Experience Mount Sam

Over the weekend, we took a trip to enjoy the scenery on Mount Sam. Having climbed this legendary mountain many times, we still find it fascinating each time we visit. To reach the mountain, visitors can choose to hike along the Bach Van path or drive up from the Tao Ngo Garden road. Alternatively, taking the cable car is also a popular and enjoyable experience for many tourists.

For us, going up the mountain by motorbike was the priority, as it provided an exciting experience. From the foot of the mountain, it only takes about 20 minutes to drive to the highest point. When I returned to Mount Sam, the Tao Ngo Garden road had been upgraded and was quite spacious, winding through cool, shady trees. If you're not used to driving up the mountain, you can take a motorbike taxi for a safer option. However, many people choose to drive up on their own because the slope of the road isn't too steep, and you can enjoy the scenery to your heart's content.

On the way up the mountain, visitors can stop by Long Son Pagoda. With its back against the mountain and facing the plains, and its stunning architecture, Long Son Pagoda gives people a feeling of transcendence and tranquility. Many tourists come to Long Son Pagoda to worship Buddha and admire the peaceful rice fields characteristic of An Giang province.

Visitors can drive up the mountain via a well-maintained, upgraded road.

“On previous visits, I only went to the temple at the foot of the mountain, and never had the chance to go up to where the goddess resides. This time, experiencing it was very interesting. If I have the opportunity to return to Chau Doc, I will invite my friends to go up the mountain to enjoy this wonderful feeling together,” shared Son Tuyen (resident of Thot Not district, Can Tho city).

Besides Long Son Pagoda, visitors can also visit Linh Son Pagoda with its "fairy footprint" landmark. Thanks to this unique spiritual highlight, Linh Son Pagoda attracts many visitors for sightseeing and worship. After visiting, we felt that the footprint looked quite similar to a shoe print on the rock. Because the "fairy footprint" is located precariously on the mountainside, the pagoda has fenced it off to prevent visitors from getting too close for safety. Sitting in the area around the "fairy footprint," visitors will enjoy the airy and cool atmosphere.

Located at the highest point of Mount Sam is a sandstone pedestal, where the Goddess resided before being brought down from the mountain by the villagers of Vinh Te 200 years ago. Because of its significance, the pedestal is a sacred place of worship, attracting many locals and tourists. Every year, the procession of the statue of the Goddess of Mount Sam begins from this sandstone pedestal and proceeds to the temple at the foot of the mountain, drawing large crowds of people and visitors.

“I’ve been to Mount Sam many times and visited the temple to pay my respects to the Goddess, but this is my first time going up to the place where she resides. The feeling of being here is interesting; it helps me understand more about the history and the process of bringing the Goddess down from the mountain. Besides, the scenery up here is quite beautiful and majestic,” said Mr. Tran Cong Thoi (a resident of Dong Thap province). The undulating mountains and vast rice fields with their alternating yellow and green hues are what make this place particularly appealing to tourists. Mr. Thoi shared that Dong Thap also has rice paddies where egrets fly freely, but it lacks the grandeur and majestic mountains found in An Giang.

Currently, the sandstone pedestal where the Lady of Sam Mountain resides has been renovated by the local authorities and management units with new features, creating favorable conditions for visitors to worship and admire the picturesque scenery. Besides the Lady's pedestal, visitors can also explore other attractions within the Sam Mountain Cable Car Tourist Area, such as the Jade Buddha Temple and various scenic spots for photography. Furthermore, from the tourist area, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Sam Mountain ward, Tan Lo Kieu Luong road, and a bustling corner of Chau Doc city.

With its inherent charm, Mount Sam offers visitors unique experiences. Therefore, if you have the opportunity, try climbing the mountain, visiting the shrine of Lady Sam, admiring the vast landscape, and finding peace for your soul.

According to the An Giang Gazetteer, Mount Sam is 237m high and has a circumference of approximately 5,000m. To reach the summit, visitors can take a cable car, hike, or ride a motorbike along the Tao Ngo Garden route.

MINH QUAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/trai-nghiem-nui-sam-a417218.html