Often referred to as ‘the roof of southeast Vietnam’, Ba Den Mountain, an extinct volcano in the Tay Ninh Province, stands at the towering height of 996 meters (3,268 ft). It has been an omnipresent feature of the surrounding landscape for millions of years.

On the mountain, Sun World BaDen allows guests to visit religious sites, historic statues, and explore the deeply spiritual area.

History

sun world baden mountain – tay ninh province

Stroll through the pagodas. Photo: Sun World BaDen Mountain

Ba Den Mountain’s name, which in English translates to “Black Lady (Virgin) Mountain“, comes from a legend about a woman named Ba Den who died by suicide on the mountain after falling in love with a soldier. It’s considered one of the most spiritual locations in Vietnam and an important American War landmark.

Due to the mountain’s height, it was an ideal place to achieve birds’ eye views of the surrounding planes and was utilized by both Vietnamese and American forces. In May 1968, a Viet Cong strike on Ba Den resulted in the casualties of 25 American soldiers. After the conclusion of the American War, Ba Den Mountain became a popular tourist attraction.

Rich in natural beauty, Ba Den Mountain is also home to several spiritual landmarks and temples that can be seen after visitors have climbed to its peak.

BaDen Cable Car System

The cable cars. Photo: Sun World BaDen Mountain

Sun World BaDen’s cable car system, launched in 2020, brings visitors straight to the summit of the mountain. It’s one of the world’s top cable car systems. Opened to celebrate the Year of the Rat, it eliminates the need to scale the 1,500 painstaking steps required to reach the peak. There are two main routes.

The first, named the Van Son Route, covers a distance of 1,847 meters and takes around eight minutes to ascend to the top. The Hang Pagoda Route takes only five minutes and covers 1,211 meters. Van Son Station is notable for its unique and impressive architecture.

Features

Despite the mountain’s enormous height, there is still plenty of life resting at the top. The mountain is deeply rooted in mythology and has long been considered a spiritual and cultural space. For example, Sun World BaDen houses the largest bronze Buddha statue in Asia, which comes in at 72 meters tall and over 170 tons in weight.

Bronze Buddha Statue. Photo: Sun World BaDen Mountain

This imposing monolith lies on top of the mountain and is surrounded by a blanket of clouds and skies. The Linh Son Tien Thach Tu Pagoda is another major feature. Originally built in 1745, this stunning pagoda can be found in the center BaDen Mountain and is a vital part of the mountain’s spiritual ecosystem, acting as a place of worship for generations.

The Sleeping Buddha Statue is another must-see landmark that depicts Buddha entering Nirvana. Additionally, there are several other places of worship on Ba Den Mountain that have remained standing through warfare and destruction. To celebrate the mountain’s longevity and spirituality, several festivals take place there throughout the year.

January’s Spring Festival showcases art, fireworks, music, and sport with both locals and tourists flocking to Sun World BaDen to ring in the New Year in style.

Festival lion puppets. Photo: Sun World BaDen Mountain

Ba Den Mountain may be dormant, but life on its summit is very much still alive. With the new cable car system now in place, it’s never been easier to ascend to the top and indulge in the spiritual oasis that can be found there.