1. Origin and Meaning of the Ba Den Mountain Festival - Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, also known as the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month, is the first major holiday after the Lunar New Year, carrying the meaning of "Buddha worship at the beginning of the year, praying for peace throughout the year." During this time, people across the country turn to pagodas to offer incense, do good deeds, show their reverence to the Buddhas, and pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year. In Tay Ninh, the focal point of the festival season is Ba Den Mountain, the sacred mountain associated with the legend of Linh Son Thanh Mau – Ba Den, the goddess whom the people of the South venerate as the Holy Mother who protects a life of prosperity and happiness.
The Full Moon of the First Lunar Month is when hundreds of thousands of Buddhist followers flock to Black Lady Mountain to offer incense at the beginning of the year. (Source: Collected)
For generations, Black Lady Mountain Full Moon of the First Lunar Month has become one of the largest spiritual festivals in the South. On each Full Moon occasion, tens of thousands of Buddhist followers and tourists make a pilgrimage here to offer incense, pray for peace, blessings, and prosperity at the start of the year. More than just a religious activity, the festival also carries profound spiritual value, where people turn their hearts towards goodness, beginning the new year with gratitude and faith.
Amidst the sacred space of the mountains and the echoing temple bells, visitors clearly feel the harmony between nature, spirituality, and Southern Vietnamese culture. This is what makes the Black Lady Mountain Full Moon of the First Lunar Month festival not just a spiritual gathering point, but also a journey to find peace and tranquility within one's soul.
2. Scale of the Grand Lamp Offering Ceremony during the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month
Every Full Moon of the First Lunar Month, Black Lady Mountain (Tay Ninh) transforms into a "sea of lights" in the Southern region with a large-scale grand lamp offering ceremony, one of the most impressive peace-praying rituals at the beginning of the year in Vietnam. Tens of thousands of Buddhist followers and tourists together offer lamps, illuminating the pilgrimage path to the mountain peak.
In 2024, the festival was marked by tens of thousands of lamps lit around the area of the Statue of the Black Lady Buddha of Tay Bo Da Son, creating a most sacred and mystical scene. The light from tens of thousands of lamps not only symbolizes wisdom, luck, and peace but also radiates positive energy, ushering in a new year full of faith.
3. Notable Rituals and Activities during the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month
3.1. Large-Scale Grand Lamp Offering Ceremony
On the night of the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month, the peak of Black Lady Mountain turns into a sea of lights with the grand lamp offering ceremony taking place from early afternoon until evening. Thousands of lamps are lit, sparkling around the square and the path leading up to the Buddha statue, creating a mystical and solemn scene.
Offering lanterns during the full moon of the first lunar month is a major event at Ba Den Mountain. (Source: Collected)
Those lights symbolize wisdom, peace, and good luck at the beginning of the year, inviting steps of pilgrimage towards spirituality. Visitors can participate by registering to offer lanterns at the designated area, or arrive early to choose a spot near the statue and join the crowd offering incense, lighting lamps, and sending prayers to the southern sky. Nam Bo.
3.2. Pilgrimage, Worship, and Praying for Peace
The festival journey at Ba Den Mountain is not just about attending the grand ceremony, but also a profound journey of worship. Visitors ascend to the Bà Temple area, Linh Son Thanh Mau to pray and receive blessings, then proceed to the 72m-tall Tây Bổ Đà Sơn Buddha Statue, an imposing spiritual symbol atop the mountain. Many choose to write their wishes on bodhi leaves, or draw lucky fortune sticks, to leave a mark for a peaceful new year. The atmosphere of worship during this time is particularly solemn, with the scent of incense, the ringing of temple bells, and people's hearts turning towards goodness.
3.3. Cultural and Artistic Space and Light Festival
Besides religious rituals, the festival at Ba Den Mountain is also rich in cultural and artistic colors. In the area near the Buddha statue and the main square, you will find a Buddhist exhibition spanning over 4,410 m² with nearly 40 rare artifacts, offering a deep cultural experience for visitors. At the same time, the ceremony night transforms into a "light festival for peace" with artistic light and sound projections covering the entire space, making Ba Den Mountain at night like a celestial realm amidst clouds and sky.
Cultural space and festival of Ba Den Mountain on the full moon of the first lunar month. (Source: Collected)
3.4. Sightseeing, cloud hunting, and photography during the festival season
The full moon of the first lunar month is an ideal time to explore nature and capture impressive photos at Ba Den Mountain. When mist and clouds drift gently around the peak, the scene of the cloud bridge, the square under the lantern light, and the statue of the Bodhisattva becomes truly magical. Choose early morning or late afternoon, find a "cloud window" at the cloud bridge, flower garden, or near the statue to take stunning photos. A small tip: bring a tripod or a phone with a low-light mode to capture the shimmering moments, and don't forget to maintain cleanliness.
