1. Overview of the Ba Den Mountain Lamp Offering Ceremony
1.1. Origin and meaning of the Lamp Offering Ceremony
The Lamp Offering Ceremony is a traditional Buddhist ritual, symbolizing the light of wisdom, sincerity, and the start of the new year with prayers for peace and good fortune. At Nui Ba Den Mountain, this ritual is organized on a large scale, attracting thousands of monks, Buddhists, and tourists every night. The sacred space at the foot of the Phat Ba Tay Bo Da Son statue becomes shimmering with tens of thousands of lotus lanterns, each representing the pilgrim's wish for a new year of peace, luck, and happiness.
The Lamp Offering Ceremony is a traditional Buddhist ritual. (Source: Collected)
1.2. Time and Location of the 2025 Lamp Offering Ceremony
The Lamp Offering Ceremony of Ba Den Mountain usually takes place on the 14th – 15th day of the first lunar month (Full Moon of the first lunar month) and is held every Saturday evening, allowing tourists flexible participation. The main location is the summit of Ba Den Mountain, within the Sun World Ba Den Mountain tourist area, Tay Ninh province, creating an experience of “ascending the sacred peak - lighting up wishes” amidst clouds, sky, and mountains.
1.3. Scale and Atmosphere of the Light Festival
During the Lamp Offering Ceremony, tens of thousands of lotus lanterns are lit simultaneously at the square on the mountaintop, creating a magical, shimmering space amidst magnificent nature. The sound of temple bells, chanting, and a light mist gently falling makes the atmosphere even more solemn and profound. Each lamp is a symbol of wishes for peace, prosperity, and happiness at the beginning of the year, as tourists successively offer prayers, release lanterns, and contemplate a rare spiritual moment amidst the "rooftop of the South".
2. Origin and History of the Lamp Offering Ceremony at Ba Den Mountain
2.1. From Traditional Buddhist Ritual to Local Cultural Ritual
The Lamp Offering Ceremony originated from the ritual of "lighting lamps to worship Buddha" in Theravada Buddhism, which signifies offering the light of wisdom and sincere devotion to the Buddhas. When introduced to the South in the early 20th century, this ritual was gradually adopted and practiced by the people of Tay Ninh during important festivals. Over time, the Lamp Offering Ceremony not only retained the spirit of the traditional Buddhist ritual but also blended with local folk culture, becoming a characteristic spiritual activity at Ba Den Mountain.
2.2. Development Journey Over the Years
Previously, the Lamp Offering Ceremony was held on a small scale within the area of Ba Pagoda, mainly organized by local monks, nuns, and Buddhists. However, since 2019, tourism infrastructure and festival spaces on Ba Den Mountain have been synchronously invested in. Therefore, this ritual has been expanded with an increasingly larger scale. Tens of thousands of lotus lanterns are lit on the mountaintop, creating a sacred and impressive space that many tourists wish to experience each New Year. Thanks to this development, the Lamp Offering Ceremony has gradually become one of the most outstanding spiritual cultural events in the South.
2.3. Symbolic Meaning of Light in Buddhist Culture
In Buddhism, "dang" or a lamp symbolizes the light of wisdom, illuminating the path towards goodness. When lighting lamps, participants express their wishes to eradicate ignorance, dispel darkness within the mind, and pray for peace for themselves and the community. Therefore, the Lamp Offering Ceremony of Ba Den Mountain is not just a religious ritual but also carries profound humanistic value, associated with the aspiration for peace, harmony, and clarity for a prosperous new year.
3. Main Rituals and Activities During the Lamp Offering Ceremony
3.1. Ritual of Lighting Lamps and Offering Light for Peace
The ritual of lighting lamps is the most important highlight of the Lamp Offering Ceremony of Ba Den Mountain, usually taking place in the evening as the square gradually lights up with thousands of lotus lanterns. In the gentle light of the lamps, pilgrims, monks, nuns, and Buddhists immerse themselves in the sound of temple bells, incense, and echoing chants, creating a solemn and tranquil atmosphere.
