That Son (Seven Mountains) is common name of seven most typical mountains amongst 37 mountains in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts of An Giang Province. They are mainly known as Cam Mountain (Thien Cam Son), Dai Nam gieng (Ngu Ho Son), Co To Mountain (Phung Hoang Son), Dai Mountain (Ngoa Long Son), Tuong Mountain (Lien Hoa Son), Ket Mountain (Anh Vu Son) and Nuoc Mountain (Thuy Dai Son).
Nowadays, That Son is place with many specific festivals and customs... of Southern Khmer people such as Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, Pisat bo chia Festival, Pha Chum Benh Festival (known as Dolta Festival)... and the most typical festival is above all others is Bay Nui Ox Racing Festival which annual takes place in the end of September and beginning of October.
On the huge That Son Range along highway 91 from Long Xuyen to Chau Doc, Anh Vu, or Ket, Mountain is a well known and favorite destination for travelers. The 225m-high mountain is located in Thoi Son Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province.
Along the rough roads to Anh Vu Mountain there are many restaurants and rest stops with various specialties in green gardens. Tourists could stop at one of them as “Hammock Rest Stop†to be warmly welcomed by friendly faces and should order palm juice, a specialty of this region. After a couple of minutes resting in hammocks will make them feel fresh to continue to the mountain.
In a minute, the mountain will be appeared and tourists will be surprised by its magnificence and beauty but it is not difficult to reach the Ket tourist area near the top of the mountain. Step by step, tourists can start climbing the stairs to conquer this legendary mountain.
There are over 10 interesting sites on the mountain, from the foot to the top and along its slopes, which tourists should not miss such as Fairy Well and Truc Lam, Ngoc Hoang, Phat Thay, Huynh Long and Phat Mau temples.
Mo Ket, a giant rock, is a rest area located half way up the mountain and from here the mountain appears to be moving as the cloud masses that pass by are always changing. Temperatures here average 18 to 24oC in spite of the heat at noon. Nearby is Dai Mountain, like a giant rock garden, and an ancient temple, both worth a visit.
It’s interesting that there is a well on the top of Ket Mountain. It’s named Fairy Well and is a must-see for those who conquer this mountain. The well looks like a cave adhering to rocks and its water is fresh and cool. No one knows its origin or its source.
That Son Range, and Anh Vu Mountain in particular, are known for the monks who lead a religious life in the mountain such as Doan Minh Huyen, founder of the Buu Son Ky Huong religion with Buddhist origins.
The mountain is open for excursions and religious purposes.