Thien Cam possesses a strangely captivating beauty and charm, impressing visitors right from its name. Legend has it that King Hung XIII, upon passing through this area, heard the sound of the waves and the rustling of pine trees and mistook them for celestial maidens playing a lute. Seeing the mountain resembling a pipa (Chinese lute), he inscribed the three words "Thien Cam Son" (Heavenly Lute Mountain). Another story recounts that Ho Quy Ly, while fleeing to this place, was captured by the Ming invaders, hence the name Thien Cam (Heavenly Prison).
Thien Cam Beach is shaped like an arc, stretching nearly 3km from Thien Cam Mountain to Dau Voi Mountain. Together with Cum Nay (Large Mountain) and Cum Con (Small Mountain), it forms the "heavenly piano keys" guarding the Ky La stream, which meanders before flowing into the sea.
Visiting Thien Cam on hot days, tourists can immerse themselves in the cool, clear water, gaze at the vast blue sky, slowly walk along the smooth white sand, and feel the cool breeze caressing their skin, truly appreciating the value that nature has bestowed.
Located near the sea is Thien Cam Mountain, 108 meters above sea level. The mountain isn't very high, yet it's situated close to the sea, creating a picturesque landscape. At the summit of Thien Cam Mountain is a temple dedicated to Ho Quy Ly and his son, built in the 13th century. However, after some time, the temple fell into disrepair. Later, following the policy of unifying communal houses, temples, and shrines, it was also used to worship Buddha, hence its name, Cam Son Pagoda. The path from the foot of the mountain to the pagoda is a series of 405 stone steps built around the mountainside, surrounded by lush greenery providing shade for visitors on their journey to this spiritual place. Although not grand in architectural scale, Cam Son Pagoda has been recognized as a provincial-level historical relic and is a destination of significant spiritual meaning for the local people.
From the mountaintop, visitors can take in the entire bustling Thien Cam Tourist Area. Looking out to sea, you can see Booc Island and En Island rising like small boats. About 5km from the shore, visitors can take a fisherman's boat to Booc Island and enjoy swimming or exploring the fascinating rocky beach. Amidst the vast sea and sky, with sand and rocks gently sloping out to sea, visitors can freely search for seafood such as snails and clams in the rocky crevices, then boil or grill them to enjoy right on the island.
Looking east, where the mountain juts out into the sea, lies Bai Lai beach. Here you'll find the Cu Ky bird, about the size of a regular chicken, with brown or green feathers and a green spotted border around its neck. The meat of the Cu Ky bird has a uniquely fragrant and delicious flavor; anyone who tries it once will remember it forever.
Nestled across a sandy plain at the foot of the mountain is Yen Lac Pagoda. The pagoda is over a hundred years old. From its very beginnings, the people of the past placed their faith and hopes in their homeland for a peaceful, tranquil life and the happiness of all its people, hence the name Yen Lac (meaning "peace and happiness"). The pagoda still preserves many valuable artifacts, such as the "Ten Courts of Yama" painting set and a 100kg bronze statue of Quan Am (Guan Yin). The pagoda was recognized as a National Historical Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1994.
Following the coastal road along Thien Cam beach for about 2km, visitors will reach Nhuong Ban fishing village. The village has a history of nearly a thousand years. With a 400m long estuary, Nhuong is a bustling fishing village with many boats passing through. Visitors can freely choose from a variety of fresh seafood to enjoy and take home as gifts for family and friends after an interesting and rewarding trip.
Currently, Thien Cam National Tourist Area is being planned as a "Thien Cam High-Class Resort" with a total area of 1,557 hectares, including the following main functional areas: a central area for receiving and managing tourism activities and public services; a high-quality accommodation area; a Thien Cam ecological and cultural park; a traditional craft village serving coastal tourism; a beach resort area combined with residential areas; an 18-hole golf course; a sports and entertainment area; and a Thien Cam tourism development reserve. Thien Cam, along with the historical site of former General Secretary Ha Huy Tap and the Ke Go Lake ecological tourist area, will create an attractive tourist route for domestic and international visitors to Ha Tinh province.
Instructions:
* From Ha Tinh city, follow National Highway 1A south for 14km to Cam Xuyen town, then turn left onto Provincial Road 4 for about 13km to reach Thien Cam Tourist Area.
Contact: 0239 3757 299
* Nearby tourist attractions: 500m south of Thien Cam Tourist Area is Yen Lac Pagoda, and another 500m towards Nhuong Market is Ca Temple and Nhuong Ban fishing village.
Article author: Quynh Trang – Photo: Archival material
Source: https://dulichhatinh.com.vn/tai-nguyen-du-lich/di-tich-danh-thang/khu-du-lich-quo-c-gia-thien-cam-15/
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