Are you planning a spiritual journey, seeking the origin of Vietnamese Buddhism, or simply longing to immerse yourself in magnificent nature? Yen Tu Mountain, with its mystical beauty and immense historical and cultural value, is the ideal destination. This article serves as the most detailed Yen Tu Mountain travel guide, helping you perfectly plan your exploration of this sacred land.
Yen Tu – Sacred Mountain, Land of the Buddha Ancestor
Yen Tu Mountain, towering over 1000m above sea level, stands majestically in Northeast Vietnam, marking the natural boundary between Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces. Renowned not only for its spectacular natural landscapes, Yen Tu is also known as the cradle of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, a uniquely Vietnamese Buddhist sect founded by King Tran Nhan Tong, who later became a monk-king. Traveling to Yen Tu Mountain offers you the chance to admire the beauty of rolling mountains, pilgrimage to sacred sites, learn about Buddhist history, and experience a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Why Yen Tu Mountain is a Must-Visit Destination
Yen Tu is not just a mountain, but a complex of historical, cultural, and scenic relics. This place holds immense value, attracting visitors for many reasons:
- Origin of Truc Lam Buddhism: Yen Tu is where King Tran Nhan Tong practiced, established, and attained Nirvana. It is considered the ancestral land of Vietnamese Buddhism, with a system of ancient and sacred pagodas, temples, and stupas.
- Majestic Natural Scenery: Yen Tu boasts pristine and magnificent beauty with rolling mountains, ancient pine forests hundreds of years old, and year-round cloud cover, creating picturesque and poetic landscapes.
- Historical and Cultural Relics: Yen Tu is associated with the Tran Dynasty, featuring many important historical relics such as Hoa Yen Pagoda, Dong Pagoda, Ngoa Van Hermitage, An Sinh Temple, recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.
- Unique Yen Tu Festival: The Yen Tu Festival takes place in spring, one of the largest festivals in Northern Vietnam, attracting millions of pilgrims and tourists.
- Diverse Travel Experiences: In Yen Tu, you can take cable cars to admire the scenery, hike to explore nature, pilgrimage to pagodas, participate in festivals, enjoy local cuisine, and shop for specialties.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
Best Time to Visit Yen Tu Mountain
Yen Tu is beautiful year-round, each season offering its own charm. However, the ideal time to visit Yen Tu Mountain is in spring (from January to March in the lunar calendar).
- Weather: Spring in Yen Tu has a cool, pleasant climate, neither too cold nor too hot, perfect for hiking and sightseeing.
- Festival: Spring is the Yen Tu festival season, with many unique cultural and religious activities, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
- Scenery: Spring in Yen Tu is filled with colorful flowers, trees sprouting buds, creating a beautiful and vibrant natural landscape.
Besides spring, you can also visit Yen Tu in autumn (September to November). At this time, the weather is dry and cool, suitable for outdoor activities. Summer and winter in Yen Tu may have rain or cold, but still possess unique beauty, especially the scenery of Yen Tu shrouded in mist in winter.
Distinguishing Between East Yen Tu and West Yen Tu
When researching Yen Tu Mountain tourism, you may encounter the concepts of East Yen Tu and West Yen Tu. In fact, Yen Tu is a mountain range, but due to its terrain stretching across two provinces, Quang Ninh and Bac Giang, it is divided into two main areas:
- East Yen Tu (Quang Ninh): Located on the eastern slope of the Yen Tu mountain range, belonging to Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province. East Yen Tu is the area where the most famous historical, cultural, and scenic relics of Yen Tu are concentrated, such as Hoa Yen Pagoda, Dong Pagoda, Giai Oan Pagoda, Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery…
- West Yen Tu (Bac Giang): Located on the western and northern slopes of the Yen Tu mountain range, belonging to Bac Giang province. West Yen Tu is a more pristine and tranquil area than East Yen Tu, with historical and cultural relics such as Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Am Vai Pagoda, Tran Dynasty relic area…
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
Depending on your preferences and time, you can choose to explore East Yen Tu, West Yen Tu, or combine both areas. However, if you only have one day, East Yen Tu is a more popular choice because it concentrates many famous attractions and is easier to travel to.
Directions to Yen Tu Mountain
There are many ways to get to Yen Tu Mountain, depending on your starting point and chosen transportation:
Traveling by Private Vehicle
- To East Yen Tu: From Hanoi, you can follow National Highway 1A to Bac Ninh, then turn onto National Highway 18A to Uong Bi, Quang Ninh. Or take the Hanoi – Hai Phong highway, to the National Highway 10 intersection, turn left to Uong Bi.
