Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh – top wellness destination in Southern Vietnam

Meditation tourism – from India to Vietnam

Kanha Shanti Vanam (Hyderabad city, India) is known as the world's largest meditation center, where thousands of visitors come each year to heal both body and soul. There are no chants, mantras, or mandatory postures; here, people will be introduced to Heartfulness meditation – a practice that voluntarily combines physical, mental, and spiritual elements to seek peace.

Listen to dharma talks at the Buddhist exhibition center on Ba Den Mountain

Similar to Kanha Shanti Vanam, the city of Bengaluru (India) is famous for the Vishalakshi Mantap center - a meditation hall designed with surrounding lotus petals. This is a center renowned for its meditation sessions, where international visitors come to learn meditation techniques and breathing techniques to care for both physical and mental health.

India is just one of many countries witnessing the booming development of wellness tourism, through meditation, yoga, and mindfulness tours, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a 2022 survey by the Global Wellness Tourism Organization, 76% of respondents wanted to spend more on trips to improve their health, and 55% were willing to pay extra for psychological therapy services and activities.

In Vietnam, although this type of tourism is new, many spiritual sites have also become healing destinations attracting thousands of Buddhists and tourists both domestically and internationally. In the North, Yen Tu (Quang Ninh) or Fansipan (Lao Cai) are favorite destinations for meditation, yoga, and macrobiotic cuisine activities... In the Central Highlands, many people choose healing through "mindful eating" culinary experiences, wellness tourism cafes, sand painting, or sand meditation...

Lantern floating activity on top of Ba Den mountain

Meanwhile, heading south to the Mekong Delta, Ba Den mountain is a famous spiritual destination welcoming many Buddhist pilgrims and visitors from all over for healing tours. Here, visitors not only pilgrimage and pray for peace at the 300-year-old ancient pagoda worshipping Linh Son Thanh Mau Bo Tat or admire the Phat Ba Tay Bo Da Son and the unique Buddhist exhibition center on the mountaintop, but also practice chanting, meditation, and reciting mantras to heal body-mind-spirit and seek peace. 

Come to Ba Den mountain for healing

“I had a truly peaceful day with my loved ones to chant, turn to Buddha, and enjoy the pure energy at Ba Den mountain. I will always remember the sacred moment when each person in the group took turns walking around the water plate where a giant kinh trụ (scripture pillar) with the Prajnaparamita sutra lines reaching for the sky stands right on the mountaintop. My heart then bloomed with peaceful and loving emotions” – Ms. Nguyen Hong Ngoc (Hanoi) shared after her healing trip to Tay Ninh. 

Buddhist devotees chanting at the summit of Ba Den Mountain

According to Ms. Ngoc, every two to three months, the group of sisters joins a tour to spiritual destinations to inspire a joyful and positive life, relieve worries, and accumulate peaceful energy. “We have been to Nepal, Mount Inari (Japan), Bodh Gaya (India). As for Vietnam, sacred high mountains like Fansipan, Yen Tu, especially Ba Den Mountain – these are miraculous healing destinations, where just setting foot makes you feel happiness and peace in your soul”. 

Located at an altitude of 986m, Ba Den Mountain is nicknamed the roof of the South, with layers of clouds floating on the summit and natural scenery as beautiful as a fairyland. Especially on the summit is a system of magnificent spiritual structures, with the tallest statue of the Goddess Buddha in Asia standing on a lotus throne, a unique Buddhist exhibition center, and a vast square overlooking the entire lush green fertile plain. 

Statue of the Goddess Buddha Tay Bo Da Son (Photo: Nguyen Minh Tu)

With its majestic beauty and sacred fame, Ba Den Mountain has become a favorite destination for healing experiences such as meditation at the meditation ground right at the foot of the Great Buddha statue, chanting the Prajnaparamita Sutra before the golden-inscribed scripture pillar right in the center of the square, listening to dharma talks at the Buddhist exhibition center displaying 163 Buddha statues, reciting mantras beside the Prayer Wheel, releasing floating lanterns beside the central water feature on the mountaintop…

According to Ms. Dao Thi Viet – Deputy Director of Sun World Tay Ninh Joint Stock Company (Sun World Ba Den Mountain): “From the beginning of the year until now, Ba Den Mountain has welcomed up to 3.6 million visitors, including many groups who come to meditate and chant to balance their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Not only Vietnamese visitors, but also many groups of monks and visitors from Thailand, Cambodia, and even India – countries where Buddhism flourishes – also choose Ba Den Mountain as a miraculous healing destination”.

Venerable Kittiched from Chedi Sao Lang pagoda, Chairman of the Bunianupap Vipassana Retreat Foundation (Thailand), when leading a group of Thai monks and Buddhists to visit Ba Den Mountain, said: “Ba Den Mountain is a place that not only Vietnamese people, but anyone in the world should visit. The scenery is beautiful and very cool. For me, who has experienced meditation, I can clearly feel the sacredness and peace of mind when coming here, feeling like I can shed all worries and suffering. This is truly a wonderful place”.

Bà Đen Mountain becomes a favorite destination for healing experiences

Facing the pressures of modern life, people tend to seek out peaceful, serene destinations. Wellness tourism is rising for this reason. And sacred destinations are no longer just spiritual anchors, but also places for people to balance their mind and body, seeking true joy and happiness. This also explains why, from India to Bà Đen Mountain, destinations that gather sacred, serene energy attract visitors seeking them.