With six temples stretching from the foot to the middle of the mountain and a large spiritual complex at the summit, Mount Ba Den offers countless unique cultural and spiritual experiences. Below is a detailed itinerary if you only have one day to explore the 'roof of Southern Vietnam'.
5-6 AM: Cloud hat hunting
This is an experience loved by many, especially young people, because Mount Ba Den often exhibits very rare cloud phenomena in the world such as lenticular clouds (cloud caps, flying saucer clouds), nacreous clouds, sea of clouds, etc.
"Specialty" cloud-shaped hats on the sacred peak of Ba Den Mountain.
NGUYEN MINH TU
In particular, Mount Ba Den is currently in its most beautiful cloud-hunting season of the year, coinciding with the rainy season in Tay Ninh . The heavier the rain the previous afternoon, the more beautiful the cloud formations become in the early morning. From afar, the highest peak in Southern Vietnam looks like it's wearing a giant, fluffy cloud hat, creating an incredibly magical and beautiful sight.
6-7 AM: Take the cable car up to the Ba Pagoda area.
From the cable car station, there are two routes leading up Mount Ba Den – one to the Ba Den Pagoda area, and one to the summit. If you've never made a pilgrimage to Ba Den Pagoda before, you should take the cable car up to the pagoda. After your pilgrimage, there's another cable car line from the pagoda to the summit. In the Ba Den Pagoda area, there are five shrines dedicated to Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva – a spiritual symbol in Southern Vietnam, a strong spiritual anchor for people in the South to entrust their wishes for health, wealth, and good fortune. The temple complex includes: Long Chau Phuoc Trung Pagoda, Linh Son Tien Thach Tu with the Ba Den Shrine next to it, Hoa Dong Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, and Quan Am Pagoda.
The Ba Pagoda complex is located halfway up the mountain.
Sun World Ba Den Mountain
Here, the most important place to visit is Linh Son Tien Thach Tu - the oldest temple on Ba Den Mountain, with a history of 300 years. In front of the temple is a statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Quan Am) wearing a white robe and holding a vase of nectar. Right next to the temple is the Lady's Shrine, built from a cave roof, the main hall dedicated to the Black-faced Linh Son Holy Mother. Also right in front of the temple grounds is a large bronze bell, where many people choose to sit under the bell to meditate, listen to its sound, and pray in the tranquil atmosphere of the temple.
10:00 AM: Take the cable car to the mountaintop and admire the statue of the Goddess of Mercy on Mount Tây Bổ Đà.
From the temple area, it only takes 5 minutes to take the cable car to the mountaintop. Amidst the vast expanse of the cloud-covered mountain peak, the tallest bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy in Asia stands majestically with a benevolent face, her left hand holding a vase of nectar symbolizing the bestowal of blessings, and her right hand raised in the Dharma-teaching mudra, symbolizing protection and guidance for all beings.
Statue of the Goddess of Mercy on the summit of Mount Tây Bổ Đà.
Nguyen Minh Tu
From the expansive square, visitors can gaze out over the vast, fertile plains nestled amidst a sea of clouds. From here, visitors will also find themselves transported to a tranquil Buddhist land, a place of meditation and pathways lined with countless flowers blooming throughout all four seasons.
12 hours: A diverse culinary experience
At the summit of Ba Den Mountain, there are many tempting culinary options. Trying quick meals like pho, banh mi, sausages, pizza, chicken rice, etc., right in the cloud-covered courtyard while admiring the flower paradise is an incredibly enjoyable experience. Especially, Ba Den ice cream is a must-try here, featuring unique designs inspired by Ba Den Mountain such as the cable car station, the 986m milestone, the cable car itself, or lotus flowers, with many refreshing flavors like sticky rice, passion fruit, chocolate, and strawberry.
Buffet is an attractive dining option atop Ba Den Mountain.
Sun World Ba Den Mountain
Another popular culinary experience is dining at the Five Continents restaurant, offering hundreds of European and Asian dishes that blend traditional and modern cuisine. If you choose the buffet, you should purchase a cable car + buffet combo ticket at the cable car station to enjoy a discounted price.
2 PM: Explore the Buddhist exhibition.
Right at the foot of the Bodhisattva statue on Mount Tây Bổ Đà lies a vast four-story Buddhist exhibition center. On the first floor, a must-see experience is watching a 3D mapping film about the formation of the universe through a Buddhist lens on a 20-meter-diameter dome screen utilizing state-of-the-art technology. On the second floor, there are 16 modern 3D hologram projection devices where visitors can admire models of 16 famous temples in Vietnam. Here, visitors can also explore the special room featuring prayer wheels.
Paying homage to the Prajnaparamita Sutra pillar at the underground Dharma lecture hall.
Sun World Ba Den Mountain
The third floor displays replicas of classic Buddhist artworks, including many Buddha statues recreated from famous originals from India, Tibet, China, Thailand, Japan, and more. The fourth floor houses the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, gifted to Vietnam in 2014 by the World Buddhist Federation at Bodh Gaya, India. For Buddhists, venerating the Buddha's relics is a rare blessing. In the underground Dharma lecture area, visitors can admire a cluster of five pillars made of black granite with gold leaf, carved with the Prajnaparamita Sutra in gold lettering. The largest pillar, with a diameter of 2 meters and a height of 19.8 meters, rises straight up into the largest water basin in the spacious square at the foot of the statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Tây Bổ Đà Sơn.
5 PM: Participate in the lantern offering ceremony.
Offering lanterns is a unique spiritual and cultural ritual at the summit of Ba Den Mountain, held every Saturday evening. From around 4-5 PM, thousands of visitors gather in the large square at the foot of the statue of the Goddess of Mercy, receiving free lanterns from staff at Sun World Ba Den Mountain. Pens and writing boards are provided so visitors can assemble their own lanterns and write their wishes.
Offering lanterns on the summit of Ba Den Mountain
Iran has again blockaded the Strait of Hormuz.On June 19, Iran reimposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel's refusal to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and the continued presence of US troops in the region. Nguyen Minh Tu
The lantern offering ceremony takes place at dusk, where thousands of people line up solemnly in the square, their minds calm before the shimmering light of the lanterns, praying for peace and good fortune, creating an incredibly mystical atmosphere on the sacred peak. If you visit Ba Den Mountain during this Vu Lan season, don't miss the grand and sacred lantern offering ceremony held on Saturday evening, August 24th, to express gratitude and pray for peace for your parents. This is also an opportunity for visitors to converse with Buddhist monks about filial piety and watch meaningful Buddhist art performances for the Vu Lan festival.
8 PM: Watch the water show at the Maitreya Bodhisattva statue area.
After the lantern offering ceremony, visitors will move down to the area where the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva is located, to watch the water music show using state-of-the-art technology and a system of 1,450 incredibly magical lights.
Water show next to the Maitreya Bodhisattva statue
Sun World Ba Den Mountain
The show features spectacular scenes centered around the world's largest sandstone statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva. This meditative performance will conclude a day of exploring Ba Den Mountain with a feeling of profound peace and tranquility.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-trinh-chi-tiet-cho-nguoi-lan-dau-kham-pha-nui-ba-den-tay-ninh-18524080710241838.htm
