Located in Hiep An Ward, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province, about 30km from the north of Ho Chi Minh City, Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien is a 476ha-complex of temples, mountain, river, hotel, entertainment area… for spirit tourism.
The salient feature of Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Site is spirit zone with area of 61ha. Of which, worship area surrounded by 2 dragons (270m length for each) is special place for Vietnam’s cultural, historical significances and quintessence through 4,000 years of history.
Located in the centre of worship zone is Dai Nam Temple with area of 5,000m². Kim Dien Sanctuary is salient feature of the temple. The Sakyamuni Buddha, King Hung and King Tran Nhan Tong are worshiped at main altar of the sanctuary while Tran Hung Dao, Au Co Mother, board written 1039 families of Vietnam’s ethnic groups at the right altar and President Ho Chi Minh, Great Buddha, Tutelary God – Fortune God - Soil God at the left altar. All statues in the Kim Dien and 2 statues of Quang Trung and Ly Thuong Kiet outside the sanctuary are inlaid by gold.
The Kim Dien is built in shape of square and circle. The circle on the top of sanctuary which drawn 108 cranes represents God with signification: 54 cranes represent 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in the world of the living, 54 other cranes represent 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in the world of the dead. The square manifested by 4 walls of the sanctuary includes 28 set of doors (500kg weight for each). 28 pictures carved in these doors describe great landmarks of national history, from Hai Ba Trung’s insurrection to glorious victory in spring of 1975. There are 2 candles named Dai Hoang Dang in the sanctuary. Each candle is 2.7m tall, 90cm in diameter and can burn in 1,000 years.
Curving round Kim Dien is Bao Giang River with length of 720m. Walking down the river, tourists will see a part of Vietnamese people’s life reappeared through terraced fields, melon trellises, fish flocks swimming in limpid small spring… They all arouse peaceful and simple lives of Vietnamese villages.
Bao Son Mountain Range behind Dai Nam Temple includes 5 mountains: Metal – Wood – Water- Fire – Earth, of which the centre mountain is 65.8m tall. The temple worshipping Bach Ho God is at the west while the temples worshipping Mountain God and Farming God are at the east of Bao Son Mountain Range. Inside of the mountain range, Gods and Buddhas are worshiped in the west and Vietnamese heroes through periods are worshiped in the east. This is also residence of thousands of birds representing a good land.
9 storey – Bao Thap which is in the centre mountain of Bao Son Mountain Range is place to worship, show deep gratitude of young generation to ancestor.
- The 1st storey: worship souls of revolutionary martyrs and dead people in accident.
- The 2nd storey: worship unknown martyrs
- The 3rd storey: worship late President Ho Chi Minh
- The 4th storey: worship Tran Hung Dao
- The 5th storey: worship heroic women: Trung Trac – Trung Nhi, Trieu Thi Trinh, Bui Thi Xuan and Nguyen Thi Dinh
- The 6th storey: worship people appointed God because of their credit for the country’s progress
- The 7th storey: worship 18 Hung kings
- The 8th storey: worship Buddha Council, 4-Mother Council, Country Council from founding the country to present.
- The 9th storey: worship motherland
One of the other attractive places of Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Site is zoo with area of 12.5ha. This is the first zoo in Vietnam whose over 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and ornamental fishes live together in a diversified ecologic environment. Tourists will have opportunity to see animals fed in natural environment, especial rare animals appeared in the first time in Vietnam such as: white lion, white tiger, prong horn antelope, South America squirrel monkey… In addition, reaching night zoo (the first zoo type in Vietnam), tourists can view life, habit, hunt of wild animals in night by moon lamp system
Modern entertainment area can meet demands of tourists with over 40 games of adventure, thrill, relaxation and discovery. Most of them appear in the first time in Vietnam. Especially with area of 21.6ha, Dai Nam artificial sea which includes 2 areas: fresh water sea and salt water sea is an ideal relaxation site for tourists. The salt water in Dai Nam Sea mixed from sea salt of Vinh Hao – Tuy Phong – Binh Thuan region and minerals with suitable salinity is good for health. The wave created by wind with 9 types is very unique. The water games for children, sport court for adults and sea-foods will bring tourists comfortable relaxation time.
There is also a hotel system whose specific characteristics are combined from architecture of Co Loa Citadel and Hue Palace in Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Site. In addition, Dai Nam shopping area which has area of 8,000m² with multiform items will meet demands of tourists.
With a large scale like this, Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien is holding many national records for the largest temple, the longest hotel, the longest artificial mountain and river, the largest artificial sea, the largest square, the zoo having the rarest animals. This is a social welfare work with educational, cultural, historical significations.