The Mekong Delta is endowed with endless fertile fields, orchards and interlacing canals and rivers. The beautiful That Son (Seven Mountains) mountain range is striking amidst the lowlands with Cam (Forbidden) Mountain its tallest and largest at a height of 710 meters above sea level. Locals call this mountain the ‘roof-top of the delta’.
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A lake on Cam Mountain in An Giang
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Located in An Hao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Cam Mountain is famous for its wonderful scenery, ancient temples and pagodas and cultural life of local residents.
There are some theories explaining the origin of the name of the mountain. One legend says that in the eighteenth century, King Gia Long hid on the mountain when he was being hunted by Tay Son troops. |
To protect the king, his subordinates spread a rumor that there were dangerous wild beasts on the mountain and strictly forbade residents to go there.
Another legend says that Monk Tay An, master of a local religion called Buu Son Ky Huong, prohibited his followers from building houses and living on the mountain in order to preserve the primitive natural beauty of the site.
Wherever the name comes from, it is sacred to the locals. The elderly often remind their children to say no evil when they go to the mountain.
One good reason to visit Forbidden Mountain is the weather. As the mountain is covered with many kinds of trees, even fruit-trees, and wears an endless green color, it is blessed with cool weather round year. At sunrise and at sunset, the mountain looks like a water-color painting with mist covered forests under billowing white clouds.
A hike half way up this mountain brings trekkers to the cool waters of Long Thanh Mineral Spring. Farther up are ancient towers, pagodas and temples to be admired such as Van Linh Pagoda, Great Buddha Pagoda and Mitreya (Buddha) Statue.
Van Linh Pagoda is charming with its elaborate eight-story tower and curly roof. This quiet sanctuary is fronted by a flower garden and is surrounded by an endless eucalyptus forest.
Facing the pagoda is a 3.6-meter-high Mitreya (Buddha) Statue where tourists can catch a panoramic view of the area.
Great Buddha Pagoda is another place for tourists to enjoy a bit of silence. Another 50 meters up the mountain is Ngoc Hoang Temple where tourists can enjoy the endless green of the rice fields with a few red tiled-roofs thrown into the picture.
These pagodas offer a place to relax and nearby restaurants and coffee shops offer certain dishes and specialties. The view here is spectacular, with the valleys, white falls and smaller mountains below.