Tam Thanh Cave Lang Son is a famous tourist destination located in the scenic complex of Nhi Thanh Cave – Tam Thanh Cave – To Thi Mountain – Mac Dynasty Citadel of Lang Son. The cave is also known as Tam Thanh Pagoda or Thanh Thien Pagoda.
What is Tam Thanh cave?
As one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam, Tam Thanh cave in Lang Son city is the top stop for any tourist visiting Lang Son because not only is it a scenic spot but it is also a spiritual destination for Buddhists and tourists. Dubbed “The first eight landscapes of Lang”, Tam Thanh cave possesses a fascinating natural beauty with beautiful, shimmering stalactites in a myriad of shapes that arouse curiosity and interest in viewers.
The beauty and structure of Tam Thanh cave
The limestone mountains in Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city, conceal Tam Thanh Cave. Once you pass the Tam Quan gate, you’ll find the cave entrance halfway up the mountain, rising to a height of 8 m and accessible through approximately 30 stone steps.
Tam Thanh Pagoda is located right inside the cave, where tourists and Buddhists worship Buddha. According to ancient documents, this pagoda dates back to the Le Dynasty.
Tam Thanh Cave stands out with its natural features and architecture of thousands of years old limestone blocks creating intriguing shapes and stone steles with historical values of Vietnam:
- The special Amitabha Buddha statue is worshiped at Tam Thanh Pagoda. The statue is 202 cm high and 65 cm wide, wearing a cassock that hangs down to the heels, with both hands pointing to the ground in the cam lo mudra, carved on the cave wall in a standing position in the shape of a Bodhi leaf and in the artistic style of the Le – Mac period in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- The famous person Ngo Thi Sy (1726-1780) engraved a poem on the cave wall during his tenure as the governor of Lang Son.
- The system of stone steles has cultural and historical value, along with altars placed in many different places in the cave.
- Inside the cave is Am Ty Lake – a small lake with cool, clear water that never dries up
- Unusual stalactites with unique shapes are found throughout the cave.
- At the end of the cave are 2 “heavenly doors”, the light shining down makes the cave scene more magical.
Religious importance of Tam Thanh cave
Tam Thanh Cave, known as Tam Thanh Pagoda, was formerly a place of Taoist worship, worshiping the Three Saints (Ngoc Thanh, Thuong Thanh, Thai Thanh), so it was called Tam Thanh Pagoda. Later, due to the influence of many factors, Taoism faded in the local people’s consciousness, people brought elements of Buddhist worship, worshiping Saints into the relic. Therefore, Tam Thanh Cave has an important position in the cultural beliefs of the Vietnamese people as well as the people in Lang Son city.
Currently, this place has become a place of worship for many types of beliefs and religions, with worshiping palaces such as Tam Bao Palace, Thanh Mau Palace, Son Trang Palace… with a fairly rich system of worshiping statues. The most valuable in terms of age and art is the 17th century Amitabha relief carved into the cliff in a standing position in the shape of a Bodhi leaf, located above the Tam Bao Palace.
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What to do when visiting Tam Thanh cave
Tam Thanh Cave is a famous cave, attracting tourists in Lang Son province. Therefore, tourism activities here are very developed. You can both explore the cave and participate in many attractive local cultural activities.
Discover the spiritual and literary beauty of the ancient Vietnamese
To discover this spiritual beauty, you will have to go through 30 stone steps carved by the ancients from the mountainside where the temple is located. As you pass through the Tam Quan gate at the cave entrance, you will encounter a spiritual and magical space. The Buddha-worshipping rooms, interspersed with stalactites throughout the cave, create a unique and magical spiritual space.
In particular, in front of the cave wall of Tam Thanh Lang Son Pagoda, there is still a famous poem by Ngo Thi Si about Lang, Vinh Tien Son Tu, praising the beauty of the land, sky and landscape.
Join Tam Thanh Pagoda Festival
If you are lucky enough to visit the pagoda in mid-February every year (falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month), you will have the opportunity to join the Tam Thanh Festival in Lang Son. This is a famous traditional festival that attracts a large number of visitors.
The highlight of the festival is the palanquin carrying the memorial tablet of the famous person Ngo Thi Si from Tam Giao Pagoda (Nhi Thanh Cave) to Tam Thanh Pagoda (Tam Thanh Cave). The palanquin will be carried through the main roads of Lang Son city, such as Tam Thanh and To Thi. The people here will prepare solemn offerings to welcome the procession.
The Tam Thanh Pagoda Lang Son memorial tablet procession is also one of the important spiritual cultural features of the people of Lang. The combination of bustling drumbeats and graceful lion dances creates an extremely lively and joyful atmosphere for the New Year, attracting people and tourists from all over to visit and burn incense in prayer for good fortune for themselves and their families.
Read more: Ghenh Che Lake: A picturesque scenic spot of Thai Nguyen province
Nearby attractions around Tam Thanh cave
Near Tam Thanh Cave, there are many attractive tourist attractions for visitors to explore the local culture and cuisine.
1. Tam Giao Pagoda in Nhi Thanh Cave
A cave near to Tam Thanh Cave that is known for the Ma Nhai stele system carved into the cliffs over many generations. Like Tam Thanh Pagoda, this location also participates in the early spring ceremony of carrying the memorial tablet.
2. To Thi Mountain (Nang To Thi)
The mountain looks like a woman carrying a child and waiting for her husband to come back. This cave is a well-known mythical symbol. You can see all of Lang Son city from here.
3. Mac Dynasty Citadel
There’s a remnant of an ancient Mac Dynasty castle, characterized by robust stone walls. This is a great site to look at the city’s old charm and see it from above.
4. Tan Thanh pagoda
The serious pagoda, located not far from the center of Lang Son, is home to Vietnam’s greatest collection of monolithic bronze statues, which includes 53 valuable statues.
Best time to visit Tam Thanh cave
The best time to visit Tam Thanh Cave is in the spring (January – March of the lunarcalendar) when there is a bustling festival. However, you can also come here in the fall (September – November of the solar calendar). The season is the right time to explore the peaceful landscape inside the cave as well as the natural scenery in Lang Son when autumn comes.
FAQ about Tam Thanh Cave
To have a complete tour, below are frequently asked questions to help you understand the necessary information.
When is Tam Thanh Cave open?
Tam Thanh Cave is open from 06:00 am to 10:00 pm, convenient for visitors to visit and worship at any time of the day.
Do you need to buy tickets to visit?
Visitors need to buy an entrance ticket at the price of 20,000 VND/person, a small fee to contribute to the preservation and maintenance of historical relics.
What places can be combined to visit near Tam Thanh Cave?
Near Tam Thanh Pagoda, there are many attractive tourist attractions such as To Thi statue, Vong Phu mountain, Mac citadel and Dong Kinh market – where visitors can explore local culture and cuisine.
Tam Thanh Cave is not only a famous scenic spot but also a destination with a strong historical and cultural mark of Lang Son. With majestic landscapes, ancient architecture and profound spiritual values. If you have the opportunity to come to Lang Son, do not forget to visit Tam Thanh Cave to admire its unique beauty and immerse yourself in its pure, sacred space. If you want to book tours to visit this cave, contact Lily’s Travel for more information. We provide many tours for foreigners to explore and experience the flavor and beauty of Vietnam.
