Located at the heart of Côn Đảo, Núi Chúa rises like a majestic natural rampart, sheltering the entire island and reflecting its silhouette on the serene waters of Quang Trung Lake. Legends surrounding the hidden treasures of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Ánh during his years in exile here add an enduring sense of mystery to this sacred mountain.
Before 1975, Núi Chúa was the mountain that prisoners looked up to every morning upon waking, or before being sent to forced labor—seeing it meant they were still alive. Those who died would be laid to rest at Hàng Keo Cemetery, a burial ground dating back to the French colonial period in the late 19th century, located near the sea where wild acacia trees once grew abundantly. As a result, generations of prisoners passed down a haunting folk verse, memorized by heart:
“Easy to go to Côn Lôn, hard to return;
Alive, one leans on Núi Chúa—
In death, one goes back to Hàng Keo.”
Why is it called Núi Chúa—the Lord’s Mountain? Historical records in “Côn Đảo: Chronicles and Documents” note that in 1788, while being pursued by the Tây Sơn forces, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) fled to Côn Lôn (the former name of Côn Đảo) with an entourage of around 100 attendants. Planning for a prolonged resistance—training troops, recruiting forces, and seeking foreign aid—he established three villages: An Hải, An Hội, and Cỏ Ống, enabling his followers to be self-sufficient while using Côn Lôn and Phú Quốc as strategic bases against the Tây Sơn.
Local lore tells of a cave high on a mountain in Côn Đảo where Nguyễn Phúc Ánh once took refuge. On the summit, traces of a stone chessboard—large enough for two players—are said to remain, believed to have been carved by soldiers for the lord’s recreation. From this, islanders came to call the mountain Núi Chúa.
Côn Đảo is also rich with tales of treasures supposedly buried by Nguyễn Phúc Ánh during his flight from the Tây Sơn. French records suggest that residents of An Hải village were direct descendants of the lord, carefully preserving ancient books written in classical Chinese. Stories also circulate of antique weapons and relics discovered in underground chambers during the tenure of Governor Lambert. Across the island, rumors of buried gold caches have long persisted.
One such account recounts that on November 25, 1896, within the walls of Prison Camp I, a convict named Đặng Văn Tám uncovered two large jars filled with copper coins and gold bracelets while digging a drainage trench. This was believed to be one of the treasure hoards buried by Nguyễn Phúc Ánh before fleeing to Siam when Tây Sơn warships closed in. To resolve ownership, the Governor of Cochinchina, Major Ducos, issued a decision both surprising and lawful: the treasure was to be auctioned, with proceeds split equally—half sent to the Colonial Ministry, and half awarded to the prisoner Đặng Văn Tám. In his report dated January 14, 1897, he explained: “When a treasure is discovered by chance, the finder is entitled by law to half, while the other half belongs to the landowner.”
The same chronicles record further discoveries: in 1930, a forced laborer at Bến Đầm found a jar and a golden belt; between 1930 and 1940, villagers in An Hải unearthed a jar containing porcelain bowls, scholar’s tools (the Four Treasures of the Study), and royal seals of kings and lords.
These stories help explain why the place-name Núi Chúa has endured for centuries in Côn Đảo. Today, Núi Chúa lies within Côn Đảo National Park, home to extraordinary biodiversity across land and sea. Its pristine forests, rising from the ocean, continue to attract scientists and travelers alike—drawn by both the richness of nature and the enduring legends woven into this sacred landscape.
