45. Mot Mount Pagoda Historical and Scenic Relic

The Mot Mount Pagoda (Van Son Pagoda) is located on Mot Mount in Con Dao district, and it was built by the American-puppet in 1964. It aimed to fulfill the spiritual needs of the families of administrative staff and military officials stationed on the island and served as a deceptive façade, concealing the harsh treatment of prisoners and veiling it from international scrutiny regarding the brutal practices of the American-puppet government.

Beginning in 1960 at Con Dao Prison, the enemy intensified forced labor on Sundays

through organized “community labor.”

In April 1965, prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, banned from staying in Camp 2 (Phu Hai), were assigned the laborious task of building Mot Mount Pagoda. These prisoners had to carry construction materials such as sand, stone, and cement from the foot of the mountain to its summit. Confronted with staunch resistance at the construction site, where prisoners expressed dissent through stern expressions, the enemy, upon their return to the prison, denied them bathing and regular meals. Instead, they forced the prisoners to salute the flag and confined 63 individuals deemed ringleaders to the stone dungeons (rock caves) of Camp II. These 63 prisoners were crammed into two stone dungeons, seemingly with no room to move, and the air was insufficient to breathe. The enemy used tarpaulins to cover air vents, attempting to turn the two stone dungeons into mass graves. Many prisoners experienced suffocation, and Comrade Mai Van Xinh from Ben Tre died of suffocation in the stone dungeon of Camp 2 on May 1, 1965 (his resting place is now in Zone C of Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao).

Post-1975, the pagoda transformed into a place of Buddhist worship for the island residents. It contributes to the cultural heritage within the complex of historical and scenic relics in Con Dao district. It was officially recognized as a provincial-level historical cultural relic by the Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, as per Decision No. 4025/QĐ-UBND on December 4, 2009.

Being a historical relic intricately linked to the Con Dao locality, the construction and restoration of Nui Mot Pagoda using socialized funding play a crucial role in connecting the historical value of Con Dao Prison with the development and enhancement of Nui Mot Pagoda. This transformation aims to turn this location into a prominent scenic spot that caters to the cultural and spiritual enjoyment of the local people, while concurrently promoting sustainable tourism.

For an extended period, Van Son Pagoda suffered neglect, and the fragrance of incense gradually faded due to a lack of care. Recognizing this, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Vinh Nghiem Monastery, established in 1964 (Ho Chi Minh City), along with dedicated contributions from Buddhist followers and the collective efforts of the local community, embarked on a mission to restore Van Son Pagoda.

The People’s Committee of Con Dao district and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, with sponsorship from entities such as the People’s Police Newspaper, Thien Tam Fund, Vicom Company, undertook the project “Investment in the Restoration of Van Son Pagoda.” After almost a year of construction and restoration, Van Son Pagoda was successfully completed on December 3, 2011, with a total investment of nearly VND 100 billion.

The entire complex, covering an area of 19,434 square meters, underwent renovation, upgrades, and the construction of new structures, including the temple gate, bell tower, Buddha statue, Kṣitigarbha Shrine, Mountain God Shrine, Ancestor House, Guest House, and various technical infrastructure systems such as transportation, electricity, and water supply.

“The restoration of Van Son Pagoda – Mot Mount is a necessary and significant undertaking in developing Con Dao into a cultural and spiritual tourism economic zone, aligning with the overall development perspective of Ba Ria Vung Tau province until 2020. It contributes to the preservation of revolutionary historical and cultural heritage, providing moral education for future generations. For the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, it represents a growing and stable local Buddhist institution within the province, promoting the beauty of the Dharma in life. As Co Duc once said:

“Early drums, late bells, scenes of waiting in the ocean of love.

Scriptures and verses urge awakening after the slumber.'”

After nearly a year of dedicated restoration and enhancement efforts, Van Son Pagoda – Mot Mount has been successfully revitalized. Henceforth, Van Son Pagoda – Mot Mount will endure and thrive, symbolizing profound moral and educational significance for present and future generations within the revolutionary, cultural, and historical landscape of Revolutionary Island District. It embodies the enduring history of the Vietnamese people, including the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the Ho Chi Minh era – a historical name shining brightly. The pagoda extends its aspirations for global harmony, envisioning a societal garden blooming in all seasons. Simultaneously, it has played a pivotal role in constructing a spiritual and revolutionary cultural foundation for international visitors and local residents on Con Son Island.

This is a provincial-level monument that has been approved by the Provincial People’s Committee for the decision to invest in the overall restoration and upgrade of the temple and scenic area of Mot Mount, aiming to transform this monument complex into a cultural architectural structure that reflects the spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The execution of the project has been harmoniously integrated with the surrounding environmental landscape, linking seamlessly with the system of revolutionary historical relics in Con Dao.