Not only is it the highest mountain in Southern Vietnam, but this place also experiences many strange natural phenomena that intrigue many people.
Surreal Photos of Ba Den Mountain Praised by International Media
Recently, a stunning photograph of Ba Den Mountain shrouded in fog, taken by photographer Tran Tuan Viet, was honored in the National & Regional Awards category at the Sony World Photography Awards 2024. After winning the award, the beauty of Ba Den Mountain went “viral” in international media, with several prominent newspapers and magazines with large readerships, such as BBC, Daily Mail, The Mirror, Daily Record, Euronews, and The Times praising the photo and ranking it at the top of their lists. Within just 12 hours of being posted on BBC’s Instagram, the photo received over 40,000 likes.
The photo of Ba Den Mountain taken by photographer Tran Tuan Viet. (Photo: Tran Tuan Viet)
According to Business Forum, the work was created by photographer Tran Tuan Viet during a sunrise in October 2023 at Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh. The moment when the statue of the Goddess of Mercy appears amidst the clouds at dawn, with a thick mist enveloping the mountain peak, creates a harmonious and ethereal view that impresses anyone who sees it for the first time.
Unique Features of the Highest Mountain in Southeast Vietnam
Ba Den Mountain is not only famous as the “roof of the South” but is also known for its special features.
Firstly, Ba Den Mountain holds significant cultural and historical values. It was once a fierce battlefield during Vietnam’s resistance against the Americans.
Ba Den Mountain has frequently experienced swirling clouds resembling a “flying saucer,” captivating many people. (Photo: To Quoc Newspaper)
Secondly, the peak of Ba Den Mountain has often shown the phenomenon of swirling clouds resembling a “flying saucer”, which fascinates many. It is known that this is a lens cloud phenomenon, featuring not only circular cloud formations covering the mountain’s peak but also rare layered clouds. This phenomenon only appears on mountains that reach sufficient height and coldness.
A rare natural phenomenon, a monochrome rainbow covering the peak of Ba Den Mountain. (Photo: Thanh Nien)
Additionally, Thanh Nien newspaper reported that on January 26, 2023, a fascinating natural phenomenon, a monochrome rainbow covering the peak of Ba Den Mountain, occurred. This phenomenon is created when sunlight hits tiny water droplets in the mist at the right angle.
“The First Celestial Mountain”
Located in the heart of Southern Vietnam, Ba Den Mountain rises majestically against the blue sky. It is not only a beautiful natural landmark but also a proud symbol of the people of Tay Ninh province. With an elevation of 986 meters, it is currently the highest mountain in Southern Vietnam. Furthermore, this mountain is nicknamed “The First Celestial Mountain.”
With an elevation of 986 meters, Ba Den Mountain is the highest mountain in Southern Vietnam. (Photo: Sun Group)
According to the Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chi, Ba Den Mountain was formerly known as Ba Dinh. Local elders believe that the original name was Mount Mot. It was not until the mid-18th century that the name Ba Denh Mountain appeared, which gradually evolved into Ba Den Mountain. Some people also refer to it as Dieu Ba Mountain.
Distinctive Features of Ba Den Mountain
Ba Den Mountain is almost a perfect cone, bulging out on the Northwest side. From a distance, it resembles a “balcony in the clouds” near Ho Chi Minh City. This area actually consists of a cluster of three adjacent mountains: Ba Den Mountain (often abbreviated as Ba Mountain), Heo Mountain, and Phung Mountain, covering a total area of 24 km². The Ba Den Mountain complex was recognized by the Ministry of Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) as a national historical and scenic site on January 21, 1989.
Ba Den Mountain is home to many caves and is covered by large basalt stones. Notably, this famous mountain is also endowed with pristine landscapes and majestic mountains. Ba Den Mountain is home to the Gekko badenii species.
Ba Den Mountain is almost a perfect cone, resembling a “balcony in the clouds” near Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Sun Group)
The Ba Den Mountain complex consists of Ba Mountain, Heo Mountain, and Phung Mountain. Among them, Heo Mountain, also known as Land Mountain, is the shortest mountain in the Ba Den trio. According to the administrative map of Tay Ninh province in 2002, Heo Mountain is located to the west of Ba Den Mountain, with a peak height of 341 m. Phung Mountain is situated to the northwest of Ba Den Mountain, near Highway 785, with a height of 419 m.
With its rare beauty, Ba Den Mountain is currently a symbol of tourism in Tay Ninh. This mountain is not only an ideal spot for cloud hunting and enjoying the sunrise for many young people, but it also attracts many tourists for pilgrimage activities at the temples, shrines, and altars built in the mountain complex.
