"The green lung" in the heart of the town.

Since 1996, Ta Cu Mountain has become more well-known to tourists from all over the country. Every spring, the Ta Cu Mountain Climbing Competition in Ham Thuan Nam district is held. Initially, this was only a district-level competition in Binh Thuan province, but now its scale has expanded to include provinces in the Central Highlands and the Southeast region. The Ta Cu Mountain Climbing Competition not only encourages maintaining and improving health, promotes the local image, and stimulates tourism , but also encourages everyone to work together to protect the "green lung" of the area.

Spiritual tourist destinations attract visitors.

Ta Cu Mountain, located in Thuan Nam town, Ham Thuan Nam district, boasts pristine forests, home to many rare animals, and is considered the "green lung" of the town. These primeval forests have been protected by the local community throughout history. Ta Cu is a rocky mountain with majestic scenery and unique spiritual legends. The peak of Ta Cu Mountain reaches an altitude of 649 meters above sea level and was formerly known as a volcano. Currently, the peak is preserved as a national forest area with diverse flora and fauna. It is home to more than a dozen rare animal species listed in the world's Red Book, including the rock lizard, partridge, Truong Son silver langur, and black-footed langur, along with over 150 types of valuable and medicinal plants. The Ta Cu Mountain temple complex creates a unique and sacred Buddhist space amidst the mountains and forests. After climbing the mountain or taking the cable car, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the unique structures on the mountaintop. First, there is the precious reclining Buddha statue located at the sacred Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda, which holds the record for the largest Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Linh Son Truong Tho Pagoda is situated halfway up the Ta Cu mountain range at an altitude of 420m, exuding an ancient charm amidst the undulating mountain forest landscape. The Ancestral Pagoda, also built with three sections, impresses pilgrims with its solemn position amidst the clouds. It boasts over 100 moss-covered stone steps. Furthermore, this pagoda also features the artistic architecture of Nguyen Dynasty Buddhism. To the east of the sacred Ancestral Pagoda is the equally sacred Long Doan Pagoda. The central part of the pagoda is the main hall, surrounded by imposing and sturdy stone walls. Notably, the pagoda also has a large area with many fruit trees, creating an ecological zone in the middle of the mountain forest. Ta Cu Mountain Tourist Area is an attractive spiritual tourism destination that draws a large number of visitors, especially during the Lunar New Year, particularly the Ta Cu Mountain Climbing Competition on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year every year. With diverse tourism services, it caters to all needs, from spiritual tourism to exploration and experiences. In 2003, the Ta Cu Mountain Tourist Area was planned and put into operation by Binh Thuan province, becoming one of the province's key tourist destinations. Visitors come here not only to enjoy the fresh air but also to discover the unique natural beauty and immerse themselves in the sacred atmosphere of the Buddhist temple.

It needs to be preserved and protected.

In Binh Thuan province, besides the plains and sand dunes associated with the province's coastal tourism routes, there are many attractive tourism resources linked to unique landscapes interspersed with mountains and forests, such as Ta Cu Mountain, considered the "green lung" in the heart of the town. These areas have rich potential for exploiting and developing the province's tourism strengths. With the current demand for tourism, the province has gradually upgraded the quality of existing tourism products and developed some new products to suit the needs of tourists. Simultaneously, the preservation of the natural landscape is also given due attention. In addition to preserving natural landscapes for tourism, the province has also invested in preserving outstanding architectural works and historical relics, focusing on the preservation and development of the province's spiritual tourism resources, concentrating on distinctive cultural values with high traditional significance, linked to the life and customs of the communities living in the province.

Based on the objectives and directions set forth, the conservation and development of natural landscapes for tourism is identified as a key task, thus requiring specific objectives for both the immediate and long-term periods. In the short term, the province will focus on completing and developing specific policies and regulations for activities such as management, investment, inspection, supervision, environmental protection, and widespread public awareness campaigns on the role and significance of protecting the environment in general, and tourism landscapes in particular. Simultaneously, basic research, sociological surveys, and assessments of the current state of traditional cultural and historical relics will be conducted, while prioritizing investment in landscape improvement. In the long term, based on regional development planning and the actual investment needs of the locality, specific plans will be developed to minimize the problem of unimplemented plans. Continue implementing the established mechanisms, policies, and regulations in tourism management and environmental landscape conservation. Continue promoting public awareness through education, aiming for comprehensive socialization of tourism landscape conservation. Simultaneously, continue conducting research, assessments, and basic surveys on society, landscape conservation, historical relics, and traditional cultural values to promptly provide support measures and prevent the degradation or loss of tourism resources.

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