ocated in Phu An village, Ngu Phung commune, Phu Quy district, the beauty-spots of Cam Mountain, Lighthouse and Linh Buu Pagoda are about 1.5km northeast of People’s Committee of Ngu Phung Commune, about 3km from the People’s Committee of Phu Quy district and about 6km North of the Phu Quy port. Visitors from Phu Quy port going by the road transportations along the main asphalt road on the island about 3km to the North will get there easily.
The process of the geomorphic, geologic tectonics and formation of Phu Quy island since ancient times more than 3 million years ago has donated this island with 3 beautiful mountains distributed in 3 separate locations, these include Cao Cat mountain 85m high, Cam mountain 108m high and Mr Dun mountain 44.9m high. In which, the highest mountain is Cam mountain located in the northwest of the island, this mountain is considered as a very important natural buoy to determine the direction for ships and boats. In 1996, the State invested in building a lighthouse on Cam Mountain to guide domestic and international ships and boats.
The lighthouse on Cam Mountain in Phu Quy is 18m high, the tower is square and built of black stones. At the foot of the tower is a 2-storey white building for the lamp guard. The light has a long range of 22 knots and daytime geographic visibility of 27 knots, and night vision of 22 knots.
The geographical coordinate is 10o 32’21.5”N – 108o 55’59.5”E. The characteristic of a colored lamp is white light, flash of group 2 and period of 15 seconds; VMSRB 400 main light and TRB 200 auxiliary light. The effect of the light indicates the location of Phu Quy island, as well as to be the entry light to help ships and boats operating in the offshore waters of Binh Thuan province to orient in and out of Phan Thiet. Phu Quy lighthouse is known as “the international sea eye” because Phu Quy Island is located near the international maritime route, is an important work that combines nature with human intelligence to help fishermen “catch” the island in voyages.
Especially, the lights use solar energy, it has the ability to switch off automatically according to the weather change;
normally the light will automatically light up at about 17:45 pm to about 6am depending on the season.
The lighthouse on Cam mountain came into operation in 1997, has become a symbol of Phu Quy island district, ingrained in the minds of people and tourists when traveling to this remote small island. At the same time, the Lighthouse is also an important milestone marking Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea.
To reach the top of the Lighthouse, visitors have to conquer 120 stone stairs about 200m long, designed along the mountainside with a feeling of great excitement when conquering the height; It is interesting that the rock here has passed through time, before the impact of the stormy billows has created a shape like the hypaethral stalactites. Standing on the lighthouse, visitors can admire the entire beauty of the sea, sky, terrain and rich nature of Phu Quy island; It makes us feel like we are standing in front of a painting that is so poetic, charming and beautiful.
In addition to its important function in ensuring maritime safety, this place is also a landscape with the majestic, pristine natural scenery, the charming, cool, fresh green trees and enchanting tourists when coming here. In the mountains, there are still many ancient trees that create shade all year round, so when we come here we have a cool, peaceful feeling in the wild, rustic and idyllic mountains.
Under the slope of Cam mountain, there is Linh Buu Pagoda built in 1972, the main direction of the pagoda overlooking the vast sea. The natural scenery mingles with the temple’s architecture that creates a beautiful, pure, charming, attractive aqua painting that attracts visitors to explore nature, visit the pagoda and worship Buddha.
The overall architecture of Linh Buu pagoda includes many items built, decorated with bold Buddhism; all are made of solid, immeasurably high, interconnected materials on a fairly large, airy, pure campus that are suitable for contemplation.
The Buddha shrine is made up of 2 roof layers like a lotus, the upper layer is small and high and the lower layer spreads wide; on the walls forming a cube with many complex lines, elaborately embellishing topics related to Buddha in sharp and vivid areas; the two sides of the shrine are carved with flowers and leaves, a blooming lotus in the middle and the delicately carved arrays of themes, concentrating a variety of genres, creating a peaceful scene in meditation.
Visitors enter the Buddha Shrine through 3 main doors, the two sides have protruding old floors and two reliefs representing Mr. Kindness and Mr. Evil. Through the main door inside the shrine, visitors will enjoy the array of decorative themes exuding the serenity and grace of the Buddhist place. Above the Buddha shrine, there is a statue of Avalokiteśvara sitting on a lotus, the two sides are two Buddha statues riding a white elephant and a lion in the state of chanting, contemplating, surrounded by the Buddha’s life scene, the innermost is the two-dragon adoration of swastika and flowers.
Like other Buddhist pagoda, Linh Buu Pagoda annually organizes festivals such as Buddha’s Birthday on the full moon in April, Vu Lan Festival on the full moon in July and the full moon ceremony of October of the lunar calendar with the meaning of praying for a peaceful and prosperous life; The festival always attracts a large number of Buddhists on the island and visitors to sacrifice and worship Buddha.
The beauty spots of Cam Mountain, Lighthouse and Linh Buu Pagoda are interesting sights that tourists should visit when coming to Phu Quy island. Surely visiting the pagoda, worshiping the Buddha, conquering the stairs to reach the top of the Lighthouse on Cam Mountain will give you a wonderful feeling of experience and discovery that few places have, makes us feel relaxed and satisfied with this charming scene.
