BlogLocated in the middle of the fertile land of An Giang, Sam Mountain is a famous spiritual tourist destination and a convergence of long-standing cultural and historical values. With a series of famous scenic spots such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb and Tay An Pagoda, Sam Mountain has become an indispensable destination for tourists when exploring the Southern region. The combination of majestic natural scenery and unique spiritual architectural works has created a special attraction, attracting thousands of international visitors every year.
Overview of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc
Sam Mountain, Chau Doc, An Giang
Sam Mountain is located in Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province, about 250km from Ho Chi Minh City. With an altitude of about 284m above sea level, Sam Mountain is one of the famous tourist destinations in the Southwest region, especially attracting visitors because of its profound cultural and spiritual values. Sam Mountain is famous for its rich system of pagodas and temples. There are many pagodas, temples, and hermitages built here, the most prominent of which are Ba Chua Xu Temple and Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb. Ba Chua Xu Temple is a pilgrimage site for thousands of tourists every year, a national historical relic, recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. This is where many major festivals take place, especially the Ba Chua Xu Festival held annually in the fourth lunar month, attracting a large number of people and tourists.
The Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, a famous general of the Nguyen Dynasty, is also a notable tourist attraction in the Sam Mountain area. This is a place to commemorate the merits of the mandarin who contributed to the expansion of the Mekong Delta and is a place to preserve important historical values of the nation.
In addition to being prominent for its spiritual elements, Sam Mountain is also an ideal destination for tourists who want to find peace and relaxation. This area offers a peaceful, airy space, helping visitors feel relaxed in the midst of nature and explore the unique culture of the local people.
Sam Directions to Sam Mountain
The way to Sam mountain
Sam Mountain is located in Chau Doc city, An Giang province, and is one of the famous spiritual tourist destinations in the Southwest region. The road to Sam Mountain is quite convenient, especially for visitors from many places.
If you are an international visitor, after landing at Tan Son Nhat airport (HCMC), you will need to travel a long distance of about 250km to reach Sam Mountain. From HCMC, you can choose personal vehicles, passenger vans or rent a car to travel to An Giang. Travel time is about 5-6 hours depending on the vehicle and traffic conditions.
For visitors who are already in An Giang, specifically in Long Xuyen city, you just need to go along National Highway 91 towards Chau Doc city. The distance from Long Xuyen to Chau Doc is about 60km, travel time is about 1-1.5 hours. After arriving in Chau Doc, continue traveling a few more kilometers along the old National Highway 91, you will reach Sam Mountain Tourist Area.
If you start from Chau Doc city center, it is even easier to get to Sam Mountain. From here, you just need to follow the old National Highway 91, it only takes about 10-15 minutes for a distance of about 6km to reach Sam Mountain Tourist Area.
Destinations that tourists cannot miss when coming to Sam Mountain
Sam Mountain attracts tourists thanks to its natural landscape and historical structures and pagodas with profound cultural values. Below are the places that tourists cannot miss when coming to Sam Mountain.
Ba Chua Xu Temple
Ba Chua Xu Temple
Ba Chua Xu Temple is the most famous landmark in Sam Mountain, considered a spiritual symbol of this land. The temple is located right at the foot of the mountain with a design imbued with the style of Vietnamese temples, large and majestic amidst the wild natural landscape. Every year, Ba Chua Xu Temple attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims to pray, especially during the festival of Ba in the fourth lunar month.
Hang Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Pagoda)
Hang Pagoda, also known as Phuoc Dien Pagoda, is an ancient pagoda with over 100 years of history. The pagoda is located halfway up the mountain, giving visitors a sense of peace and serenity. From Hang Pagoda, visitors can admire the panoramic view of the green nature with a panoramic view of the vast land, creating a poetic and peaceful space.
Tay An Pagoda
Tay An Pagoda
Tay An Pagoda is a special destination when visiting Sam Mountain. Tay An Pagoda stands out with its unique architecture, a harmonious combination of Indian art and Vietnamese architecture. This place has been ranked as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument, becoming a destination that attracts not only pilgrims but also tourists who love architecture and art.
Tomb of Lord Ngoc Hau
Tomb of Lord Ngoc Hau
Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb is a historical structure from the Nguyen Dynasty, built to commemorate the mandarin Nguyen Van Thoai. He was a man of great merit in reclaiming, building and protecting the land of An Giang. Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb is located right at the foot of Sam Mountain and opposite Ba Chua Xu Temple. This is a National Historical Relic, with great historical and cultural value.
Cannon Tower
The Cannon Tower is a structure built by the French in 1896. Legend has it that this is the location where the statue of Ba Chua Xu was placed before it was worshiped at the Ba Temple today. The Cannon Tower is located on the top of Sam Mountain, offering a panoramic view of the entire Chau Doc area and surrounding areas.
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When is the best time to visit Sam Mountain?
To make your trip complete and convenient, you need to pay attention to choosing the right time. Below are suggestions for the ideal time to visit Sam Mountain.
