Truong Son... Right at the foot of the mountain, when entering the 1.5km long road up Bang Lang Hill, is Thac Me bridge with the dry stream of Thac Mo flowing across. In the years when the hydroelectric power was not yet blocked, every time I went up the mountain, passed by, I stopped here to watch the water drops dancing in the hidden mist and smoke, blending with the melodious sounds... What a lively natural landscape that people should enjoy... At that time, it was still wild, every morning, from Bang Lang Hill we could still hear the murmuring sound of Me waterfall...

***

During the years of road opening and construction, Bang Lang Hill only had one level 4 house (first used as a temporary residence for the project management board, technical staff and construction workers. Later, it was a residence for the technical staff operating the Ba Ra Broadcasting Station).

The ground around the house was still wild, in front was a red gravel yard that was leveled and connected to a zigzag road winding and steep from the foot of the mountain; behind and to the side of the house were hills, undulating rocks, interspersed with dense forests of bamboo...

To make the front yard airy and have room to "increase production", the directors at that time filled in an additional low-lying area in front of the house, next to the forest in the "elbow" area up to Bang Lang hill. Then they planted grapefruit, mango, vegetable gardens and trellises of aromatic squash...

***

Days in the mountains…

…Some days my real brother would take the bus to visit me, sometimes he would stay in the mountains with his brothers until the next day... and he would always put some money in my hand...

Later, I found out that every time he came back from visiting me on the mountain, my second brother hid from my parents about my miserable life... it wasn't until 5 or 6 years later that my parents had the chance to go to the mountain... Even though the living conditions on Ba Ra mountain later became more comfortable and prosperous, the old people's perspective was always profound... After walking around Bang Lang hill, my father quickly wiped away his tears and turned his face away so I couldn't see...

***

The day I went up the mountain, following Uncle Bay Hieu - Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, former Director of the Station (deceased), Mr. Hai Sang (Mr. Truong Van Sang, former Deputy Director of the Station), Ms. Thu Ha from the Planning Department and the survey team to open the road was a valuable experience for me about the skills, experience of living in the mountainous environment and the determination to conquer nature of people...

How can I forget the joy when I followed Uncle Ut Tuyen (Mr. Ngo Thanh Tuyen, former Director of Song Be Radio Station) and the brothers in the mountains to sneak into the deep forest on the mountain to connect each section of plastic pipe to bring water to Bang Lang hill... The quick meals on the long slopes in the middle of the forest with the brothers pulling electricity up the mountain... Or the last days of 1991, when I and the technical brothers at that time carried and carried each piece of equipment and machinery along with hundreds of people up and down to carry and carry each brick, sandbag, cement... up the slope, through the forest from Bang Lang hill to the top of the mountain to meet the schedule to complete the broadcasting house and put it into operation right from the spring of that year...

***

In the mountains…

Spring 1991, perhaps the spring that my brothers and I in the mountains at that time could never forget...

On the morning of the 30th of Tet, "Bang Lang Hill has spring flowers" - a few apricot branches given by a family at the foot of the mountain were carefully burned by me and my Ba Ra brothers and we chose a suitable vase to put in and decorated quite satisfactorily.

A whole ham and a big shoulder of meat that the guys in Phu Van had given us were divided into: braised pork, stuffed with bitter melon. The fatty meat was wrapped in banh tet and banh chung and cooked since the night of the 29th. I secretly read the cooking guide book I bought at the newsstand in front of Phuoc Long market, crumpling up a few pages of “Tet dishes”… then went shopping and organized a delicious meal with the Ba Ra guys. Everyone was celebrating Tet away from home, so I wanted everyone to have 3 days of Tet here like at home…

There were also a few more cases of beer that Uncle Ba Khiem sent (Mr. Pham Van Khiem, former Chairman of Phuoc Long District at that time). So the New Year in the mountains was already neat and complete. Sau Dung (Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, former Deputy of Ba Ra Station) opened the case of beer, put 2 cans in his backpack and smiled: "To bring to the top to worship on New Year's Eve. After finishing our shift tonight, I will have a drink with Mr. Ba"!

30th night on Ba Ra peak.

It was already 10pm. Leaving Sau Dung in the broadcasting room, I prepared the offering tray outside the room. It was not much except for a boiled chicken, some fruit, cakes, jams and 2 cans of beer that Sau Dung brought up from his backpack. I arranged the offering table on the stone table in front of the yard. Then, I walked out to the base of the milk flower tree in front of the station - where there was an altar that I had temporarily built on the tree trunk to light incense. At that time, there was still a person lying under this tree that I had discovered when I was leveling and building the station. Therefore, Uncle Ut Tuyen (Mr. Ngo Thanh Tuyen, former Director of Song Be Radio) asked me to worship. I remembered what he said: “On the top of this mountain, there are many people lying down here. That is how war is! I tell my brothers that every time they come here to be on duty, light incense for them, pray for them to bless us with good health and peace to complete the assigned tasks…”.

…A gust of wind blew by, making me feel cold. The night in the mountains and forests became even colder as it got later… I quickly walked back inside, outside - under the mountain, many places were lit up by the sound of New Year's Eve fireworks… Suddenly, I missed home terribly, missed the New Year's Eves when I could worship my ancestors and grandparents with my family and watch the long bursts of fireworks…

On TV, firecrackers were also exploding, signaling the New Year's Eve and the arrival of a new spring... On the walkie-talkie, Uncle Bay Hieu's voice called to wish his brothers in the mountains a happy new year... The brothers called to wish Uncle Bay a happy new year... The walkie-talkie kept crackling as the brothers between Bang Lang hill and the mountain top called to wish each other... Sau Dung and I also wished each other but our eyes were stinging...

***

Spring 1991 was perhaps the happiest spring for the people of 5 northern districts of Song Be province (now Binh Phuoc province) when Ba Ra waves combined with Thac Mo power source to bring cultural light to remote villages; extending the sounds and images of the homeland to Phuoc Long in particular and Binh Phuoc today.

As for me, the image of Ba Den Mountain and Ba Ra Mountain has always been my pride, because since the primitive days before, I have conquered 2 out of 3 highest mountains in the Southeast region (in order: Ba Den Mountain of Tay Ninh - Chua Chan Mountain of Dong Nai - Ba Ra Mountain of Binh Phuoc). It is also fate!

"Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world" (David McCullough)

For me, that is also an unforgettable milestone in nearly 40 years in the industry and Ba Ra Broadcasting Station is also a memorable historical milestone in the development of the radio and television industry of Song Be in the past and Binh Duong - Binh Phuoc today.

Ba Ra Radio and Television Relay Station is a cultural project formed from "Party's will - people's heart". Construction began in the 1980s and was officially inaugurated and put into operation on December 18, 1991, with the initial function of rebroadcasting radio and television channels of Song Be Radio, VOV and VTV1.

Ba Ra Peak is also the place where the first Binh Phuoc radio and television programs were broadcast on January 1, 1997 - the beginning of the formation of Binh Phuoc Radio and Television Station later. In October 2017, the construction of a spiritual tourism area was deployed here and Ba Ra Station completed its historical mission.

Binh Phuoc, May 2025

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/19/173288/chuyen-cua-nui