1. Hoi Xuan Nui Ba – The most special Lunar New Year festival of Ba Den Mountain

1.1. Overview of Hoi Xuan Nui Ba

Hoi Xuan Nui Ba is considered a key event of Tay Ninh province during the Lunar New Year, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year. Located within the Ba Den Mountain complex – a place associated with the belief in Linh Son Thanh Mau – the festival carries the meaning of praying for national peace, favorable weather, and prosperity for families. In addition to traditional festival rituals, Hoi Xuan also combines many artistic performances, cultural space presentations, and entertainment activities, creating a harmony between spirituality and contemporary tourism.

Art program at Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival. (Source: Collected)

1.2. Why Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is the leading spring travel destination in the South

The Ba Den Mountain Tet festival has become a spring travel destination for tourists due to its unique combination of sacred spiritual space, majestic natural scenery, and modern tourism infrastructure. Visitors can offer incense for peace at the pagoda, admire the panoramic view of Tay Ninh from the cable car, take check-in photos amidst new architectural works, and enjoy local cuisine. The joyful atmosphere of the new year, vibrant art events, and spiritual appeal make Ba Den Mountain one of the most outstanding spring travel destinations in the South.

1.3. Festival schedule and scale during Tet

The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival usually takes place from the 4th day to the end of the first lunar month. In the Year of the Horse 2026, the festival is scheduled to take place from the 4th day to the end of the first lunar month, with an art program to open the festival and a spectacular fireworks display. The scale of the 2026 festival is expanded with many cultural and artistic activities and spiritual events spread from the foot to the summit of the mountain, allowing visitors to fully experience the spring travel journey within a single day.

The festival is held from the 4th day of Tet annually. (Source: Collected)

2. Origin and spiritual significance of the festival

2.1. Belief in Linh Son Thanh Mau associated with Ba Den Mountain

Ba Den Mountain is associated with the belief in Linh Son Thanh Mau – a figure revered by the people of Tay Ninh and the Southern region. The Ba Temple, located halfway up the mountain, is where important worship rituals take place during the Spring Festival. Pilgrimage to the Ba Temple at the beginning of the year is considered a way to pray for peace, health, smooth work, and great fortune for the family. This belief element creates the unique characteristic of the spring festival here.

The belief in Linh Son Thanh Mau is closely associated with festivals. (Source: Collected)

2.2. The Meaning of Early Year Pilgrimage for People in Southern Vietnam

People in Southern Vietnam have a tradition of early year pilgrimage as a way to "ask for blessings", "gain vitality", and pray for good fortune. Visiting Ba Den Mountain during Tet is therefore not just for sightseeing but also an important spiritual activity. On the journey from the foot of the mountain to the summit, each stop such as Dien Ba, Chua Hang, or newly built spiritual structures carries different prayerful values, contributing to the formation of a rich and complete spiritual journey.

2.3. The Role of Festivals in Tay Ninh's Cultural Life

The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival not only plays a role in belief but also contributes to preserving and spreading Tay Ninh's cultural identity. It is an occasion for folk activities, traditional music, festival games, and local performing arts to be recreated. Besides, the festival also embodies the community spirit, as people and tourists immerse themselves in the joyful spring atmosphere and pray for a fulfilling new year.

3. The Opening Ceremony of the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival – The Highlight of the Festival Season

3.1. Time and Location of the Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the spring festival is held at the square in front of the Ba Den cable car station, attracting a large number of tourists and locals. With a large stage system and modern sound and lighting, the opening ceremony creates a solemn atmosphere blended with the excitement of Tet. In 2026, the opening ceremony will take place on the 4th day of Tet, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display to kick off the festival season.

3.2. Opening Art Program Rich in Spring Spirit

The performances during the opening ceremony typically include lion dances, traditional folk music, instrumental ensembles, modern dances, and combined stage performances. The program content honors spring, Southern Vietnamese culture, and the spiritual beauty associated with Ba Den Mountain. In recent years, the art program has also been invested in a multimedia direction to enhance its appeal and inspirational capacity for viewers.

The opening art program features many cultural performances. (Source: Collected)

3.3. Activities attracting a large number of tourists on the opening day of the festival

On the opening day of the festival, the number of visitors flocking to the mountain increased sharply, creating a bustling stream of people making pilgrimages from the foot to the summit. Besides watching fireworks, many tourists chose to offer incense, pray for peace, ask for good fortune, or participate in street performances, folk games, cultural exchanges, and enjoy Tet cuisine. This is the time when the spring festival clearly shows its identity, perfectly combining beliefs, festivals, and tourism.

4. Cultural – Artistic activities throughout January

4.1. Traditional and Folk Art Performances

Throughout January, many art performances were organized, such as Cai Luong (reformed opera), Southern folk singing, folk dances, lion and dragon dances, and theatrical programs revolving around the theme of Tet. These performances not only served tourists but also partially recreated the spiritual cultural life of the local residents.

