(Baothanhhoa.vn) "Legend of Am Tiên" – The spiritual tourism and historical site complex project at Am Tiên, with a total investment of 35 trillion VND, was officially launched with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Am Tiên Cable Car and Commercial Service Area on April 26, 2025. Am Tiên – one of the three sacred energy centers (huyệt đạo) of Vietnam where heaven and earth converge – is being invested in by Sun Group to become a new symbol and a world-class cultural and spiritual tourism center.
The “Legend of Am Tiên” project is located in the Nua Mountain area, part of the Nua Temple – Am Tiên Cave scenic complex, associated with the heroic uprising of Ba Trieu. Together with Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh) and Da Chong Mountain (Ba Vi, Hanoi), this site is one of Vietnam’s three sacred spiritual points..
Covering over 350 hectares, the project consists of three phases: Phase 1 features a 31.74-hectare commercial and cable car service area with an investment of 2,969 billion VND; Phase 2 includes a 58.62-hectare cultural landscape and tourism service area, costing 9,634 billion VND; Phase 3 will be a 295.64-hectare eco-resort with an investment of 22,429 billion VND.
The project is designed by Shin Takamatsu, one of Japan’s most renowned contemporary architects. Inspired by the image of the one-tusked white elephant Ba Trieu rode into battle – symbolizing strength, wisdom, and resilience – Takamatsu aims to build a “White Spiritual Tourism Complex” at Am Tiên.
In Phase 1, two of the four planned single-rope cable car lines will be constructed to form the main transportation axis of the complex. Line 1 is 1.2 km long, and Line 2 is 1.5 km long, taking visitors through lush green forests, with architectural highlights including cable car stations inspired by the conical hat, traditional temple roofs, and patterns from the “ao dai”.
Phase 2 will complete the tourism service area and cultural axis - the heart of the complex - featuring the world's tallest silver-plated bronze statue of Vairocana Buddha, at 167.5 meters (including the pedestal), crafted by hundreds of Vietnamese artisans.
Beneath the statue is the White Lotus Dome, a central prayer space and venue for mapping art performances. Nearby stands the 35-meter-tall Prayer Tower with 300 wind-activated flutes, offering a meditative “motion in stillness” experience. The transitional space between the Buddha statue and the dome features a large-scale Koi pond, home to over 3,000 white Koi fish - symbols of perseverance, purity, and longevity in Japanese culture. The pond also serves as a symbolic “well of purification,” allowing visitors to cleanse their minds before embarking on their spiritual journey through the complex.
Inside the “White Spiritual Tourism Complex” is Manda-Land, designed based on the five-element philosophy of Vajrayana Buddhism. Here, visitors can light incense at 24 spiral Bonji pillars, purify themselves at a mandala well, circle the sacred site, listen to the wind chimes, and admire crane symbols and five-color flags representing Buddhist wisdom..
The entire Legend of Am Tiên project is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2030. Phase 1’s cable car system will open in 2027. In Phase 2, Sun Group aims to complete the Vairocana Buddha statue. Other elements will continue in parallel to reach full completion by 2030.
Once operational, the project will not only awaken a sacred land but also establish an internationally recognized cultural and spiritual destination, enhancing tourism, economy, and sustainable culture. With Am Tiên, Thanh Hoa will gain a new symbol on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region. It will be a pilgrimage site for hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors, a spiritual hub of Northern Vietnam where sacred energy, heritage, and deep culture converge.