1. The Origin of Ba Den Mountain from a Scientific Perspective

Ba Den Mountain is not an extinct volcano (Image: collected)

1.1 Is Ba Den Mountain a Volcano?

Ba Den Mountain is actually an extinct volcano, approximately 11,700 years old. Its geological structure consists of numerous layers of rock formations stacked upon each other, creating many natural caves and a rich, diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna.

1.2 The Million-Year Formation Process of Ba Den Mountain

The entire mountain massif spans approximately 24km², comprising three main peaks: Heo Mountain, Phung Mountain, and Ba Den Mountain.

According to the Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chi (Gia Dinh City General Record), the mountain's original name was Ba Dinh. Later, it was popularly known as Mot Mountain (One Mountain), and around the mid-18th century, it acquired its current name, Ba Den Mountain. A passage in the book reads: “In the middle of the plains rises Ba Dinh Mountain (Ba Den Mountain). On a fine day, from Saigon, one can see this mountain faintly appearing in the mist and clouds. Legend has it that this is a sacred mountain, with a golden bell appearing and disappearing in a lake; on moonlit nights, dragon boats are seen swimming and dancing gracefully…”. Ba Den Mountain was once considered the main mountain guarding Gia Dinh City, similar to the role of Tan Vien Mountain in Thang Long or Ngu Binh Mountain in Hue.

Its geological structure primarily consists of stacked rock strata, with a diverse ecosystem and natural caves such as Gio Cave, Ong Ho Cave, and Quan Am Cave… formed through natural weathering and geological faulting over millions of years.

2. System of Spiritual and Cultural Structures on Ba Den Mountain

Impressive shape of Ba Den Mountain (Image: collected)

In Vietnam, the system of spiritual structures on the top of Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh, was created by Prof. Dr. Arch. Shin Takamatsu as a journey to awaken and connect the "Four Immeasurable Minds" in each person according to Buddhist teachings: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity.

That journey begins with the statue of the Goddess of the West, Tay Bo Da Son: the tallest Avalokitesvara statue in Asia - symbolizing Loving-kindness and Compassion, followed by a cluster of 5 giant water discs stylized as lotus petals, leading to the central square and ending at the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva made of the world's largest sandstone - a symbol of Joy and Equanimity.

These structures bear both the distinctive mark of contemporary architectural art and are imbued with the spirit of traditional Buddhism, located in what is considered one of the three most sacred sites in Vietnam. Viewed from above, the spiritual axis stretches out like a stream connecting the past, present, and future, from the mysterious Buddhist realm to earthly life.

Along with Da Chong Mountain (Hanoi) and Nua Mountain (Thanh Hoa), Ba Den Mountain is considered one of the three great sacred sites of Vietnam - a place where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, a point of harmony between yin and yang, heaven and man.

3. Unique geological features of Ba Den Mountain

Unique geological features of Ba Den Mountain (Image: collected)

Ba Den Mountain stretches 6km long and 4km wide, including Heo Mountain, 335m high; Phung Mountain, 600m high, is the location of Thai Son Pagoda, Cau Temple, and Linh Son Thanh Mau Temple. The area bordering the three mountains forms a valley called Ma Thien Lanh.

Ba Den Mountain has a unique geological structure with many large natural rock layers, creating deep caves and a diverse ecosystem rich in flora and fauna. Unlike common karst caves in Vietnam, the caves here are formed from giant rock slabs, so stalactites are rarely found.

Not only does it have cultural and spiritual value, Ba Den Mountain also plays a special strategic role in history. As the highest point in Southern Vietnam, it witnessed many fierce battles between our army and the French and American imperialists during the two resistance wars from 1946 to 1975.

In recognition of its great historical, cultural and landscape values, on January 21, 1989, Ba Den Mountain was ranked as a National Historical and Scenic Site by the Ministry of Culture – Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

4. The legend of Ly Thi Thien Huong associated with Ba Den Mountain

Hidden behind the majestic beauty of Ba Den Mountain are folk legends rich in spiritual colors, most notably the story of a girl named Ly Thi Thien Huong – a girl who was both talented in literature and had deep piety, often going up the mountain to worship Buddha. She was loved by Le Si Triet, a handsome young man in the area.

When he went to war, one time while worshipping Buddha on the mountain, she was attacked by bandits. Cornered, Thien Huong chose to throw herself off the mountain to preserve her chastity. After her death, she appeared as a girl with a dark complexion, appearing in the dream of a monk on the mountain.

Legend has it that once Nguyen Anh (later King Gia Long) was chased by Tay Son troops on his way to Siam through Tay Ninh land, when he reached Trang Mang Cha area, he sent Le Van Duyet to the mountain to pray for the Lady's help. That night, the Lady appeared in his dream, showing him a way around the mountain to escape. After ascending the throne, King Gia Long had a bronze statue of the Lady cast and placed in a cave on the mountain, and at the same time bestowed the title of Linh Son Thanh Mau. Since then, people have called the place where the Lady is worshipped Linh Son Tien Thach Dong, and the sacred mountain has become known as Ba Den Mountain.

Legend of Linh Son Thanh Mau associated with Ba Den Mountain (Image: collected)

5. Why should we understand the origin of Ba Den Mountain correctly?

Understanding the origin of Ba Den Mountain to raise awareness of landscape preservation (Image: collected)

Understanding the geological origin of Ba Den Mountain is not only a journey of scientific discovery, but also opens up a deeper perspective on the natural and spiritual values that this mountain represents. Ba Den Mountain is an extinct volcano, formed from the magma activity in the earth's interior, over time creating a characteristic geological structure with many layers of overlapping basalt rock. The long-term physical weathering process has created ancient cracks, large standing stones, and a unique cave system on the mountainside.

Not only does it have magnificent scenery, Ba Den Mountain also has the potential to become an ideal outdoor education destination for the field of geology. Field trips for students will help them visually access knowledge about the process of landform formation, understand more about the constant movement of the Earth's crust, and at the same time awaken their love of nature through practical experience.

In the interplay between science and belief, Ba Den Mountain is a symbol of harmony between the spiritual and the human heart - where understanding the geological structure is also a way to preserve the sacred beauty of the Tay Ninh land.