Bà Châu Đốc Shrine bustling with midnight visitors

Bà Châu Đốc Shrine – Núi Sam (An Giang) stands out as one of the few spiritual destinations in the Western region that attracts tourists day and night.

Bà Châu Đốc Shrine bustling with midnight visitors

The spiritual ensemble of Bà Châu Đốc Shrine Núi Sam is a nationally recognized scenic wonder, drawing millions of sightseers and pilgrims annually. Below is Dy Khoa's account, a Ho Chi Minh City adventure enthusiast, sharing his midnight pilgrimage experience to this site.

Taking advantage of the Saturday after-work hours in early March, my friends and I dared to venture into a novel experience: Visiting a temple at midnight.

Our journey was by car from Ho Chi Minh City, traversing Long An province along National Highway N2. The tranquil road typifies the Mekong Delta region, not far from the Vietnam – Cambodia border. If traveling by bus, you can depart from Mien Tay Bus Station to Chau Doc. The journey takes approximately 6 hours.

The advantage of self-driving is that we have the opportunity to indulge in the specialties of this fertile land such as fermented fish hotpot, sour soup, braised fish. Our group enjoyed hearty lunches and dinners, feeling confident to explore one of the most famous temples in the Southern region.

Unlike the imagined serene spiritual space at night, Bà Châu Đốc Shrine on Núi Sam still welcomes a large crowd for rituals. We parked our car near the main entrance for 100,000 VND.

The crowd flowed densely, moving slowly towards the main gate of Bà Châu Đốc Shrine. Incense smoke filled the air. Some were solemnly preparing for the ritual, while others bowed sincerely.

Bà Châu Đốc Shrine at Núi Sam vividly showcases the Vietnamese people's devotion to the Mother Goddess. According to local residents, the busiest time for offerings is from Lunar New Year to Bà Châu Đốc Shrine's Day (April 23-27 Lunar calendar).

The current structure of Bà Châu Đốc Shrine has been newly built upon the old foundation. As a result, the worship space is more spacious, but still inadequate for the number of worshippers.

Here, people have the belief of 'repaying Bà' after their wishes come true. They prepare roast pig, fruits, and even clothes to offer to Bà. Many also offer garments to the statue of Bà. The statue is an artistic masterpiece made of agate stone. The legends surrounding this statue add to the mystique of Bà Châu Đốc Shrine. Among them, the most famous oral legend is about the nine virgin girls who helped move the statue of Bà from Núi Sam to its current worship location.

After lighting incense and bowing at the main altar, many people move to the back of the shrine to confide their wishes. They press their hands and faces against the stone wall and pray. This is a characteristic religious practice of this region. In other places, people often rub the feet and garments of the statue.

After paying respects to Bà, I chose to buy some fermented fish, sipped on palm juice, and enjoyed palm cakes... These are specialties of An Giang with reasonable prices. There are many hotels near this area, however, it's advisable to book in advance if visiting on weekends or during festivals.

Source: Dy Khoa/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour