Sap Mountain is the largest mountain in the Sap Mountain cluster, which includes four mountains: Sap Mountain, Nho Mountain, Ba Mountain and Cau Mountain. All are located in Thoai Son district. Sap Mountain has an altitude of 85m with a circumference of 3,800m,[2] 29km from Long Xuyen city along provincial road 943.
The book “Gia Dinh Thanh Thong Chi” by Trinh Hoai Duc describes this mountain as follows: Thoai Son, commonly known as Sap mountain, in Vinh Dinh district, on the east bank of Thoai Son river (customarily called Ba Rach canal), north of the mouth of Thoai Ha more than 69 miles. From the big river around the north to the east, it’s 283 miles to the town.
The mountain is 20 meters high, 11 and a half miles in circumference, majestic mountain peaks, tall and shiny trees, as beautiful and solemn as a beautiful parasol on the western border. There is Huong Tuyen (Thom stream) that flows west 50 meters to the river at a depth that boats can go. To the southwest of the foot of the mountain is Buu Son (also known as Cau Mountain), lush green 7 feet high, 1 and a half miles in circumference, sweet stream, good soil, fresh grass and trees, surrounded by mountain people.
Because the area near Cao Mien is so desolate, if you use the waterway, it must be by the Kien Giang road; This river is full of weeds and stagnant mud, so only boats can cross it during floods. In April of the year of Mau Dan, the 17th year of Gia Long (1818), the king ordered the Governor of Vinh Thanh, Marshal Thoai Ngoc, Marquis Nguyen Van Thoai, to conduct a river tour. Once completed, the king gave the mountain the name Thoai Son to honor the good name of the mountain god and also to record the meritorious achievements of the gods. Again, the order prohibits market people and Tho people from cutting down trees to preserve vitality. Seeing the green mountains covered with clouds, streams with emerald rocks, river gods yielding virtue, mother earth containing spirits, guarding dangerous areas, raising the strength to strengthen our Southern realm and offering life. Oh! How majestic![3]
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