Nui Da Lake - Ma Thien Lanh: A silent realm

Nui Da Lake - Ma Thien Lanh exudes a beauty that is both wild, mysterious, poetic and gentle.

Nui Da Lake is located in the middle of Ma Thien Lanh valley, so it is also known as Ma Thien Lanh stone lake or May Nui lake. This valley is the junction of three large mountains in Tay Ninh: Phung mountain, Heo mountain and Ba Den mountain (belonging to Ba Den mountain national tourist area). This place is located in Thanh Tan commune, about 9km from Tay Ninh city center and about 100km from Ho Chi Minh city center.

The journey to Nui Da Lake is an exciting experience for those who love to explore nature. You can choose from many means of transportation, but motorbike is the most ideal choice to fully experience the beauty of the route.

From the center of Ho Chi Minh City, depart along National Highway 22A, turn right at Trang Bang intersection onto Provincial Road 782; this route will take you through green fields and peaceful villages, stretching about 50km before reaching Tay Ninh city. From here, you continue your journey on a small asphalt road more than 3m wide connecting Provincial Road 782 with Phung Mountain. When you arrive, leave your car and start a short walk through the wild nature to reach Nui Da Lake.

The road leading to Nui Da Lake is winding and tortuous. slightly rugged with a towering cliff on one side and a deep forest on the other. The air is cool, the colorful wild flowers gently sway gracefully among the windy clouds, blending with the bustling songs of birds. Each step closer to Ma Thien Lanh feels like being lost in a peaceful and legendary fairy tale world.

The most special feature of Ma Thien Lanh is the deep, clear, emerald green lake nestled between steep cliffs. The scenery here changes with every moment of the day. Early in the morning, mist drifts over the water, and the sparkling rays of light of the new day penetrate through the forest canopy, creating a dreamy ink painting.

At noon, the lake was brilliant under the sparkling sunlight, incredibly clear, turning into a giant mirror reflecting the clouds and sky in the middle of the wild nature. At that moment, I suddenly thought of the poetic verse of Nguyen Du: "The sparkling bottom of the water reflects the sky". The emerald green color of the lake blends delicately with the deep gray of the rocks and the fresh green of the forest, creating a natural picture that is both magnificent and poetic.

And as the afternoon gradually falls, the cold water vapor rises like blue smoke in the sunset, the lake surface is immersed in a romantic and quiet purple color between the mountains, the yellow clouds in the quiet space of the mountainous region. Suddenly I wonder which ancestors' footsteps in the early days of reclaiming the land, ever reflected on the lake surface to see through the human world?

May Nui Lake not only impresses visitors with the tranquil beauty of the lake, but also fascinates visitors with its extremely diverse and rich flora and fauna, like a vivid natural painting. Along the mountain slopes are endless deep green forests, home to many ancient trees and precious woods such as ironwood, creating a wild, majestic beauty imbued with the character of the mountains and forests.

Hidden under the ancient trees are orchards laden with fruit – mango, custard apple, banana, coconut – creating a cool, green space full of vitality and full of garden character. In the low-lying areas, local people also cleverly grow vegetables such as water celery, mustard greens, lettuce, water spinach... interspersed with ponds of pink and white lotus blooming every season, creating a "multi-layered" vegetation that is both pristine and familiar, as if encapsulating the rustic breath of a Southern village in the middle of the wild mountains and forests.

I imagine an early morning in the heart of the mountains and forests, when the morning mist still lingers on the slopes, as if caressing the sleepy leaves of the forest. Up above, the clever squirrels nimbly hop from branch to branch, blending into the morning symphony with the chirping of the lapwings and the starlings.

Under the forest canopy, the mountain lizards were screeching, fighting for every inch of territory, while the gecko's call rang out steadily, wistfully, as if recalling a distant memory. On the ground, snails, mountain snails, and millipedes quietly crawled across the wet trails, leaving behind slow but persistent traces - like the quiet rhythm of life in the mountainous region.

