Introduction
Non Nuoc Mountain is one of the Four Great Mountains of Ninh Binh, besides Ky Lan Mountain and two other mountains. The mountain is not only a witness of history; Non Nuoc Mountain has retained its inherent beauty for thousands of years. Non Nuoc Mountain is also called “Poetry Mountain” because it is like a stone museum storing the poetry of famous people in history. More than 40 poems by many authors, such as Truong Han Sieu, Pham Su Manh, Nguyen Trai, Le Thanh Tong, etc., are engraved here. In addition, many historical relics on the mountain attract many visitors. Let’s learn about this place ancient mountain with Ninh Binh Private Car.
Location Of Non Nuoc Mountain
Non Nuoc Mountain, known in ancient times as Duc Thuy Son, is a picturesque location situated at the junction of rivers, where the Van River merges with the Day River. It is at Dinh Tien Hoang, Thanh Binh Ward, in Ninh Binh City, Vietnam.
In 1962, Non Nuoc Mountain was ranked as a particularly important national historical and scenic spot in Vietnam. Therefore, when visiting, tourists need to follow the rules of this place to avoid causing damage to the monument.
Non Nuoc Mountain History
Previously, the mountain used to be a guard post of Hoa Lu’s ancient citadel; this place witnessed the historical changes of an entire dynasty. Specifically, when he went to battle, Queen Duong Van Nga gave the Dragon Robe to Le Hoan at the foot of the mountain at Van Sang Wharf. Later, when he returned victorious after expelling the Song invaders for the first time, he was crowned king.
Truong Han Sieu was the first person to discover the beauty of this mountain and name it Duc Thuy Son. At the same time, he was also the first person to leave his notes on the cliffs here. Therefore, this place has become where many poets come here to admire the scenery and write poems engraved on the rocks.
Interesting Mountain Names Through Each Period
Going back to the past, during the reign of King Dinh Tien Hoang, this place was a protective screen for Hoa Lu, so it was called “The Imperial Guard of the Mountain.” During King Le Hoan’s reign, the mountain again changed its name to “Bang Son.”
During the Tran dynasty (in the 13th century), a famous man named Truong Han Sieu was instrumental in discovering and exploiting the beauty here. He saw a mountain shaped like a blue tree kingfisher leaning over to bathe in the seaport. Therefore, he gave the mountain the name Duc Thuy Son.
Until the Nguyen Dynasty, King Gia Long took Thuan Hoa (Hue) as the capital. Hoa Lu became “Thanh Hoa outside the town,” and the mountain was called “Thanh Hoa Mountain outside the town.” By the reign of Minh Mang (1821), it was changed to “Ho Thanh Son” (Ho Thanh Mountain).
Tourist Destinations In Non Nuoc Mountains
Nghinh Phong Dai
First, visitors will see Nghinh Phong Dai (Wind Embracing Pavilion), which was built in the 14th century. This is where Truong Han Sieu and other poets sat to rest, welcome the cool breeze, and find inspiration to write poetry. This place once produced many poems and is still stored on the large rocks of the Non Nuoc mountain.
Visitors coming here will see an open-plan floor made of wood and stone. People can rest here, enjoy the cool breeze, and regain strength before continuing their journey.
Monument to Hero Luong Van Tuy
Hero Luong Van Tuy was a young revolutionary soldier during the resistance war against the French. He was a son of Ninh Binh province, who died during the resistance war. On November 7, 1929, the revolutionary government decided to plant the hammer and sickle flag on Non Nuoc Mountain. The purpose was to arouse the fighting spirit of the masses and commemorate the Russian October Revolution. And it is Luong Van Tuy who bears this great responsibility.
After succeeding, he was captured by French soldiers and exiled to Con Dao prison. In the end, he died while escaping from prison. Ninh Binh people built his statue on the Non Nuoc mountain to express their respect. Visitors here can light an incense stick to pay their respects to the Vietnamese hero.
Temple of Truong Han Sieu
Right at the foot of the mountain, visitors will see the temple of Truong Han Sieu. Truong Han Sieu Temple’s architecture is in the style of Dinh script, including 3 Bai Duong compartments and 2 Harem compartments, two floors of tiled roofs, and curved corners. On the roof of the temple are two dragons flanking the moon.
This is also where study promotion award ceremonies, such as the Truong Han Sieu Award and the Excellent Student Award, are held. Located opposite the main temple is the famous Non Nuoc Pagoda. So, after visiting the temple, visitors can immediately go there.
Non Nuoc Pagoda
The entire campus of the pagoda has an area of about 2000 square meters, and all the stones were used to build the pagoda. The pagoda has two gates, one in the North and one in the Southeast, overlooking the Day River. As soon as you step through the gate leading into the temple, you will see a statue of Guan Yin.
The highlight of the pagoda is the double roof system’s main hall, which is red and blue in color. The end of the pagoda’s roof is curved and combined with the image of a dragon and phoenix, creating the traditional beauty of the pagoda.
Inside the main hall is a large gold-plated Buddha statue in the middle, with many smaller statues around it. This is where tourists and locals celebrate and pray for good things.
Conquering the Mountain Peak
After visiting the locations at the foot of the mountain, visitors can continue to move to the top. Visitors must go through over 100 stone steps divided into 5 levels to conquer the top of the mountain. Although climbing the mountain will take a lot of effort, what you get in return is completely worth it.
When tourists climb to the top of the mountain, looking out into the distance, they will see the miniature city of Ninh Binh within their reach. At the same time, you will see other limestone mountains surrounding Ninh Binh like a natural fence.
On the climbing journey, you will see many poems by famous authors on the rocks. With hundreds of poems, time has damaged some; some still exist today. These poems are by famous authors such as Tran Anh Tong, Pham Su Manh, Truong Han Sieu, Nguyen Trai, Le Thanh Tong, and many others.
Notes When Visiting Nuoc Mountain
- When visiting Non Nuoc Mountain, visitors need to buy tickets. The entrance ticket price is 5,000 VND/person.
- Because the tourist attractions near Non Nuoc Mountain are all places of worship, they are majestic. Therefore, visitors should choose discreet, polite clothing, go gently, and avoid teasing.
- You should not wear high heels because you need to climb about 209 steps to reach Non Nuoc Mountain.
- Visitors should bring drinking water or some food to recharge when climbing.
- You can visit Non Nuoc Mountain early in the morning because the sun is still light, avoiding losing strength when climbing.
Conclusion
Non Nuoc Mountain has long been a living witness of Vietnam’s historical dynasties. There were times when this place was destroyed because of war, but now the Vietnamese government has recreated the works here. Many famous poems by countless authors throughout Vietnam are still preserved on the mountain. So, it is not wrong to say this mountain is like a poetry museum. Ninh Binh Private Car hopes that tourists visiting Non Nuoc Mountain will feel peace in their souls and wash away their fatigue.