Vietnam’s Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien, Binh Duong

Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien is a complex of temples, mountains, rivers, hotels, and entertainment area. With the total area of 476 ha, of which 61 ha spirit area, it is regarded as ASEAN’s largest religious tourist site. Tourists in Vietnam travel coming there will have a deep understanding of the overall history of Vietnam.

 Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien which is located in Hiep An Ward, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province.

The salient feature of Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Site is 61ha spirit area. Of which, the worship area surrounded by two giant 270m-long dragons is special place for Vietnam's cultural, historical significances and quintessence through 4,000 years of history.

Kim Dien Sanctuary is located in the centre of 5,000m2 Dai Nam Temple in the worship area. The Sakyamuni Buddha, King Hung and King Tran Nhan Tong are worshiped at main altar of the sanctuary while Tran Hung Dao, Au Co Mother, Bach Gia Tram Ho (a board written 1039 families of Vietnam's ethnic groups) at the right altar and President Ho Chi Minh, Great Buddha, Tutelary God - Fortune God - Soil God at the left altar. All statues in the Kim Dien and 2 statues of Quang Trung and Ly Thuong Kiet outside the sanctuary are inlaid by gold. 

The Kim Dien is built in shape of square and circle. The circle on the top of sanctuary is drawn 108 cranes with signification: 54 cranes represent 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in the world of the living, 54 other cranes represent 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in the world of the dead. The square manifested by 4 walls of the sanctuary includes 28 set of 500-kg doors. 28 pictures carved in these doors describe great landmarks of national history, from Hai Ba Trung's insurrection to glorious victory in spring of 1975. There are 2 candles named Dai Hoang Dang in the sanctuary. Each candle is 2.7m in height, 90cm in diameter and can burn in many years. 

Curving round Kim Dien is Bao Giang River with length of 720m. Walking down the river, tourists will view a part of Vietnamese people's lives reappeared through terraced fields, melon trellises, and fish flock swimming in limpid small spring... They all arouse peaceful and simple lives of Vietnamese villages. 

Bao Son Mountain Range behind Dai Nam Temple includes 5 mounts: Metal - Wood -Water - Fire - Earth, of which the central mount is 65.8m high.  The temple worshipping Bach Ho (White Tiger) God is at the west while the temples worshipping Mountain God and Farming God are at the east of Bao Son Mountain Range. Inside of the mountain range, Gods and Buddhas are worshiped in the west and Vietnamese heroes are worshiped in the east. This is also residence of thousands of birds representing a good land.

Rising in the central mount, the 9-storey Bao Thap (Precious Tower) is place to worship, show deep gratitude of young generation to the ancestors. 

* The 1st storey: worshipping souls of revolutionary martyrs and the deads in accident. 

* The 2nd storey: worshipping the unknown martyrs

* The 3rd storey: worshipping the late President Ho Chi Minh

* The 4th storey: worshipping Tran Hung Dao

* The 5th storey: worshipping the heroic women: Trung Trac - Trung Nhi, Trieu Thi Trinh, Bui Thi Xuan and Nguyen Thi Dinh

* The 6th storey: worshipping people honoured as God because of their credit for the country's progress

* The 7th storey: worshipping 18 kings Hung

* The 8th storey: worshipping the Buddha Council, 4-Mother Council, Country Council from founding the country to today.

* The 9th storey: worshipping the Motherland

One of the other attractive places of Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien Tourist Site is zoo with area of 12.5ha. This is the first zoo in Vietnam with over 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and ornamental fishes that live together in a diversified ecologic environment. Tourists in Vietnam travel will have opportunity to see animals fed in natural environment, especial rare animals appeared in the first time in Vietnam such as: white lion, white tiger, prong horn antelope, South America squirrel monkey... In addition, reaching night zoo (the first zoo type in Vietnam), tourists can observe the life, habit, hunt of wild animals in night by moon lamp system. 

Modern entertainment area can meet demands of tourists with over 40 games of adventure, thrill, relaxation and discovery. Most of them appear in the first time in Vietnam. Especially with area of 21.6ha, Dai Nam artificial sea which includes 2 areas: fresh water sea and salt water sea is an ideal relaxation site for tourists. The salt water in Dai Nam Sea mixed from sea salt of Vinh Hao- Tuy Phong - Binh Thuan region and minerals with suitable salinity is good for health. The wave created by wind with 9 types is very unique. The water games for children, sport court for adults and sea-foods will bring tourists in Vietnam travel comfortable relaxation time.

There is also a hotel system with the specific characteristics combined between the architecture of Co Loa Citadel and Hue royal palaces in Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien. In addition, Dai Nam shopping area which has area of 8,000m2 with multiform items will meet demands of tourists. 

Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien is holding many national records for the largest temple, the longest hotel, the longest artificial mountain and river, the largest artificial sea, the largest square, the zoo having the rarest animals. This is a social welfare work with educational, cultural, historical significations.

If you are in Vietnam travel and to Binh Duong, pay a visit to Lac Canh Dai Nam Van Hien, a very attractive tourist site that you should not miss.