Only when standing in the middle of the green forest, letting your soul follow the wind and listening to the silent breathing of the great forest, can you feel the echo of time - like a whisper from the primitive times that still hums forever. Oh, the deep mountainous region, where the miasma of the mountains and forests has woven many mysterious legends, still seems to be hidden somewhere behind the morning mist that has not yet cleared...

This place was originally a man-made quarry. When the quarry closed and was abandoned, with no one to look after it, nature quietly stepped in, regenerating the old land in its own way.

Over time, heavy rains poured down, water gradually accumulated in the deep pit, forming a deep blue lake, as calm as a mirror. Behind the lake are towering rocky mountains, covered with wild grass and trees, creating a majestic and poetic scene. Thanks to this characteristic, the locals called this place by a simple but imaginative name: Stone Mountain Lake.

The name “Ma Thien Lanh” alone arouses much curiosity among tourists. Legend has it that this was once a wild land, with few human footprints, rugged terrain, dense forests, wild animals and fog all year round.

It is these things that have created the belief in a sacred land where ghosts and demons lurk. Another legend says that during the fierce war years, this place was a shelter for soldiers, witnessing many fierce battles and painful losses. Therefore, "Ma Thien Lanh" is explained as "ghost valley" - a haunting name, both mysterious and a bit creepy.

Besides the colorful and mysterious folk tales surrounding this land, some local researchers also give another explanation for the name "Ma Thien Lanh". According to them, this name may originate from a misreading of a Sino-Vietnamese phrase, meaning "a lofty, illusory place".

This interpretation not only helps to soften the ghostly, mysterious nuances often associated with the name “Ma Thien Lanh”, but also contributes to exalting the surreal, otherworldly beauty of this mountain area – where nature seems to have strayed away from the world, immersed in clouds, quiet and enchanting.

When arriving at Nui Da Lake - Ma Thien Lanh, visitors will enter a space full of interesting experiences, where wild and majestic nature opens up countless attractive activities. With a vast, peaceful and airy landscape, this is an ideal place for camping, pitching tents, making campfires, organizing barbecues and gathering together to chat in the middle of the deep green forest.

Not only a destination for nature lovers, Ma Thien Lanh is also known as a “virtual paradise” with countless unique camera angles. Large vertical rocks, a mirror-like lake surface, overlapping mountains and sunlight filtering through the foliage... all create a scene that is both romantic and majestic - perfect for those who are passionate about photography, filming or simply capturing memorable moments.

The terrain here is still quite wild, an ideal choice for those who love adventure, trekking, or exploring winding mountain roads, challenging their feet and spirit. In addition, visitors can also learn more about the unique cultural and spiritual life of the indigenous people by visiting the temples and small hermitages nestled on the mountainside - places that clearly reflect the rustic and unique folk beliefs.

The best time to visit Nui Da Lake – Ma Thien Lanh is during the dry season, lasting from about December to April of the following year. At this time, the weather is dry, the sky is clear, the air is cool and pleasant, very convenient for traveling, sightseeing and taking photos.

On the contrary, from August to November is the rainy season in Tay Ninh. The wet weather makes the forest roads slippery and more difficult to travel - especially for those who intend to trek or camp overnight. However, you do not need to worry too much, because even in the rainy season, Tay Ninh still has clear, sunny days. Just carefully follow the weather forecast before the trip, you can still arrange a complete and safe journey to explore Nui Da Lake.

Nui Da Lake – Ma Thien Lanh is not only a potential tourist destination of Tay Ninh, but also a living proof of the wild and mysterious beauty of Vietnam’s nature. Without modern amenities, without the hustle and bustle, this place still retains its own unique quietness.

Every moment you set foot here, you can easily feel your heart soften, all worries disappear, leaving only a feeling of lightness and peace in the vast sky and earth.

Mai Thao

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/ho-nui-da-ma-thien-lanh-mot-coi-lang-tham-a191906.html