Sharing on the Bored Panda news site about the picture of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh) at the beginning of the new year, writer Chloe Darcy was surprised by the scene of a sea of people going to the temple at the beginning of the year, as bright as a colorful painting.
Article about Ba Den Mountain on New Year's Day published on a world-famous news site
Recently, the world-famous news site about lifestyle and online phenomena - Bored Panda, with 100 million readers per month worldwide, published an article titled "Do you know the photo that’s going viral on Vietnamese social media?" (Rough translation: Do you know the photo that is going viral on Vietnamese social media?). The author of the article, Chloe Darcy, gave impressive descriptions when admiring the photo of Ba Den Mountain on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, a moment that is attracting attention on Vietnamese social media.
As the highest mountain in southern Vietnam with an altitude of 986m, Ba Den Mountain is not only a sacred symbol of Tay Ninh land but also known as the "roof" of the Southern region. This place is famous for its long-standing spiritual architecture system combined with diverse natural landscapes, both pristine and peaceful. Every year, especially during Tet, Ba Den Mountain attracts tens of thousands of tourists and Buddhists to pilgrimage, worship, and discover the magnificent beauty in the sky and earth of the Southern region.
The scene of hundreds of thousands of people “camping” at the foot of Ba Den Mountain on the afternoon of the 4th day of the Lunar New Year
The Bored Panda writer shared that this impressive photo was taken by photographer Nguyen Minh Tu (46 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) on the afternoon of the 4th day of Tet, when hundreds of thousands of tourists came to attend the Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival. From a high angle, the male photographer captured a spectacular moment, recreating the bustling atmosphere with a "sea of people" camping overnight at the foot of the mountain. As soon as it appeared, the photo quickly became a phenomenon on social networks, being shared simultaneously by hundreds of fanpages and many media channels in Vietnam.
What particularly impressed the female author was the sight of hundreds of thousands of tourists gathered at the foot of Ba Den Mountain, creating a vibrant picture resembling an abstract painting. According to Chloe, the image of Vietnamese families bringing mats, rugs, lamps, and tents to "camp" at the foot of the mountain painted a vivid "sea of people." The contrast between the enormous scale of the pilgrimage and the intimate, lively moments of each group of tourists makes the image particularly captivating.
Vietnamese New Year’s prayer customs impress international media
The Bored Panda writer also expressed her delight in discovering the Vietnamese New Year’s prayer customs. "January, in the Vietnamese concept, is the beginning of the year, and also the time to ‘open’ the spiritual world," Chloe wrote. According to the customs of the Southern people, the pilgrimage to Ba Den Mountain at the beginning of the year is not only to offer incense but also to pray for good luck and peace from Linh Son Thanh Mau – the sacred deity in the Southern belief system, associated with many miraculous legends, compassion, and the salvation of sentient beings. People believe that receiving blessings from Linh Son Thanh Mau will bring good fortune and peace throughout the year. The interplay between spiritual elements and cultural traditions has created a powerful attraction for Ba Den Mountain, causing hundreds of thousands of tourists to flock here, including international tourists wishing to explore the unique religious beliefs of Vietnam.
According to Chloe, Ba Den Mountain was once a little-noticed spiritual destination on the international tourism map, but now it has attracted global attention thanks to impressive images spreading on social media. Not only does it hold deep spiritual significance, but Ba Den Mountain also captivates visitors with its breathtaking natural scenery.
The enchanting natural scenery from the top of Ba Den Mountain
From the top of the mountain, visitors can gaze upon the magnificent natural landscape of Tay Ninh, where endless stretches of lush green rice paddies, the vast Dau Tieng Lake reflecting the sky and clouds, and winding roads meander through the enchanting natural scenery. The Bored Panda writer noted that the moment of "standing above the clouds, gazing down at the vast plains" made Ba Den Mountain an unmissable destination for those who love nature and yearn to touch the pristine beauty of the earth and sky.
It is known that on May 9, 2025, Ba Den Mountain will become the main destination for the Vesak 2025 International Buddhist Vesak Day, marking an important religious and cultural event. The program is expected to include many special activities, with the highlight being a large-scale offering ceremony, bringing together the participation of venerable monks, high monks, and delegates from 80 countries around the world, along with tens of thousands of Buddhists from both inside and outside the country. The event will not only honor spiritual values but also contribute to bringing Ba Den Mountain to the world stage, becoming a prominent pilgrimage and Buddhist cultural discovery destination on the international tourism map.