Dry season (December to April)
Should go to Sam mountain in dry season
The dry season is the best time to visit Sam Mountain. During this time, the weather in Sam Mountain has little rain, the temperature is not too hot, the sky is clear and airy, creating favorable conditions for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and sightseeing. With a dry climate, you can fully enjoy the natural landscape and explore the spiritual tourist destinations in this area without being hindered by the weather. In addition, the dry season also coincides with the time of major festivals in Sam Mountain, especially the Ba Chua Xu Festival in the fourth lunar month. This is an occasion that attracts many tourists and locals to make pilgrimages. Participating in the festival will bring visitors unique cultural experiences and a deeper understanding of the spiritual life of local people.
Rainy season (May to November)
From May to November, Sam Mountain enters the rainy season, when the weather becomes humid and there are many scattered showers. Although the air is cooler and more pleasant, heavy rain can cause inconveniences for outdoor activities, especially mountain climbing. The steep and slippery mountain terrain can pose potential risks, making travel difficult and dangerous.
However, if you don’t mind the weather and want to avoid the crowded peaks, the rainy season can still be an interesting choice. When it’s not raining, you can enjoy the quiet and relaxing space in the green natural scenery of Sam Mountain.
Great experiences when traveling to explore Sam mountain
Sam Mountain offers visitors not only cultural and spiritual values but also interesting experiences associated with majestic nature. Below are great experiences you cannot miss when exploring Sam Mountain.
Take the cable car to see the scenery of Sam Mountain from above
Take the cable car to see the scenery of Sam Mountain
One of the most unique and impressive experiences when traveling to Sam Mountain is to take the cable car and admire the scenery from above. The cable car system gives visitors a panoramic view of the entire mountainous area, ancient pagodas and temples hidden among the green forests. From above, you can also clearly see famous landmarks such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb, or Tay An Pagoda. The natural scenery combined with ancient architecture will bring visitors a feeling of absolute peace and relaxation.
Watching the early sunrise with mountain scenery
Starting a new day at Sam Mountain by watching the sunrise is a wonderful experience. From the first rays of sunlight, the mountain and forest scenery gradually appears under the misty fog, creating a beautiful natural picture. When the pale yellow sunlight begins to shine through the treetops and mountains, the whole space becomes bright, bringing a fresh, pure feeling. This is a great time for you to immerse yourself in nature, enjoy the peace and start a day full of energy.
Watch the sunset on the mountain top
Peaceful scenery
If you love romance and want to have unforgettable moments, come to the top of Sam Mountain in the late afternoon to admire the sunset. As the sun gradually sets below the horizon, the red-orange light spreads throughout the space, reflecting on the mountain ranges and ancient pagodas, creating a majestic and magnificent scene. Sunset at Sam Mountain brings a sense of peace after a long day of exploration.
Relaxing mountain climbing and immersing yourself in nature
For tourists who love exercise, mountain climbing is an activity not to be missed when coming to Sam Mountain. The road up the mountain is not too steep, easy to conquer for most tourists. On the way, you will have the opportunity to feel the fresh air, admire the green trees and listen to the chirping of birds. Mountain climbing helps you exercise, is an opportunity to relieve stress, and immerse yourself in beautiful nature.
Read more: Ba Chua Xu Temple: Asia-Pacific’s top spiritual tourism attraction
Important notes for Sam Mountain, Chau Doc tour
Here are some important notes you need to remember when traveling to Sam Mountain, Chau Doc, An Giang:
Wear polite clothes when visiting spiritual places
Dress smartly
Most of the attractions at Sam Mountain are spiritual places. When coming here, visitors should pay attention to wearing polite and discreet clothes to show respect for the sacred space. Avoid wearing clothes that are too short or revealing, and maintain order and awareness throughout the visit.
Choose the right time to avoid crowds
During holidays and Tet, especially on the full moon or the first day of the lunar month, Sam Mountain often welcomes a lot of tourists to visit and make pilgrimages. If you want to experience a quiet, relaxing space and avoid the hustle and bustle, consider visiting Sam Mountain outside of the festival season.
Prepare full personal belongings
When traveling to Sam Mountain, you should bring hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellent, especially in the dry season. The dry season weather in this area is quite sunny, so preparing skin protection items is necessary. In addition, the mountainous area often has many mosquitoes and insects, so mosquito repellent is also a necessary item.
Check the weather forecast before you go
To have a well-planned trip and fully enjoy the activities at Sam Mountain, you should check the weather forecast before departure. This helps you to be proactive in arranging your schedule and bringing necessary items, avoiding unexpected situations caused by bad weather.
Ask the price before buying
Sam Mountain is a popular tourist area, so shopping here can be expensive. To avoid being “overcharged,” you should ask for the price before deciding to buy any product or service.
Sinhcafe is proud to be the leading unit providing diverse tours, bringing international tourists to explore all regions of Vietnam. From the majestic mountains of the North to the green Central coast and especially the poetic river delta of the West. One of the highlights of the journey is Sam Mountain, An Giang – a place where many spiritual sites with majestic natural landscapes converge. Joining Sinhcafe’s tours, visitors will admire the natural beauty and have unique cultural experiences of each region.