4.2. Vibrant Festival Space at Ba Den Mountain Tourist Area

The Spring Festival is also decorated with Tet miniatures, lantern streets, large spring flower displays, welcome spring banners, and many check-in areas for tourists. The characteristic red and yellow colors of Tet make the space more lively and carry the meaning of wishing for a prosperous and abundant year.

Sparkling images at Ba Den Mountain during the festival. (Source: Collected)

4.3. Cultural exchange and modern performances for young tourists

Besides traditional activities, the resort also organizes many cultural exchange programs and interactive events for young tourists such as acoustic performances, minigames, photo activities, and outdoor stages. This shows that the Spring Festival is not only for pilgrims but also suitable for those who love combining travel with experiences.

5. Spiritual experience when participating in the Ba Den Mountain Tet festival

5.1. Offering incense and praying for peace at sacred sites on the mountain

During the Ba Den Mountain Tet festival, offering incense and praying for peace are the main activities. Tourists can visit Dien Ba, Hang Pagoda, Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda, or the Buddha statue area to perform prayer rituals. Each spiritual site on the mountain carries its own message, making the pilgrimage journey more meaningful.

Crowds offering flowers at the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival. (Source: Collected)

5.2. Pilgrimage combined with early year spring travel

Pilgrimage on Ba Den Mountain is not simply about ascending the mountain for worship, but also a spring outing to enjoy the scenery. The cable car system allows visitors to easily access spiritual sites without much effort, while also enjoying the beautiful scenery of Tay Ninh from above. Combining worship – spring travel – and sightseeing makes the experience more complete.

5.3. Rituals of interest to tourists during Tet

Common rituals during the Spring Festival include asking for blessings (xin loc), offering incense, praying for good fortune, praying for wealth, and warding off bad luck at the beginning of the year… Each ritual expresses good wishes and a lucky start to the new year, in line with Vietnamese cultural traditions.

6. Combined Travel Experience during the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival

6.1. Admiring Tay Ninh scenery from the modern cable car system

Besides festival activities, the cable car system at Sun World Ba Den Mountain is an unmissable experience. Traveling from the foot of the mountain to the summit takes only a few minutes but offers a wide, panoramic view of Tay Ninh city, rice fields, and Dau Tieng Lake.

Admire the natural scenery from the modern cable car. (Source: Collected)

6.2. Check-in spiritual structures and landscapes on the mountaintop

One of the most memorable experiences when traveling during Tet to Ba Den Mountain is the check-in journey at famous structures combined with an early year pilgrimage in the serene space of Tay Ninh's mountains and forests. On the mountaintop, the spiritual structure system invested by Sun World Ba Den Mountain has created an impressive visual highlight, notably the 72m-tall bronze statue of Lady Buddha Tay Bo Da Son, majestic amidst the sea of clouds, allowing visitors to both worship and admire the entire scenery of Tay Ninh from an altitude of over 900m. Nearby, the statue of Cau Na Ham Mau Ni is sought by many visitors with wishes for peace, harmony, and good fortune in the new year. The spaces of the square, ornamental gardens, stone steps, and resting spots are harmoniously arranged, making it easy for visitors to take photos and enjoy the scenery without disrupting the inherent tranquility of the mountaintop.

Alongside the new iconic structures, Ba Den Mountain also boasts a system of traditional pagodas deeply connected to the worship of Linh Son Thanh Mau, creating a seamless spiritual journey from the foot to the summit of the mountain. Dien Ba, located halfway up the mountain, is where important incense offering ceremonies for peace are held during the Ba Den Mountain festival in Tet. Nearby, Hang Pagoda (Linh Son Tien Thach), with its ancient charm, mossy atmosphere, and architecture harmonizing with the natural landscape, offers a sense of tranquility for visitors seeking peace at the beginning of the year.

Gilded Kasyapa Buddha statue. (Source: Collection)

6.3. Enjoy local cuisine and specialties

After visiting the mountain, tourists can enjoy Tay Ninh specialties such as Trang Bang noodle soup, shrimp salt, dew-dried rice paper, or vegetarian dishes with Tet flavors. Combining cuisine in the itinerary helps make the experience more complete and truly embodies Southern Vietnam's spring travel. Additionally, tourists can enjoy the Van Son buffet with a variety of dishes from European to Asian.

7. Experience Tips for Attending the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival during Tet

For a complete trip, tourists should choose a suitable time, ideally from the 4th to the 10th day of Tet when the weather is good and all activities are in full swing. It is advisable to prepare comfortable clothing, easy-to-walk shoes, and bring necessary personal items. During the visit, tourists are recommended to comply with the regulations at the pilgrimage site, maintain order during worship, and protect the general landscape. For those planning to combine culinary and travel experiences, it is advisable to plan ahead to avoid peak hour crowds.

The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is one of the unique spring festivals of the South, harmoniously combining belief, culture, and tourism. Whether coming to pilgrimage for blessings or to experience the vibrant Tet atmosphere, visitors can feel the deep spiritual value as well as the beauty of the local culture. With its ever-expanding scale and strong investment in tourism infrastructure, the Ba Den Mountain festival during Tet promises to continue to be an attractive destination every spring.