For years, Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province has been frequented by tourists, most of them visiting the pagoda and temple complex on the mountain.

Ba Den Mountain

Recently, it has become a destination for young free and easy travelers who want to conquer the mountain’s summit by climbing and trekking instead of taking a cable car ride.

However, Ba Den Mountain has more to offer.

A short trip around the area near the foot of the mountain is highly recommended for those wishing to leave the city for a day to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside.

Located 11 kilometers from the center of Tay Ninh City, the area around Ba Den Mountain’s foot allows tourists to breathe fresh air and see the tranquil landscape with paddy fields, gardens and lakes.

It takes tourists from HCMC around three hours to reach the mountain foot by motorbike following National Highway 22. Upon arrival, tourists should follow the road on the right side of the mountain to Dau Tieng Lake, which is ten kilometers away.

Dau Tieng is the biggest man-made fresh water reservoir in the south, which encompasses parts of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh and Binh Phuoc provinces. Standing by the lake, tourists might be surprised and impressed by a large blue space.

Despite the dry season, the scene is still breathtaking with trees, blue and clear water, buffalo herds and blue composite fishing boats waiting for fishermen to start a fishing trip.

Tourists can make a motorbike trip around the lake to enjoy the cool fresh air before continuing the journey to off-the-beaten-track fields. After visiting those fields, tourists can make a U-turn to get back to the mountain foot before heading to a small path on the left side of the mountain, which leads to another lake, Ma Thien Lanh.

Although the site is only a few kilometers from the tourist destination of Ba Den Mountain, it is completely different from what can be seen on the main road.

The space is completely quiet with imposing mountains on one side and vast paddy, cassava, custard-apple and coconut fields on the other side.

Passing by those fields for several kilometers, tourists will arrive at Ma Thien Lanh, a fresh water lake created by a quarry.

The lake is not too big but it impresses visitors by its clear and blue water along with its strange-looking shape created by large rocks standing against one another, a result of the quarrying process.

Standing by the lake, tourists can easily see mountain ranges from afar and lines of trees in between hills.

Ma Thien Lanh Lake is a source of water for local people to irrigate their farms.