Detailed Itinerary for First-Time Explorers of Black Lady Mountain, Tay Ninh

5 AM - 6 AM: Hunting for cloud caps

This is an experience loved by many, especially young people, because Mount Ba Den (Nui Ba Den) often features rare cloud phenomena found globally, such as lenticular clouds (cloud caps, flying saucer clouds), iridescent clouds, and seas of clouds...

Clouds on top of Ba Den Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu

Notably, Ba Den Mountain is currently in the best cloud-hunting season of the year as Tay Ninh enters the rainy season. The heavier the rain the previous afternoon, the more beautiful the cloud disc will be the next morning. Seen from afar, the highest mountain peak in Southern Vietnam looks like it's wearing a giant, floating, incredibly magical and beautiful cloud hat. 

6 AM - 7 AM: Take the cable car to the Ba Pagoda area

From the cable car station, there are two routes to move up Ba Den Mountain – one route goes to the Ba Pagoda area, and another goes to the mountain peak. If you have never visited Ba Pagoda before, you should take the cable car up to the Pagoda. After completing your pilgrimage, there is a cable car route from the Pagoda to the mountain peak.

In the Ba Pagoda area, there are 5 worship sites for Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva – a spiritual symbol in Southern Vietnam, a strong spiritual support for the people of Southern Vietnam to entrust their wishes for health, wealth, and luck. The pagoda system includes: Long Chau Phuoc Trung Pagoda, Linh Son Tien Thach Tu with Ba's Palace next to it, Hoa Dong Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, and Quan Am Pagoda.

System of Ba Pagodas halfway up the mountain. Photo: Sun World Ba Den Mountain

Here, the important worship site you need to visit is Linh Son Tien Thach Tu - the oldest pagoda on Ba Den mountain, 300 years old. In front of the pagoda yard is a statue of the white-robed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva holding a vase of nectar water. Right next to the pagoda is Ba Temple, built from a cave roof; the main hall worships Linh Son Thanh Mau with a black face.

Also right in front of the pagoda grounds is the great bell, where many people choose to sit under the bell to calm their minds, listen to the bell sound, and pray amidst the serene atmosphere of the pagoda. 

10 AM: Take the cable car to the mountain top and worship the statue of Tay Bo Da Son Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

From the Ba Pagoda area, it only takes you 5 minutes to take the cable car to the mountain top. Amidst the vast, cloud-covered mountain peak, the bronze statue of Tay Bo Da Son Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the tallest in Asia, appears majestic with a benevolent face; the left hand holding a vase of nectar water symbolizing the bestowal of blessings, the right hand raised in the 'Giao Hoa' mudra, symbolizing protection and support for sentient beings.

Lady Buddha Statue Tay Bo Da Son on the mountaintop. Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu

Right from the vast square, visitors can cast their eyes to see the panoramic view of the fertile plains appearing amidst the sea of clouds. Also from here, visitors will get lost in the peaceful Buddhist land with a meditative landscape and paths carpeted with flowers blooming throughout the four seasons. 

12 PM: Diverse culinary experience

On the top of Ba Den Mountain, there are many attractive culinary options. Trying fast food like pho, banh mi, sausage, pizza, chicken rice… right at the cloud-covered courtyard and admiring the flower paradise is an extremely interesting experience. 

Especially, Ba Den ice cream is a must-try dish here with unique shapes of Ba mountain such as the cable car station, the 986m milestone, the cable car, or lotus flowers, with many refreshing flavors like pandan, passion fruit, chocolate, strawberry…

Buffet is an attractive culinary option on the top of Ba Den Mountain. Photo: Sun World Ba Den Mountain

Another culinary experience with many choices is dining buffet-style at Nam Chau restaurant, offering hundreds of European-Asian dishes that combine traditional and modern cuisine. If you choose to eat buffet, you should buy the cable car ticket + buffet combo at the cable car departure area to enjoy preferential prices.

2 PM: Explore the Buddhist exhibition

Right at the foot of the Tay Bo Da Son Lady Buddha statue is a large 4-story Buddhist exhibition center.

On the 1st floor, an unmissable experience is watching a 3D mapping film about the formation of the universe through the lens of Buddhism on a 20-meter diameter dome screen utilizing world-leading modern technology.

On the 2nd floor, there are 16 modern 3D hologram projection devices, where visitors can admire models of 16 famous pagodas in Vietnam. Also right here, visitors can also visit the special room of the Kinh Luan (prayer wheel) pillars.

Admire the Prajnaparamita sutra pillars in the underground lecture area. Photo: Sun World Ba Den Mountain

The 3rd floor is a space displaying simulated versions of classic Buddhist artworks, including many Buddha statues modeled after particularly famous originals from India, Tibet, China, Thailand, Japan…

The 4th floor is where the Sarira of Sakyamuni Buddha are kept, gifted to Vietnam in 2014 by the World Buddhist Federation at Bodh Gaya, India. For Buddhists, being able to admire the Buddha's sarira is a rare blessing.

At the underground lecture area, visitors will admire a cluster of 5 black kim sa granite sutra pillars, engraved with the Prajnaparamita heart sutra in gold lettering, among which the largest pillar has a diameter of 2m and a height of 19.8m, rising straight up in the center of the largest water feature on the vast square at the foot of the Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue.

5 PM: Participate in the lamp offering ceremony

The lamp offering is a characteristic spiritual and cultural ritual at the summit of Ba Den Mountain, held every Saturday evening. From around 4-5 PM, thousands of tourists gather at the vast square at the foot of the Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue, receiving lamps completely free of charge from Sun World Ba Den Mountain tourist area staff. Pens and writing desks are prepared for visitors to assemble the lamps themselves and write their wishes.

Offering lanterns on Ba Den Mountain peak. Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu

The lantern offering ritual will take place as dusk falls, where thousands of people line up solemnly in the square, with calm hearts before the shimmering light of the lanterns, praying for peace and luck, creating an incredibly mystical space on the sacred peak. 

If you visit Ba Den Mountain during this Vu Lan season, don't miss the grand lantern offering ceremony, held on a very large and sacred scale to express gratitude and pray for peace for your parents, taking place on Saturday evening, August 24th. This is also an opportunity for visitors to converse with venerable monks about filial piety and watch a meaningful Buddhist art program for the filial piety season of Vu Lan.

8 PM: Watch the water music show at the statue area of Bodhisattva Maitreya

After the lantern offering ritual, visitors will move down to the statue area of Bodhisattva Maitreya to watch the water music show, utilizing Vietnam's leading modern technological equipment and a system of 1,450 incredibly magical lighting effects.

Water music show by the Maitreya Buddha statue. Photo: Sun World Ba Den Mountain

The show presents unique scenes centered around the world's largest sandstone Maitreya Buddha statue. The performance, rich in meditative colors, will conclude a visitor's day exploring Ba Den Mountain with an extremely peaceful and relaxing feeling.