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In response to the increasing influx of tourists seeking trekking and pilgrimage experiences, the Management Board of Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area (Tay Ninh) has officially issued serious recommendations regarding environmental protection and the preservation of the spiritual landscape.
With its impressive height of 986m, Mount Ba Den has long been a familiar destination for travel enthusiasts and trekking lovers in the southern region. In recent years, thanks to synchronized investment in transportation infrastructure and a modern cable car system, the "Roof of Southern Vietnam" has continuously witnessed breakthroughs in the number of visitors.
However, this remarkable growth has also placed considerable pressure on the natural ecosystem and heritage sites. The pristine trails, once the pride of Tay Ninh tourism, are now facing the threat of pollution from plastic waste and uncivilized behavior from some tourists.
The rapid development of infrastructure and trekking routes is posing a major environmental management challenge for this scenic spot.
In response to this situation, the Management Board of Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area issued an urgent notice, calling on the community to join hands in protecting the heritage environment. Representatives of the management board emphasized that Ba Den Mountain is not merely a spiritual landmark representing the beliefs of the Southern region, but also a valuable natural ecosystem that needs to be strictly preserved.
Every small action taken by tourists throughout their journey to conquer the mountain peak, whether taking the cable car or choosing adventurous mountain climbing, is a crucial link in building a civilized, safe, and sustainable tourism environment.
To strongly promote the spirit of responsible tourism, the Tourist Area Management Board has issued a specific code of conduct for backpackers and pilgrims. Accordingly, visitors are encouraged to change their habits by bringing their own water bottles, minimizing the use of single-use plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable plastic packaging.
Along trekking trails, littering or leaving behind bottles, tissues, and food packaging is strictly prohibited. Instead, each individual should proactively prepare small bags to collect all personal waste generated during the trek and bring it down to the foot of the mountain for proper disposal.
The natural landscape is a magnet, attracting hundreds of thousands of trekkers and tourists to Tay Ninh every holiday season.
Besides the issue of waste, protecting the natural landscape is also a top priority. The management board requires visitors to absolutely refrain from breaking branches or picking flowers, carving on tree trunks or cliffs, and engaging in any actions that harm the endemic vegetation of the mountainous region.
The messages "Bring everything you take up the mountain - bring everything back down" and "Leave nothing behind but footprints" are expected to become guiding principles for all travelers' exploration journeys, helping to preserve the pristine beauty of this legendary mountain.
This is not the first time the destination management unit in Tay Ninh has issued serious warnings about tourist behavior. In May, the unit also urged visitors to maintain a civilized image and be in harmony with the solemn atmosphere of the spiritual architectural complex on the mountaintop.
Specifically, visitors coming to worship and pray at Buddhist temples are requested to choose polite and modest clothing, avoiding revealing, overly short, or inappropriate attire that is unsuitable for traditional religious culture. This adjustment has received much public support, contributing to restoring the inherent tranquility of this leading spiritual tourism destination.
On the other hand, an important safety warning repeatedly issued by the management is the problem of tourists straying from the designated route and carelessly crossing unofficial trails, leading to dangerous slips and falls. Strictly adhering to the pre-marked route not only protects the lives of tourists but also reduces the burden on local rescue forces.
The surge in visitor numbers, exceeding 60% during peak seasons, necessitates stricter traffic management and waste control measures.
Strict management is a necessary step as Tay Ninh's tourism industry is witnessing "miraculous" growth. In fact, the number of visitors to Ba Den Mountain is not only concentrated during the early year festival season following the custom of "asking for blessings at the beginning of the year and giving back at the end of the year," but is also spread evenly throughout major holidays.
Nowadays, tourists tend to create diverse experiential tours, combining conquering Mount Ba Den with visiting nearby historical and cultural sites such as Go Ken Pagoda and enjoying the rich local vegetarian cuisine.
The latest statistics from the recent April 30th - May 1st holiday clearly demonstrate the appeal of this destination. Tay Ninh province welcomed approximately 210,000 visitors, achieving an impressive growth of 61.5% compared to the same period last year. Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at 168.8 billion VND, an increase of 60.7%, leading to an occupancy rate of 70-75% for accommodation in the area.
In this flourishing landscape, Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area continues to play a key role as a major draw. The synergy between its modern cable car system, world-class cultural and spiritual sites, and a series of unique local cultural experiences has positioned it as an unmissable highlight on the Vietnamese tourism map.
