Important updated on 17th July 2023: Cam mountain hike trails with the local to step back to the nature, mountain, stunning view and see the Khmer minority people sometimes. Beside Tra Su forest, this is the most unique and exclusive tour in 2023 in Mekong Delta with Thomas – VeMekong
An Giang land is famous for its natural landscape tinged with mysterious colors, including the Bay Nui or That Son area. Prominent in That Son range is Cam mountain about 710m high above average sea level.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Chau Doc Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
The tourists can get to the mountain peak with the cable car:
Ticket: Cable car ticket price for Cam mountain tourist area
+ Round trip cable car ticket Adults (ticket price includes entrance fee: 20,000 VND): 180,000 VND/pax. Children (ticket price includes entrance fee: 10,000 VND): 90,000 VND/child.
+ One-way cable car ticket to visit Cam mountain: Adults (ticket price includes entrance fee: 20,000 VND): 120,000 VND/pax. Children (ticket price includes entrance fee: 10,000 VND): 60,000 VND/child.
The nature lovers can choose the secret trails (not the car ways to the peak) for the local mountain people to hike and step back to nature
Hiking-time: about 3 hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food: Yes for tropical fruits only seasonal
Shop: yes for drink
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/cam-mountain-forbidden-mountain-an-giang-vietnam/
Address: Xuan Hoa Cam Mountain tourist area is located in An Hao commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province.
Added values: In particular, Bo Hong peak on Cam mountain is the highest mountain in That Son and also the highest mountain in the Mekong Delta. With a cool climate like a version of “Da Lat” of the West, Cam Mountain becomes the most attractive place to visit, play and worship in An Giang tourist destinations.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Cam mountain? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Tra Su Cajuput Forest (21 km), Sam Mountain (25 Km), Tinh Bien Market (30 km), Chau Doc Floating Market (35 km), 30 Thang 4 Park in Chau Doc (44 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Cam Mountain
Cam Mountain is the highest and most majestic mountain in That Son cluster, considered by many devotees to be a sacred mountain with many different names. Since ancient times, Cam mountain has been called Gam mountain, Thien Cam Son, Thien Cam Son (the mountain is as beautiful as silk brocade). Up to now, there are still many theories about the origin of Cam Mountain, each with their own interpretation.
Legend has it that in the past, Cam Mountain was extremely dangerous and had many wild animals, so few people visited it, so it became a mysterious forest area. Taking advantage of the desolate wilderness, many monks came to hermitage, the Luc Lam Thao Khau wards, as well as the parties that robbed this complex border area, also took Cam mountain as a base.
In order not to be exposed, they spread rumors that there were many gods on the mountain, people were not allowed to come, anyone who set foot on it for no reason would be punished, fell ill and died. People at that time were very afraid and called it Cam mountain. A historical legend is that Nguyen Anh was wanted here by the Tay Son army, he and his entourage ran to the Forbidden Mountain to take refuge. In order to keep the secret, Nguyen Anh’s courtiers let people float the news that the mountain was full of goblins and evil beasts in order to limit the eyes of the good people. Or the prohibition of Buddha Master Tay An – Doan Minh Huyen forbids the deity to go to the mountain to pollute the mountain, so it is named Cam mountain…
From a wild mountain “taboo”, now Cam mountain has appeared as Lam Vien tourist area.
3. What to Do –See – Eat at Cam Mountain
Lam Vien Nui Cam is a tourist area with a diverse and rich forest ecological system, unique natural landscape, and cool year-round climate. The harmonious setting between religious architecture and nature is an ideal destination for pilgrimage combined with a very unique and attractive resort. Coming to Cam Mountain Tourist Area, you visit pagodas, visit religious architecture, explore caves, bathe in streams..
Architectural works and attractions on Cam mountain: Van Linh pagoda, Buddha Lon temple meditation monastery, Thuy Liem lake, Vo Thien Tue, Thuy Liem cave, Bo Hong mall, Thanh Long stream, Gia Long king relic, palace 13 floors, Uncle’s cave, Ong The cave, Ong Ho cave, Rau Tan palace…
Van Linh Pagoda (see it if you take the cable car)
Van Linh Pagoda, also known as the Leaf Pagoda, was painted by the Most Venerable Thich Thien Quang in 1927, and was originally built simply as a picture temple. In 1995, the pagoda was newly designed and built in the style of traditional oriental architecture, most notably the three majestic and contemplative towers, located at three different positions in front of the street, that is: the tower The 9-storey Guanyin tower is over 35m high (in the middle), the 3-storey Thich Thien Ha Quang temple tower (on the right) and the 9-storey bell tower with a 1.2-ton Dai Hong fruit (on the left).