- To West Yen Tu: From Hanoi, follow National Highway 1A to Bac Ninh, turn onto National Highway 18 to Chi Linh, Dong Trieu. In Dong Trieu, follow Tran Nhan Tong street to An Sinh Temple, then continue to the West Yen Tu area.
Traveling by Public Transportation
- Coach: From Hanoi and other provinces, there are many coach routes to Uong Bi, Quang Ninh or Dong Trieu, Bac Giang. You can catch a bus at major bus stations such as My Dinh bus station, Gia Lam bus station, Yen Nghia bus station…
- Bus: From Uong Bi or Dong Trieu, you can take a bus or taxi to the Yen Tu tourist area.
Traveling by Cable Car
To save time and energy, especially for the elderly and children, you can choose to travel by cable car up Yen Tu. Currently, Yen Tu has two main cable car lines:
- East Yen Tu Cable Car Line: Has two sections:
- Section 1: From the foot of the mountain to Giai Oan Pagoda – Hoa Yen Pagoda.
- Section 2: From Hoa Yen Pagoda – Mot Mai Pagoda – An Ky Sinh Pagoda.
- West Yen Tu Cable Car Line (Ngoa Van Pagoda): From Trai Loc (Dong Trieu) to Ngoa Van Pagoda.
Yen Tu Cable Car
Ticket Prices and Travel Costs to Yen Tu
The cost of traveling to Yen Tu can vary depending on your transportation, service choices, and length of stay. Here are some reference costs:
| Service | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| East Yen Tu Cable Car Ticket | – Route 1 (one way): VND 150,000/person – Route 1 (round trip): VND 250,000/person – Route 2 (one way): VND 150,000/person – Route 2 (round trip): VND 250,000/person – Both routes (round trip): VND 300,000/person |
| West Yen Tu Cable Car Ticket (Ngoa Van Pagoda) | – One way: VND 100,000/person – Round trip: VND 180,000/person |
| 16-seat bus from Den Trinh to Yen Tu | VND 20,000/trip/person |
| Electric car from parking lot to foot of mountain | VND 10,000/trip/person |
| Eating | VND 50,000 – 200,000/person/meal |
| Accommodation (guesthouse, hotel) | VND 300,000 – 1,000,000/room/night |
Note: Ticket prices may change depending on the time and policies of the tourist area. Children under 6 years old (under 1.2m tall), elderly people over 80 years old, monks and nuns, and war invalids are often offered free or discounted cable car tickets (identification documents required).
Explore the Most Attractive Tourist Destinations in Yen Tu
Yen Tu has many attractive sights, from ancient and sacred pagodas to beautiful scenic spots. Here are some highlights you should not miss when traveling to Yen Tu Mountain:
East Yen Tu (Quang Ninh)
- Trinh Pagoda (Bi Thuong Pagoda): The first pagoda on the Yen Tu pilgrimage journey, where visitors stop to pay respects before entering the mountain.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
- Giai Oan Pagoda: The pagoda associated with the story of King Tran Nhan Tong exonerating palace maids, a place to pray for peace and resolve karmic debts.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
- Hoa Yen Pagoda (Ca Pagoda): The central pagoda of Yen Tu, where King Tran Nhan Tong often preached, is an important destination in the pilgrimage journey.
Hoa Yen Pagoda, the largest and most important pagoda in the Yen Tu pagoda system
- Mot Mai Pagoda: A unique pagoda with half stone, half tiled roof architecture, nestled in the mountainside, possessing ancient and mysterious beauty.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
- Van Tieu Pagoda: The pagoda located at a high altitude, often appearing and disappearing in the clouds, giving a feeling of being lost in a fairyland.
Van Tieu Pagoda, a pagoda hidden in the clouds, possessing ethereal and otherworldly beauty
- Bao Sai Pagoda: The pagoda named after a close disciple of King Tran Nhan Tong, a tranquil and peaceful place of practice.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
- An Ky Sinh Statue: A statue worshiping a Taoist hermit who practiced in Yen Tu from the 3rd century BC, holding special historical and cultural value.
An Ky Sinh Statue, a cultural and historical symbol of Yen Tu
- Statue of King Tran Nhan Tong Buddha: A large, majestic bronze statue, honoring the merits of the King-Buddha to the nation and Buddhism.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
- Dong Pagoda: A small, unique pagoda, located on the top of Yen Tu Mountain, made entirely of copper, the most sacred and challenging destination in the journey to conquer Yen Tu.
Overview of Yen Tu Mountain tour in Quang Ninh for one day
West Yen Tu (Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh & Bac Giang)
- An Sinh Temple: An important historical relic, worshiping the “Eight Emperors” of the Tran Dynasty, possessing unique historical and architectural value.
