The Thuy Liem Lake Pilgrimage Center on Cam Mountain. Photo: THANH TIEN
Paradise
For a long time, Mount Cam has been famous for its mysterious stories dating back to its founding. Along with that, it boasts unique Buddhist structures, becoming a spiritual highlight that attracts a large number of tourists every year. In particular, the Thuy Liem Lake pilgrimage center on Mount Cam, with its stunning mountain scenery and fresh air, always leaves travelers with unforgettable memories.
Arriving at Mount Cam while the mist still lingers, you'll feel as if you've been transported to some ethereal realm. Amidst the hazy clouds, the serene smile of Maitreya Buddha brings peace to the heart. This unique Buddhist structure has been a symbol of spiritual tourism on Mount Cam for over 20 years. Every time visitors come to An Giang, they want to climb to the summit of Thien Cam Son, stand before the statue of Maitreya Buddha, and offer their wishes.
Having visited Mount Cam many times to see the Maitreya Buddha, Ms. Pham Tu Binh, a resident of Can Tho City, shared: “For me, An Giang is a ‘land of Buddha,’ and Mount Cam is the most ideal destination. Coming here, I always feel peaceful, letting go of unpleasant things and receiving positive energy in life. What I like most is that Mount Cam also has temples with beautiful architecture, no less impressive than other places I have visited.”
According to Ms. Tu Binh, she was particularly impressed with Van Linh Pagoda because of its unique beauty. With its towering spires hidden in the mist like pens writing on the blue sky, Van Linh Pagoda gives a sense of transcendence to anyone who sincerely devotes themselves to Buddhism. Sitting by Thuy Liem Lake, listening to the temple bells echoing across the clear water, and watching the fish swimming playfully, she didn't want to leave this place.
Besides Van Linh Pagoda, the Thuy Liem Lake Pilgrimage Center also features the Big Buddha Pagoda. This century-old temple is one of the earliest Buddhist structures on Cam Mountain. Built by the Taoist monk Bay Do in 1912, it has survived through the ups and downs of time and remains a must-see destination for tourists. In front of the Big Buddha Pagoda, facing Thuy Liem Lake, visitors will see the Buddha's relic tower, which houses five relics brought from Nepal, becoming a sacred spiritual highlight for Buddhists whenever they set foot on Cam Mountain.
The Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival, a sacred spiritual highlight on Cam Mountain. Photo: THANH TIEN
Spiritual highlight
With its sacred and ethereal atmosphere, Mount Cam is always a must-see destination for tourists visiting An Giang. Therefore, the management unit collaborates with local authorities and religious sites to organize activities that serve as spiritual highlights. Among these, the Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival is an event that affirms the spiritual allure of this majestic sacred mountain.
According to Dinh Van Chac, Director of the Cam Mountain Tourist Area Management Board, the first Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival - Spring 2025 attracted tens of thousands of tourists and local people. This opens up a new direction for diversifying spiritual activities on the summit of Cam Mountain. During the festival, the Organizing Committee also offered free vegetarian food , adding to the joy for visitors.
“Although it was the first time the event was organized, a large number of tourists and Buddhists came to participate. This confirms the strong appeal of cultural and spiritual activities related to Buddhism on Mount Cam. Through our research, we found that tourists and locals strongly support sacred activities such as the lantern festival, because it helps people satisfy their faith and together strive for goodness,” Mr. Dinh Van Chac analyzed.
Speaking about the significance of the Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival, Venerable Thich Ton Quang - Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association in An Giang province, Abbot of Buu Son Pagoda - emphasized that each lantern lit embodies the aspiration to merge with the Thuy Liem stream, the Thien Cam mountain rocks, the cool breezes of That Son... All blend together as one, conveying the energy of prayers for national peace and prosperity, harmonious nature, and the well-being and happiness of the people. Therefore, this event needs to be maintained and developed to meet the good wishes of tourists and Buddhists from all over whenever they have the opportunity to visit the majestic Thien Cam Son.
In the future, the local authorities also have the idea of organizing the Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival as a traditional event. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nui Cam Commune, said: “The Thien Cam Son Lantern Festival aims to honor the traditional cultural values of the nation, introduce to tourists the image of the homeland and people in the majestic That Son region. At the same time, it affirms the advantages and potential for developing spiritual tourism in the locality within the overall tourism development trend of An Giang province. Based on this success, the festival promises to be a unique spiritual highlight of Thien Cam Son in the future.”
Today, Thien Cam Son has become a "land of Buddha," attracting many tourists and pilgrims. The mystical setting of the temples high in the mountains seems to lead us towards a peaceful and tranquil "gateway to Buddha."
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/mien-dat-phat-บน-thien-cam-son-a426214.html
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