About ten kilometers northeast of Tay Ninh Town and spreading three communes, Ninh Son, Tan Binh and Thanh Tan, the Nui Ba Complex stretches out over 24 square kilometers and comprises three mountains, Heo (Pig) Mountain, Phung (Phoenix) Mountain and Ba Den (Black Lady) Mountain. With a system of grottoes, numerous religious works in harmony with the forest and century-seasoned trees, the relic attracts many tourists and pilgrims every day.

The Ba Temple Complex which is located at the midle of mountain includes old pagodas such as Ha Pagoda, Thuong Pagoda and Hang Pagoda and caves such as Ba Co Cave, Thien Thai Cave and Ba Tuan Cave. All present typical features of Buddhist culture and folk beliefs. Upon reaching the site, tourists can explore the biodiversity here and the folk spiritual life of local Vietnamese.

There are three ways to reach Ba Temple. If go on foot, it takes over one hour to arrive at the destination, while cable cars take 20 minutes to cover a distance of 1200m. Visitors will also have chance to try slide up and down the mountain with the sliding system which includes two lines going upward and downward, 1190m and 1700m in length respectively. From Ba Temple, it will take about 2 hours more on foot to get to the top of mountain.

Climbing Ba Den Mountain is a chance to be closer to nature and get some good exercise at the same time. The feeling of defeating the mountain is a joyful one. The path zigzags through splendid surroundings and under the shade of green trees that protect skin from the scorching sun. From the peak, trekkers are treated to a perfect view of the valley that immediately relieves the fatigue of the climb.

To get down the mountain, most young visitors chose to take a grass slider trip. It is a soft adventure activity and safe as the slope is gentle and tourists can control the brake of the slide.

A round trip cable car ride from the foot of mountain to the Ba Temple is offered. Soaring on the cable car, tourists catch a view of a sparking waterfall under the glistening sun, mysterious caves and dense forest.

However, arcording to practical experience, for who want to keep way from exhausted situation of climbing, it is suggested that they should take slider or cable car for the upward way and get down the mountain on foot.

This mountain attracts many tourists and pilgrims by its majestic image, many magnificent caves and pagodas. And it often welcomes a large number of people in spring time, the first and second lunar months, especially on the festivals of Ba Den Mountain.

There are two main festivals occurring at Ba Den Mountain annually: Spring Festival, from the 15th to the 18th day of the first lunar month and Via Ba Festival lasting from the 5th to the 6th day of the fifth lunar month. The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is much boisterous than Via Ba Festival. Pilgrims go there for religious reasons as well as for sightseeing. In the 20km-long route from Tay Ninh Town to the foot of Ba Den Mountain pilgrims from near and far crowd the road.

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Tay Ninh is about 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. To get to Ba Den Mountain, if go by motorbike, it takes about 2 hours. Visitors also can take a bus from Ben Thanh Station to Go Dau (Tay Ninh) and another from Go Dau to Long Hoa.

Phuong Anh (Edited)