An Sinh Temple: An attractive destination in Quang Ninh tours
- Ngoa Van Hermitage: Where King Tran Nhan Tong practiced and passed away, considered the holy land of the Truc Lam Zen sect, possessing a tranquil and sacred atmosphere.
Ngoa Van Hermitage
- Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Bac Giang): A large Buddhist center of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect during the Tran Dynasty, famous for its unique architecture and precious wooden blocks of Buddhist scriptures.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a large Buddhist center and a treasury of precious culture and history
Suggested 1-Day Yen Tu Travel Itinerary
To explore Yen Tu in 1 day, you can refer to the following itinerary:
Option 1: Visiting East Yen Tu by Cable Car
- Morning:
- Arrive at the Yen Tu tourist area, park your car and move to the foot of the mountain.
- Take cable car route 1 to Giai Oan Pagoda – Hoa Yen Pagoda.
- Visit Giai Oan Pagoda, Hoa Yen Pagoda, Hue Quang stupa garden, and Tung Path.
- Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant on the mountain or bring snacks.
- Afternoon:
- Take cable car route 2 to Mot Mai Pagoda – An Ky Sinh Pagoda.
- Visit Mot Mai Pagoda, An Ky Sinh Pagoda, An Ky Sinh statue, and King Tran Nhan Tong Buddha square.
- Hike or take the cable car to Dong Pagoda.
- Worship at Dong Pagoda and admire the scenery of Yen Tu from the mountain top.
- Descend the mountain by cable car.
- Evening: End the journey and depart.
Option 2: Visiting East Yen Tu on Foot
- Morning:
- Arrive at the Yen Tu tourist area, park your car and start your hiking journey.
- Visit Trinh Pagoda, Giai Oan Pagoda, Hoa Yen Pagoda, Tung Path, and Hue Quang stupa garden.
- Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant on the mountain or bring snacks.
- Afternoon:
- Continue hiking to Mot Mai Pagoda, Bao Sai Pagoda, Van Tieu Pagoda, An Ky Sinh statue, and King Tran Nhan Tong Buddha square.
- Conquer Dong Pagoda and admire the scenery of Yen Tu.
- Descend the mountain on foot via the Van Tieu Pagoda path.
- Evening: End the journey and depart.
Note: The itinerary can be adjusted according to your health and time. If hiking, you need to prepare good health and suitable shoes.
Must-Try Yen Tu Specialties
When you come to Yen Tu, don’t forget to enjoy famous specialties and buy them as gifts:
- Bau wine chicken soup: A specialty of the Dao Thanh people, with a delicious and nutritious flavor.
- Fresh Yen Tu bamboo shoots: Natural bamboo shoots, sweet, soft, and can be processed into many delicious dishes.
Fresh Yen Tu Bamboo Shoots
- Yen Tu apricot wine: Wine soaked from wild apricots, with a sweet and sour taste, fragrant aroma, good for health.
- Yen Tu fern vegetable: A special wild vegetable, with a sweet and cool, slightly viscous taste, often stir-fried with garlic or made into salad.
- Yen Tu “che lam” (sweet sticky rice cake): A rustic local gift, with the sweet, chewy aroma of sticky rice, molasses, and ginger.
- Yen Tu “trau mot la” (one-leaf betel): A specialty used to soak in massage wine, treating bone and joint pain.
Yen Tu One-leaf Betel
Important Notes When Traveling to Yen Tu Mountain
To make your Yen Tu Mountain trip complete and meaningful, you need to note a few things:
- Dress Code: Choose polite, discreet clothing, suitable for spiritual spaces. You should wear sports shoes or hiking shoes for easy movement.
- Luggage: Bring a compact backpack, containing drinking water, snacks, tissues, hats, sunscreen, personal medicine…
- Money: Prepare enough cash to spend on services and shopping.
- Health: If hiking, you need to prepare good health and warm up thoroughly before climbing.
- Cultural Etiquette: Maintain general hygiene, do not litter indiscriminately, do not make noise or cause disorder in pagodas and temples.
- Safety: Be careful when climbing mountains, especially the road to Dong Pagoda. Pay attention to personal belongings, avoid pickpocketing and theft.
- Time: You should go to Yen Tu on weekdays or avoid crowded festivals to have a quiet space and a better experience.
Traveling to Yen Tu Mountain is not only a journey to explore natural beauty, but also an opportunity to return to spiritual roots and find peace in your soul. Hopefully, with the detailed experiences above, you will have a truly meaningful and memorable Yen Tu trip.