During the Tet Holiday, people across Vietnam maintain the tradition of visiting famous spiritual tourist destinations with family and friends, with hopes of peace and good health for the year ahead.
At the foot of Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh), crowds of visitors gathered on every pathway to participate in the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival—a unique cultural event and one of the largest festivals in Tay Ninh province. Held annually from the fourth day of the Lunar New Year to the 16th day of the first lunar month, the festival draws in tens of thousands of pilgrims.
Photographs capturing the bustling scene at Ba Den Mountain on the afternoon of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, taken by photographer Nguyen Minh Tu (46 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), have garnered significant attention online. He captured the spectacular view from above, portraying the vibrant atmosphere of travellers "camping" overnight at the foot of the mountain. These images quickly became a social media phenomenon, shared widely by hundreds of fan pages and news channels across Vietnam.
A “sea of people” bursting with colours at the foot of Ba Den Mountain.
Many comments likened the photos to colourful abstract paintings, calling the scene a uniquely Vietnamese spectacle. Interestingly, each time viewers looked closer, they discovered new details, vividly depicting how Vietnamese people celebrate the new year. Families brought mats, blankets, lamps, and tents, creating a “sea of people” bursting with colours at the mountain’s base. The striking contrast between the massive crowd and the small, lively groups of visitors added to the scene’s visual impact.
According to residents and various cultural and historical records, Ba Den Mountain is not only a natural scenic spot but also a significant spiritual centre in southern Vietnam. The first lunar month, in Vietnamese belief, marks the beginning of a new year and is considered a time for opening the spiritual realm. People believe that offering incense at Ba Den Mountain during this period brings blessings from Linh Son Thanh Mau, a revered deity in southern Vietnamese folklore known for her miraculous manifestations and compassion. Many believe that by paying homage to her, they will receive good fortune and protection throughout the year. The fusion of traditional and spiritual elements has created an immense attraction, drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors, including international tourists eager to explore Vietnam’s unique cultural heritage.
The sight of massive crowds, resembling a "festival camping ground," often appears at the foot of Ba Den Mountain during the opening days of the spring festival on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year or the full moon of the first lunar month. During these times, long lines of vehicles stretch from Trang Bang (Trang Bang town, Tay Ninh province) to the base of the mountain (Tay Ninh city, Tay Ninh province). Many pilgrims choose not to stay in hotels or guesthouses but instead spread out mats and blankets to sleep within the Ba Den National Tourist Area, absorbing the sacred energy of this revered land. This also allows them to ascend the mountain early the next morning to visit Ba Pagoda at the summit. Over the years, spending the night at the foot of Ba Den Mountain during Tet holiday has become a tradition, shaping an extraordinary New Year festival unlike any other spiritual destination.
At Ba Temple and Ba Pagoda—centuries-old temples on the mountainside—thousands of devotees make their first offerings of the year before Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva (Ba Den). At the summit, visitors eagerly pay homage to the towering Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue, the tallest of its kind in Asia, as well as one of the world’s largest Maitreya Bodhisattva statues. Below the statues lies a large exhibition space where visitors can immerse themselves in Buddhist culture, seeking tranquility and joy in the early days of the new year.
Once a destination that not many people know about in southern Vietnam, Ba Den Mountain is now gaining international recognition, largely due to the viral spread of its remarkable imagery. In 2024, an image by photographer Tran Tuan Viet, namely The Highest Mountain in Southern Vietnam, featuring the Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue amid clouds atop Ba Den Mountain, was selected from over 415,000 entries by 74,000 photographers from 206 countries and territories to represent Vietnam in the Sony World Photography Awards. The photograph was exhibited at Somerset House, London, in April 2024.
At that time, the breathtaking beauty of Ba Den Mountain caught the attention of international media, with leading global publications such as Daily Mail, The Mirror, Daily Record, Euronews, The Times, and others praising the image, ranking it first in their lists of award-winning photographs.
Beyond its spiritual significance, Ba Den Mountain’s natural beauty also attracts visitors. From its summit, travelers can take in sweeping views of the vast Tay Ninh plains, where lush green rice fields stretch endlessly, the immense Dau Tieng Lake shimmers, and winding roads create picturesque landscapes. The experience of "standing above the clouds, gazing over the expansive lowlands" has made Ba Den Mountain a must-visit destination for nature lovers and those seeking moments of profound connection with the pure beauty of the land.
From now until the end of spring, Ba Den Mountain will remain a focal point for pilgrims, with vibrant festivals painting a dynamic spiritual scene. The Ba Mountain Spring Festival continues throughout the first lunar month, featuring events such as the joyful Maitreya Festival, the God of Wealth Ceremony, and the full moon of the first month of Lunar New Year, all contributing to a lively yet sacred atmosphere that draws tens of thousands of visitors to pay homage and experience the festivities.
It has been announced that on May 9, 2025, Ba Den Mountain will serve as a destination welcoming the delegates from 80 countries attending International Vesak Celebration, one of the largest Buddhist events globally. The grand festival will include numerous remarkable activities, with the highlight being an extensive lantern-offering ceremony, attended by revered monks, esteemed Buddhist leaders, and delegates from 80 countries, alongside tens of thousands of Buddhist followers from Vietnam and abroad.
