Hong Linh Mountain is the most famous mountain in Ha Tinh, once ranked in the list of 21 scenic spots of the ancient South. Anyone who has been to Ha Tinh once, surely cannot help but visit Hong Linh mountain – a mountain that has experienced many ups and downs of history, entered the poems, songs and is the pride of Ha Tinh people. Coming to Hong Linh mountain is not only for pilgrimage but also for excursions, sightseeing, enjoying the cool and peaceful natural mountain scenery.
Hong Linh Mountain (Nom name is Ngan Hong or Ru Hong, also read as Hong, the literal name is Hong Son (Red mountain) or Hong Linh) belongs to Thien Loc commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province with the nickname: Hoan Chau The First Victory. According to local people, Hong Linh consists of 3 groups of mountains: Dun Ngan, Thien Tuong and Eo Bau and a system of caves and streams. There are quite famous caves that are often mentioned such as Ham Rong, Cha Hai, Da Hang …
1 , Legend of Hong Linh mountain
Legend has it that from ancient times, there were two giants, Ong Dung and Ba Dung, who helped people in the area many times. Mr. Dung was very fond of Mrs. Dung, so one day early in the morning, he came to propose. Ms. Dung said that before the rooster crows tomorrow, Mr. Dung has to arrange 100 mountains, then Mrs. Dung agrees to be his wife. So Mr. Dung alone worked hard pulling the mountain to fold. When she arranged 99 mountains, when Mrs. Dung woke up, she saw that Mr. Dung was arranging mountains, so she joked about it by pretending to sound like a cock crowing. Mr. Dung was moving a mountain to round 100, when he came to the north bank of the Lam River when he heard a cock crowing, so he got up and brushed his hand away. Therefore, Hong Linh mountain has 99 peaks, and the one left by Mr. Dung is Ru Rum (Lam Thanh) on the north bank of the Lam River.
There is also a legend that when Duong Vuong opened the country to come here, he enjoyed the scenery and decided to choose Hong Linh as the capital. He married with Than Long and gave birth to Long Vuong (Lac Long Quan).
Another legend has it that, King Chu Trang Vuong in China had three princesses: Dieu An, Dieu Duyen and Dieu Thien. When they grew up, according to the king’s father’s will, the two eldest princesses got married, were great officials in the court. The king planned to marry the youngest princess Dieu Thien to a martial officer. But when she encountered an unruly, cruel mandarin who used to bully good people, Princess Dieu Thien disobeyed orders, was abandoned by her father, frustrated, and left the Royal Palace to hide in the Buddha’s door.
The military mandarin under the King’s orders sent a tracer to her residence and set fire to the temple. But the nun Dieu Thien was protected by the Buddha. Buddha sent Bach Ho to take her to hide in the land of Viet Thuong Thi. Coming to a cave, on one of the 99 wild and dangerous Hong mountain peaks, the way up is winding, through high passes and deep streams, she stayed and set up a monastery. Nun Dieu Thien is famous throughout the region with a generous heart, inspiration, great compassion, and great compassion. Not long after that, the nun became a Buddha. Since then, every spring, people all over the country flock to Red Mountain, to Am Thanh Mau to pray, pray for blessings, pray for peace, and relieve drought.
2 , The beauty of Hong Linh mountain núi
Hong Mountain has 99 peaks, each peak has names associated with the shape and shape of the mountain such as Thien Tuong (heavenly elephant), Ngu Ma (5 horses), Lion, Ham Rong…, or has a peak named after Fairy tales, according to celebrities such as Ru Com, Ru Ca, Huong Tich, Lao Quan, Tran Soa, Liet Son…
In the mountain, there are many caves such as: 12-door cave, Cha Hai cave, Da Hang cave, Ham Rong cave. There are 26 streams, flowing from the mountain and today, there are dozens of dams at the foot of Hong Linh, a number of ponds and lakes in the back and foot of the mountain such as Bau Tien, Vuc Nguyet, Nui Lan pond, Bau My Duong. .
Hong Linh also has many shallow streams, not very large, but the strange thing is that it never runs out of water all year round. In 4 seasons, the spring water is always clear in every season. There are 26 streams flowing from the mountain and today there are dozens of dams at the foot of Hong Linh mountain, a number of ponds and lakes in the mountain back and foothills such as Bau Tien, Vuc Nguyet, Nui Lan Pond, Bau My Duong.
3 , Cultural and historical heritages in Hong Linh mountain núi
On Hong Linh mountain, there are many priceless historical and cultural relics such as:
- The top of the Flag Tower, where the prince and son Mai Thuc Loan built a base
- Lau mountain has the palace of Ly Thanh Tong
- Ngo Quang’s Rocks emerged during the anti-French period
There are also about 100 temples and shrines, there are very old temples such as:
- Huong Tich Pagoda is associated with the legend of Princess Dieu Thien. The complex of Perfume Pagoda in Ha Tinh includes the Upper Palace (main temple), Thien Vuong Temple and Thanh Mau Am. In addition, the pagoda also has beautiful scenery associated with: Tien Nu cave with 36 doors, Phun May am, Tien stream bathing… and is always quiet amidst the whispering wind and leaves of bamboo forest, pine forest and the sound of waterfalls falling from the waterfall four sides of the mountain top.
- Chan Tien Pagoda, where there are still human and horse foot prints on the rock (associated with the legend of the fairy descending to the earth).
- Cluster of Tien Son cultural and historical relic complex: Tien Son Pagoda, Holy Temple, Ba Chua Kho Temple, Tien Temple, Tran Trieu Four Palaces, Holy Mother Temple. Tien Son Festival opens on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
4 , Traditional festivals
- Huong Tich Pagoda Festival in Thien Loc Commune, Can Loc District. The pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty to worship Buddha and the daughter of King So Trang Vuong. Every year, on the 18th day of the second lunar month, people everywhere come to the temple festival to worship Buddha, pray for peace and visit the beautiful scenery of the temple.
- Chan Tien Pagoda Festival in Thinh Loc Commune – Can Loc is held on the 3rd day of the third lunar month every year.
- Traditional Boat Racing Festival in early spring 03 04 Lunar New Year in Trung Luong
- Tien Son Cultural Festival throughout January every year
- Festival: Big Temple (Dinh Do Quan Hoang ten). Built in 1060 during the Ly Dynasty, King Ly Thanh Tong, later restored by the Le Dynasty by King Le Y Tong 1726 and to the Nguyen Dynasty 1427.
Hong Linh today still stands majestically like millions of years ago, guarding the wind for the land of Ha Tinh. Coming to the scenic Hong Linh mountain, you will experience discovering a land with many beautiful scenes, long-standing cultural relics, which will surely leave you with deep impressions.