When tens of thousands of lamps are lit simultaneously, the entire area on the mountaintop transforms into a brilliant "sea of light" against the Tay Ninh sky. Each lotus lantern is gently released, carrying wishes for peace, good fortune, and hopes for a harmonious new year.
Ritual of lighting lamps and offering incense at the sacred Ba Den Mountain. (Source: Collected)
3.2. Scripture chanting, life release, and prayer for national peace and popular well-being rituals
Before the moment of lighting lamps, monks often preside over the ritual of chanting the Medicine Buddha sutra, a traditional Buddhist ritual symbolizing prayers for health, luck, and peace for everyone. The chanting of scriptures combined with the sound of wooden fish and bells creates a solemn, sacred atmosphere, helping attendees find peace of mind before entering the main ceremony.
Alongside this, many tourists and Buddhists also participate in releasing fish or floating lotus lanterns at the foot of the mountain. These activities carry messages of compassion and good deeds, expressing the desire to spread light and kindness to the community. This is also an occasion for each person to send their wishes for national peace and popular well-being, family peace, and to start a fulfilling new year.
3.3. Accompanying cultural and artistic activities
Besides traditional rituals, the lamp offering ceremony at Ba Den Mountain is also adorned with cultural and artistic programs with Buddhist themes. Performances such as Zen music, lotus dances, or Buddhist singing make the space more peaceful and profound. Music combined with the light of the lotus lanterns creates an emotionally rich experience that few festivals can offer.
In addition, the festival area also features spaces displaying artistic lanterns and photo exhibitions with the theme “Light on the Sacred Mountain,” attracting many visitors to stop and admire. Vegetarian food stalls and exquisite souvenirs help visitors enjoy delicate flavors while bringing back small, meaningful gifts.
4. Experiences for visitors participating in the lamp offering ceremony
4.1. Sacred festival space amidst majestic nature
The lamp offering ceremony is held at an altitude of nearly 986 m, where visitors can clearly feel the cool air, the gentle mountain breeze, and the vast sky and clouds embracing the peak of Ba Den Mountain. Standing amidst that vast space, the sounds of temple bells and chanting scriptures echoing make the participants' souls gradually become lighter and more serene.
The moment the lotus lanterns are lit simultaneously is when the entire Sun World Ba Den Mountain becomes a brilliant "sea of light." Looking down from above, the lantern light stretches across the mountains and forests, creating a rare, magical scene, moving visitors with the peaceful beauty of the sacred mountain.
4.2. Sightseeing, worship, and experiencing the cable car at night
One of the experiences many visitors love is taking the cable car at night, admiring the sparkling Tay Ninh from above. City lights, light strips from the square, and the stream of pilgrims combined with the night sky create a scene that is both peaceful and impressive. This is also an ideal time for commemorative photos and to enjoy the slow journey through the air.
After reaching the summit, visitors can worship the statue of Lady Buddha Tay Bo Da Son, offer incense at Ba Pagoda or Hang Pagoda. The tranquil night air blends with the mountain breeze and the gentle ringing of bells, bringing a rare sense of peace, helping visitors regain balance after busy days.
4.3. Admiring light art and the lantern space
The festival space on the mountain summit is colorfully decorated with lantern bridges, illuminated lotus gardens, and a large square where lanterns are lit into shimmering streams. The light art installations are harmoniously arranged, creating beautiful viewpoints suitable for visitors to capture meaningful moments at the beginning of the year.
Thousands of visitors often stop to take photos with the glowing lotus flowers, lantern-lined paths, or the magical night sky behind. This is not only a prominent photo spot but also a place where everyone sends their prayers for a peaceful and happy new year.
4.4. Enjoying vegetarian cuisine and Tay Ninh specialties
Right on the summit of Ba Den Mountain, visitors can stop by Sol Kitchen – the main culinary area of Sun World Ba Den Mountain, open daily from 06:00 to 20:00. The space here is designed to be modern yet retain a sense of familiarity, with a spacious view overlooking the sea of clouds and the valley below. In the evening, when the festival lights combine with the light mist, enjoying a hot meal at Sol Kitchen brings a warm, gentle, and very "sacred" feeling.
