PANO – The Sam Mountain relic complex in Vinh Te commune, Chau Doc city, An Giang province is well-known not only for its natural beauty, but also for a good number of centuries-old architectural and cultural features. 

About 284m above sea level, Sam Mountain is located in a plain area and has a 5km asphalted road leading to the top. Together with other mountains in the Seven Mountain Area, the Sam Mountain relic complex symbolizes Vietnam’s Southwestern Region, along the shared borderline with Cambodia.

Part of the complex. Photo: vietnamtourism.com

Legend has it that, the mountain is home to deities; therefore, many pagodas have been built in the area over the past two centuries. People from different localities often find their ways to the mountain to offer incense and send prays to the Heaven. At the foot, on the side and on the top of the mountain, there are up to 200 pagodas, temples, shrines and one fortress. These holy places are for worshipping deities, generals and mandarins who made great contributions to the locality in the past, prior to the invasion of French colonialists.

These pagodas, temples and shrines form a special relic complex, with typical architectural and cultural features that make Sam Mountain a famous tourist attraction in the Southwestern Region.

Source: vietnamtourism.com

Translated by Huu Duong