Black Virgin Mountain

Black Virgin Mountain is an extinct volcano rising 996 meters (about 3,268 feet) above the rice fields of Tây Ninh Province, dominating the flat landscape of the Mekong Delta. The slopes are covered with basalt boulders alternating between dense forest and open rock faces, while several temple complexes appear near the summit.

During the Vietnam War, American forces built a radio relay station on the summit in 1966, serving as a strategic observation point for the surrounding region. The station was repeatedly attacked until the American withdrawal, leading to numerous armed clashes.

The Vietnamese name Núi Bà Đen refers to the legend of a young woman who died on the mountain while waiting for her fiancé. The temples displaying this story in shrines and statues receive daily pilgrims who light incense and ask for luck in love and business.

Cable cars bring travelers to different elevations along separate routes, while the hiking trail following power poles demands physical fitness and sturdy footwear. The climb on foot takes several hours, so starting early helps avoid midday heat.

The mountain hosts a population of Gekko badenii, a gecko species that exists nowhere else in the world and lives only on these basalt slopes. Researchers believe the species evolved after the mountain became isolated from the surrounding flatland millions of years ago.

Elevation above the sea: 996 m

GPS coordinates: 11.38238,106.17022

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:37