4. How to travel to Ba Den Mountain during the full moon of the first lunar month
4.1. From Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh
From Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can easily travel to Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh), about 100 km away, in just about 2 – 2.5 hours. The most beautiful and easiest route is National Highway 22 – Go Dau – Tay Ninh, convenient for cars, motorbikes, and pilgrimage groups. If you choose a bus, you can depart from An Suong bus station, with ticket prices ranging from 150,000 – 230,000 VND/person, and travel time of about 2 – 3 hours.
For visitors coming from the North or Central regions, it is recommended to fly to Ho Chi Minh City via airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, or Sun Phu Quoc Airways, then continue the journey to Tay Ninh by private car, limousine, or a package pilgrimage tour. To make your trip to Ba Den Mountain on the full moon of the first lunar month as smooth and comfortable as possible, you should depart early in the morning to avoid traffic jams and be on time for noon ceremonies and the evening lantern offering ceremony.
4.2. Transportation within the tourist area
After arriving in Tay Ninh, visitors can easily travel to Sun World Ba Den Mountain tourist area, which has modern, well-planned infrastructure amidst majestic natural scenery. From the main gate, visitors can travel to the cable car station by internal electric vehicle, then ascend to the mountain top or visit the Ba Pagoda area to pay respects and offer incense.
The Sun World Ba Den Mountain cable car system operates from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. During the full moon of the first lunar month, it may operate longer to serve the large number of pilgrims. The cable car is designed to international standards, shortening travel time to only about 8 – 10 minutes from the foot of the mountain to the summit. Visitors should book tickets in advance on the official website of Sun World Ba Den Mountain or choose a package pilgrimage combo for convenient sightseeing during the festival season.
5. Tips for visiting Ba Den Mountain during the full moon of the first lunar month
5.1. Preparation before the trip
Before your pilgrimage, visitors should prepare modest, polite, and comfortable clothing for movement, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and light sports shoes. Bring drinking water, a hat, small change for offerings, wet wipes, and a power bank. During the full moon of the first lunar month, the number of visitors increases significantly, so book accommodation near the tourist area (within a 5–7 km radius) about a month in advance for a comfortable and convenient experience when attending early ceremonies.
Visitors should wear modest attire when visiting Nui Ba Den during the full moon of the first lunar month. (Source: Collected)
5.2. Best times to visit and safety tips
The most beautiful times to visit are early morning from 5 AM – 7 AM or late afternoon from 4 PM – 6 PM, when the air is fresh, the sunlight is gentle, and the scenery is sparkling. During the festival season, the number of pilgrims is high. Visitors should travel in groups, take care of their belongings, and limit burning too many incense sticks to protect the environment and the sacred space.
5.3. Accommodation and dining suggestions near the tourist area
Some accommodation options chosen by many visitors near the Sun World Ba Den Mountain cable car area include: Thong Dong Homestay, Homestay Nui Ba Den LiLy, Homestay nui Ba Den Lam Ngoc… all conveniently located and offering a quiet atmosphere. After worshiping, visitors can enjoy Trang Bang canh soup, grilled young buffalo, and wild vegetables dipped in chili salt in the central area.
6. Suggestions for combining sightseeing and travel during the full moon festival
After worshiping and attending the grand festival of the full moon of the first lunar month at Sun World Ba Den Mountain, visitors can combine visits to other famous destinations around Tay Ninh. The Tay Ninh Holy See, about 7 km from the mountain, is a unique religious architectural work that is the center of Cao Dai religion with solemn rituals and a peaceful atmosphere.
Spring travel to Nui Ba Den on the Full Moon of the first lunar month, combined with a visit to Toa Thanh Cao Dai. (Source: Collected)
If visitors wish to explore the natural space of the holy land, visit Ho Dau Tieng to watch the sunset, enjoy the cool breeze, and have a light picnic after the ceremony. Finally, Ma Thien Lanh Valley will be the perfect stop for those seeking tranquility amidst the mountains and forests, concluding the Tay Ninh journey full of peace and completeness.
Nui Ba Den on the Full Moon of the first lunar month is not just a spiritual destination, but also a journey to find peace amidst the clouds and sky of Tay Ninh. Amidst the temple bells and the brilliant light of lanterns, visitors fully experience the peaceful energy of early spring, a fulfilling start to the new year.
