Tra Khuc river in Quang Ngai province - Photo: internet

Tra Khuc, also known as Tra Giang river, is a long river and also a popular destination for tourists to Quang Ngai province. The river runs from Dak To Ron mountain in Kon Tum province, 2,350 meters above sea level. The 150 km river passes around mountains and slopes reaching Quang Ngai city to create a peaceful and imposing landscape in the city. Phan Ngoc Tho is a tourist from Hanoi: “I only intended to visit thr beautiful beaches in Quang Ngai but I’m also very impressed with the beauty of Tra river. The section that passes the city is very peaceful with coconut ranges on both sides and pure air. It’s really relaxing.”

Thien An mountain is also a must-see in Quang Ngai province. The 106-meters mountain looks like a seal if seen from afar. That’s it is called “Niem An Thien Ha” or “Heaven Seal”. On the top is Thien An pagoda built in 1695. The pagoda still retains a “magic bell” cast in 1845 by artisans of Mo Duc bronze casting village.

Thien An pagoda - Photo: chuaphulam.vn

The path up the mountain in the south is spiral-lie, but not too steep and can be accessible by car and motorbike. From there visitors can take in a panoramic view of Quang Ngai city. Thien An pagoda’s architecture is as simple as that of Ruong house whose structures are made of wood and fixed with bolts and mortises. The main worshiping hall is in the center and the halls behind are dedicated to worshiping ancestral monks. The pagoda is surrounded with gardens of ornamental trees and to the east are tomb towers of the monks. A well called “Buddha well” has remained intact since the pagoda was built. Monk Thich Dong Hoang is Head of the Thien An pagoda: “During those early days, our ancestral monks dug a well but after a while, they could not get water. The older monk went up and took a rest and when he came back, he saw the well full of water but could not find the younger monk, who dug the well with him. That younger monk was said to be a genie that came to help dig the well.”

Many legends about the well in Thien An pagoda

Though the well is on the mountain, it has never been dried. The locals believe that water in the well can help cure a number of diseases. The pagoda attracts a lot of tourists and pilgrims during holidays and major occasions.