Visiting Ba Den Mountain, a spiritual and cultural heritage site of Tay Ninh province.

(VTC News) - In the final days of the year, tourists flock to Ba Den Mountain to experience the unique religious atmosphere, where the story of the sacred mountain has become a part of the culture.

We arrived in Tay Ninh on a late morning at the end of the year. The sky was clear, the wind gentle, and the ground trembled slightly from the streams of vehicles heading towards the foot of the mountain. Along the way, people rode motorbikes, carrying trays of fruit, vases of flowers, and bundles of incense sticks. Each person had a different face, a different story, but all shared the same destination: Mount Ba Den, the mountain of faith.

From afar, the mountain peak appears like a dark green spear pointing straight up to the sky. The people of Tay Ninh don't call the mountain by flowery tourist terms. In their language, the mountain is "Grandma," a term of endearment and reverence. That name is not just a geographical name, but a spiritual symbol.

A pilgrimage in search of peace

The statue of the Goddess of Mercy stands majestically atop Mount Ba Den.

Along both sides of the road leading to the foothills, stalls selling sun-dried rice paper, baskets of fruit, and bundles of bright red incense sticks suddenly become part of the festive atmosphere. Sellers, buyers, pilgrims—all blend together to create a common rhythm. A rhythm of returning to spiritual roots.

The deeper you go, the sounds of people, bells, and announcements blend together into a very distinctive symphony unique to the Ba Mountain festival season. Yet, it's not chaotic at all; it's like a natural flow, where everyone knows what to do, where to go, and where to place their faith.

As we entered the Ba Den Station area, a long line of people stretched endlessly. But instead of weariness, they stood waiting with a dignified air. Older people murmured prayers. Young people held hands, reminding each other to hold their place and not push. Children looked up at the mountain, asking their parents, "Is Grandma up there?"

The question, though seemingly innocent, reveals a profound sacredness. Up there, a faith awaits its discovery.

The road leading up to Ba Den Mountain.

As the cable car began to leave the station, we clearly felt the shift in atmosphere. From the hustle and bustle at the foot of the mountain, the cabin gradually ascended, taking us away from the mundane world . The green sugarcane fields receded behind us, the vast fields opening up like a giant map. White clouds drifted across the mountainside, thin as a veil, light yet mysterious.

Inside the cable car cabin sat an old man, around seventy, his hands trembling as he held a string of prayer beads. He said, "In this world, there are places people go to for tourism. But Ba Den Mountain is a place you must go to return to." That statement is enough to illustrate the depth of Ba Den Mountain, a convergence point of spiritual energy, where Vietnamese folk beliefs blend with community life, creating a heritage that has survived through the storms of history.

Stepping down into the temple grounds, we were immediately enveloped in a deeply sacred atmosphere. Incense smoke mingled with the mountain mist, creating a thin layer of fog that made the scenery seem otherworldly. The statue of Ba Den - Linh Son Holy Mother - stood in the center of the main hall, both mysterious and approachable, as if listening to every prayer.

People pay homage to the statue of Ba Den - Linh Son Holy Mother.

What gives depth to the heritage of this place is not only the folk tale of Ly Thi Thien Huong, the chaste girl who became a saint, but also the way the people have preserved and enriched that belief for generations.

There is no decree forcing them to believe. No agency requiring them to make pilgrimages. But every year, as the sunny season approaches and the old year draws to a close, people naturally return to Ba Pagoda as a way of expressing themselves.

In front of the statue of the Goddess, a young woman placed a tray of fruit on the altar, her lips moving slightly. She was from Dong Nai province and came with her two daughters. She said, "We're busy all year, and the three of us only have the chance to come here at the end of the year. Coming to the Goddess Temple, I suddenly feel at peace."

Nearby, a group of young people from the West were lighting incense sticks and sharing stories of the old days. These were age-old tales about the Goddess's miraculous protection of the villagers from misfortune, about sudden but timely rain showers, and about how anyone who dared to offend her would face disaster.

People go to Ba Nui Pagoda to seek peace.

These stories cannot be scientifically proven, but they are the source of spiritual culture, what the people of Tay Ninh call "faith".