Big Buddha Temple (see it if you take the cable car)
The next temple visitors should explore when coming to Cam Mountain is Big Buddha Temple. Big Buddha Temple is also known as Zen Monastery, Big Buddha Temple. The pagoda was built in 1912. The pagoda owns a very large statue of Maitreya Buddha, 33.6 meters high, so it is called Big Buddha Temple. The Maitreya Buddha statue at Big Buddha Temple is also recognized by the Vietnam Record Book as the largest Maitreya statue in Vietnam.
Ho Thuy Liem (see it if you take the cable car)
Thuy Liem lake is located in the center of Cam mountain. It creates a charming, poetic and romantic landscape for this place. The lake covers an area of more than 60,000 square meters with a capacity of more than 300,000 cubic meters of water. Around the lake are planted flowers and bridged to create a beautiful landscape. Due to spiritual needs, Thuy Liem Lake today also becomes an ideal place to release fish for tourists.
If you have the opportunity to spend the night on the highest mountain in the West, you will have many interesting and impressive experiences. Coffee shops from popular to luxurious are built around the shore of Thuy Liem lake, facing the lake and welcoming each cool breeze. Visitors have the opportunity to chat with the local people, learn about the hermit’s life on the sacred mountain and listen to interesting and fascinating stories about a land that has made the mysterious That Son.
Ho Bo Hong (see it if you take the cable car)
Vo Bo Hong (or Bo Hong Palace) is the highest place on the top of Cam mountain and in the That Son range. Going to the top of Bo Hong, visitors can cover and enjoy the panoramic view of the Cam mountain like a colorful silk.
Forbidden Mountain specialties
Coming to Cam Mountain, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy dishes with bold Southern flavor, local products available at Huong Nui restaurant such as: pancakes with wild vegetables, stir-fried beef with Giang leaves, chicken cooked with bamboo shoots, jaggery, etc. Tamarind-roasted mountain crabs, wild chickens, rabbits, milk ticks…
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Chau Doc city center:
Route 1: Chau Doc – Tra Su Forest tour – Cam Mountain hike tour for 1 day – drop off back to Chau Doc (139 USD per person, start from 2pax)
Route 2: Chau Doc – Tra Su Forest tour – Cam Mountain hike tour for 1 day – Drop off in Can Tho (159 USD per person, start from 2pax)
Route 3: Chau Doc – Cam mountain hike – Chau Doc 7am-12noon. (89 USD per person)
From Can Tho City center:
Route 1: Can Tho – Tra Su Forest tour – Cam Mountain hike tour for 1 day – Back to Can Tho or FREE drop off in Chau Doc (139 USD per person, start from 2pax)
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in An Giang. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package An Giang daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Cam Mountain
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Cam Mountain by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
You can visit the mountain by cable car, but you totally cannot do the hiking trails by yourself without the local escort.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in An Giang village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in An Giang
7. Responsible Travel and Advice Cam Mountain
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Cam Mountain (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
Best time to visit Chau Doc floating market, Long Xuyen floating market is from 5:30am-6:30am. I hope you have an amazing sunrise on the Mekong Delta river.
You can stay in a homestay which is near the floating market, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself, but you still need to hire a boat for the floating market tour.
If you plan to extend your travel to Chau Doc homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Chau Doc or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Chau Doc responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Chau Doc food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Chau Doc cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Bun Ca Chau Doc (the soft noodle is cooked with fish), Banh bo cake of Chau Doc, Sugar palm fruit, Caramelized and Braised Catfish, Grilled Rice-field Rat with Salt and Chili, Long Xuyen Broken Rice, Nui Cam Pancake, O Thum’s Chicken Grilled with Lime Leaves, Sour Soup with Siamese Mud Carp Soup & Sesbania Flower, Stir-fried Shrimp with Sesbania Flower, Phu Huong Beef Noodle Soup, Basa Fish Hotpot, Mam (Fermented Fish)…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Chau Doc in the rainy season, as Chau Doc always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Chau Doc tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Tra Su Cajuput forest & Birdwatching, Chau Doc Floating Village, Fish Farm & Cham Minority Village, Chau Doc floating market & small canal, Sam mountain, Tuc Dup hill, Chau Doc river tour, Chau Doc cycling tour, Chau Doc photography tour, Ta Pa Rice Fields, Vinh Te Canal, Seven-Mountain Ox Racing Festival, Tay An Pagoda, Chau Doc Market, The Lady Temple – The Ba Chua Xu Temple, Phuoc Dien Pagoda – Hang Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb,
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Chau Doc, An Giang province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