Vegetarian cuisine in Tay Ninh is a perfect choice for the pilgrimage to the sacred mountain. (Source: Collected)
Sol Kitchen serves a variety of pure vegetarian dishes such as vegetarian noodle soup, vegetarian hu tieu, vegetarian rice, and gently prepared Tay Ninh specialties, suitable for tourists after participating in the lantern offering ceremony. Enjoying delicious food while admiring the floating clouds and the shimmering lights of the festival creates an unforgettable culinary experience.
5. Experience and notes when attending the Ba Den Mountain lantern offering ceremony
5.1. Best time to go and suggested itinerary
The ideal time to attend the Ba Den Mountain lantern offering ceremony is on the 14th day of the first lunar month, when the ceremony is most lively and solemn. Additionally, tourists can visit Tay Ninh from around the 12th to the 3rd lunar month, when the weather is cool, with little rain, convenient for sightseeing and cable car travel.
The evenings on the mountain peak are often chilly, and the fresh atmosphere makes the lantern light stand out more. If you enjoy cloud hunting, you should stay in Tay Ninh and go up the mountain around 5:00–7:00 AM the next day. This is when light clouds often appear drifting over the mountain peak, creating a peaceful scene and being very suitable for worship, taking photos, or watching the sunrise.
Visitors choose the right time to participate in the lantern offering at the summit of Black Lady Mountain. (Source: Collected)
5.2. Attire and Necessary Preparations
Visitors should choose polite attire, with elegant colors, to suit the spiritual space. It gets quite cold on the mountaintop in the evening, so it's advisable to bring a light jacket. Recommended items to prepare include: drinking water, sports shoes for easy movement, and items for lighting lamps. Prepare small change for offerings and purchasing some necessary items.
5.3. Etiquette and Safety Precautions
Throughout the ceremony, visitors must maintain order, move according to the organizers' guidance, and avoid crowding. When taking photos, do not use flash to preserve the solemn atmosphere. Floating flower lanterns should only be done in designated areas to ensure safety and protect the landscape.
5.4. Tips for Transportation and Cable Car Tickets
For convenience, visitors should book cable car tickets in advance on the Sun World Ba Den Mountain website to avoid long waits on peak days. For large groups, a suitable mode of transport is a limousine departing from Ho Chi Minh City, with a travel time of about 2 hours. Within the resort, there are electric vehicles to assist with internal transportation, helping visitors save time and conserve energy while sightseeing.
6. Combine Visits to Nearby Attractions of Black Lady Mountain
6.1. Tay Ninh Holy See
The Tay Ninh Holy See is about 9 km from Black Lady Mountain, serving as the central religious structure of the Cao Dai faith, with unique architecture and harmonious colors. The vast, serene space combined with delicate decorative details creates a culturally rich sightseeing experience. Visitors can stroll around the grounds, learn about its distinctive rituals, or capture impressive photos amidst the structure's characteristic pinkish-gold hues.
6.2. Dau Tieng Lake
Dau Tieng Lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in Vietnam, famous for its calm waters and peaceful scenery. The lake is surrounded by mountains, forests, and open grassy areas, suitable for visitors to stop and rest or enjoy the scenery. The period from late afternoon to sunset offers beautiful views, as the evening light reflects on the water, creating a gentle and relaxing ambiance.
6.3. Tay Ninh Night Market
Tay Ninh Night Market is a hub for familiar local dishes such as sun-dried rice paper, shrimp salt, young buffalo, and many other characteristic snacks. After attending the Black Lady Mountain lantern offering ceremony, visitors can visit the market to enjoy local cuisine, browse the stalls, or choose souvenirs to take home. The bustling yet friendly atmosphere makes the trip more complete.
The Black Lady Mountain lantern offering ceremony is not only a spiritual ritual at the beginning of spring but also a journey to experience the unique culture of Tay Ninh. When thousands of flower lanterns are lit on the mountaintop, the space becomes tranquil and warm, allowing everyone to send wishes for peace in the new year. Against the majestic natural backdrop of Sun World Ba Den Mountain, the light from the lanterns creates beautiful and emotional moments.