We met Mrs. Lanh, an 80-year-old woman, who had come to the mountain with her children and grandchildren. When asked why she still wanted to go up the mountain at her advanced age, she smiled and said, "As long as I can still go, I will continue to go up to thank the Goddess. In the past, the war was fierce, and the people in the area prayed to the Goddess to protect the land. Back then, everyone believed: 'As long as the Goddess is here, Tay Ninh will remain peaceful.'"

That's when we realized that spiritual heritage lies not only in architecture, but also in the community's memory.

Even the new structures built around the temple exhibit a special restraint, avoiding ostentation and not encroaching on the landscape. Everything is treated with respect, as if touching a sacred area.

The statue of the Goddess of Mercy on Mount Ba Den.

As we followed the small path leading to the Mountain God shrine, the wind rustled through the trees like an ancient song. Some walked ahead, others behind, but no one spoke loudly. They understood that they were walking on land where generations had left footprints of repentance, gratitude, supplication, and hope.

Religious heritage of Tay Ninh province

The cable car to the mountaintop took us up to an altitude of over 900 meters, where the wind was strong, the sky was close, and clouds seemed to drift across the sky.

At the summit, the statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Tay Bo Da Son, stands majestically against the sky, both awe-inspiring and serene. It is also part of the modern spiritual heritage, a way in which contemporary life continues the tradition of worshipping the Mother Goddess and Buddha of the people of Southern Vietnam, without disrupting the indigenous belief system.

Standing here, no one needs to remind each other to keep quiet. There are no signs requesting "silence." Yet everyone naturally treads softly, respectfully, before this vast, sacred space.

People pray for peace on the summit of Mount Ba Den.

A young man stood before the Buddha statue for a long time. The wind blew through his hair, his eyes gazing into the distance. When we approached and asked him, he simply said, "I came to… find peace of mind." Just three words, but they encapsulated the reason why millions come here.

In the corner, a family of four was taking a photo. They weren't striking boisterous poses, but standing side-by-side, hands touching, faces turned towards the sea of ​​clouds. The mother said, "This is the first time my family has been in such a beautiful and sacred place."

But there are also those who come here not just to admire the scenery or pray for peace. They come to fulfill a ritual within their hearts.

A middle-aged man from Ho Chi Minh City told us: “My father passed away last year. He loved Mount Ba very much and would go up there at the end of each year. This year I came to ‘take his place’.”

From the mountaintop, we saw all of Tay Ninh unfolding like a map, Dau Tieng Lake sparkling in the golden sunlight, fields covered in a thin layer of mist, and tiny houses like specks of dust. Up there, one easily recognizes their own insignificance, and also easily recognizes what is most important.

Besides being a spiritual heritage site, Mount Ba Den also attracts international visitors.

On the summit of Ba Den Mountain, everyone falls silent for a moment. No need for bells, no need for prayers, just a minute standing amidst the vast sky and earth, and the heart naturally becomes purer.

There's an unwritten saying in Tay Ninh: "If Lady Den doesn't call, we won't come up. But when she calls, we must return ." This saying, though folk-like, accurately reflects the invisible connection between people and the heritage of this place.

The Ba Den Mountain Festival, held for centuries, has become a unique event in the cultural life of Southern Vietnam. It is not just a festival for prayer or worship, but a festival of gratitude and appreciation for the land that has nurtured its people.

Those values ​​remain intact to this day. Although Tay Ninh is more modern and welcomes millions of tourists every year, the spiritual heritage at Ba Den Mountain is still preserved through the devotion of its people.

Mount Ba Den as seen from above.

The vendors selling incense and offerings at the foot of the mountain don't overcharge. The elderly people folding paper for prayers for peace don't accept payment. Those who climb the mountain from the night before still consider it a "religious pilgrimage," not an "experience." Each individual, in their own unique way, has contributed to preserving the essence of the heritage.

As evening fell, we descended back to the foot of the mountain. The crowd was still large, the setting sun casting a golden, honey-like glow on the temple roof. Children chattered, adults bustled about, but somewhere amidst it all, there were the quiet, pensive eyes of those who had just completed a journey that was not only on foot but also in heart.

Vtcnews.vn

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ve-tham-nui-ba-den-di-san-van-hoa-tam-linh-cua-vung-dat-tay-ninh-ar992160.html