Ru Gam - A highlight of Yen Thanh tourism.
(Baonghean) - Originating from the foothills of the Truong Son mountain range and sloping towards the plains, Gam Mountain is a famous mountain from ancient times and has become a symbol of Yen Thanh district: "No matter where you are, you dream of Gam Mountain / Every shore echoes with the waves of the Dinh River," "The Dinh River, once remembered by both banks / Gam Mountain, three layers, how many miles of longing"... During the Northern domination period, the officials of Dien Chau chose Quy Lang as their administrative center, a place with a strategically important location, convenient for defense, with its back against the mountain and its face towards the fields. During the Tang Dynasty, in the first year of Zhenguan (627 AD), this area was already the center of Dien Chau. And Cao Vuong (Cao Bien - the ruling official, a talented feng shui master, who chose the location for the construction of Dai La citadel during the Northern domination period) during his inspection tours of the southern border region of Dien Chau, climbed to the top of Gam mountain and left traces there (on the top of Gam mountain there is a clear, very deep lake, traditionally believed to be where Cao Bien placed a burial site).
During the Early Le Dynasty, when this land was developed and densely populated, Le Long Ngan, the eighth son of King Le Dai Hanh, chose the area west of Ru Gam to establish the Dong Thanh administrative center. Thus, about 1,000 years ago, this land was chosen to build the imperial capital...
On Rú Gám, next to the temple of Bạch Thạch Đại Vương Thần (the White Stone God), there is also a shrine dedicated to Lý Thiên Cương. Lý Thiên Cương was the son of Lý Thái Bảo, a benevolent figure who contributed to attracting people to settle and cultivate the Kẻ Gám region. Later, he went to the mountain to practice asceticism, and the people built a temple in his honor. Rú Gám is also known as Thứu Lĩnh. Thứu refers to the vulture, also called the phoenix because the mountain resembles a phoenix. It is also called Long Sơn, or Dragon Mountain, because on Rú Gám there is a range of rocky mountains hidden halfway up the mountain like the body of a dragon. From the first week of August to the middle of September of the lunar calendar each year, looking towards Rú Gám, one often sees a beautiful band of clouds running across the side of the mountain. Based on this natural phenomenon, people in the surrounding areas have drawn the following conclusion: "The clouds over Ru Gam Mountain deter people from plowing / The fog over Ru Gam Mountain deters people from going out to sea..." The book "Dong Thanh Phong Tho Ky" by historian Ngo Tri Hop, written during the reign of Tu Duc (1848-1883), considers the spring clouds on the summit of Ru Gam Mountain as one of the eight scenic spots of Dong Thanh district, formerly Dien Chau prefecture.
Ru Gam currently has nearly 150 hectares of pristine forest under conservation in Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district), with diverse vegetation and clearly defined stratification. Ferns cover the ground, climbing plants such as rattan, bamboo, and rare hardwood trees like ironwood, rosewood, mahogany, and chestnut are abundant. The animal life is also quite rich: squirrels, civets, foxes, jungle fowl, mountain parrots, and starlings.
In a majestic and poetic setting, with the Dinh River winding through the hills, Gam Pagoda (in Ke Gam village) emerges with its ancient architecture and exquisitely crafted sculptures. The carvings depicting plants, flowers, mythical creatures, and Buddha statues are interconnected, creating a sense of closeness and harmony between people and nature.
To rationally exploit the cultural, historical, spiritual, and tourism values of this complex, the People's Committee of Yen Thanh District has developed a detailed plan for the preservation and restoration of the Ru Gam spiritual tourism area, covering approximately 250 hectares. The planning area is located in Xuan Thanh commune (on Provincial Road 538, connecting National Highway 7 with National Highway 1A), with Gam Pagoda as the central focal point. From there, the plan aims to develop a spiritual and ecological tourism space, integrating it with other landmarks within the tourism landscape of Nghe An and North Central Vietnam.
The decision to develop the Ru Gam ecological and spiritual tourism project is a groundbreaking move to find a direction for tourism development in Yen Thanh district. It aims to revitalize Ru Gam, allowing it to grow to the level of a renowned mountain, a place where the spirits of the region converge; this will also be a highlight and a driving force for tourism development in the rice-growing region of Yen Thanh.
Duc Chuyen