In addition, Yen Tu also has a special attraction because of the ancient temple heritage next to the mountains. When traveling here, you will experience a unique spiritual tourism journey, exploring spectacular nature. Let’s explore this special spiritual tourist area with Origin Vietnam.
1. Where is Yen Tu tourist area?
Yen Tu is a mountain range stretching across three provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong. It is located in the Northeast region of Vietnam. Yen Tu tourist area is located next to National Highway 18A. Located in Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh province. About 60 km northeast of Hai Duong city, about 50 km northwest of Ha Long city. And about 130 km east of Hanoi capital.
2. How is Yen Tu tourist area unique?
The highest mountain in the range named Yen Tu is associated with the history of the Tran dynasty and the origin of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery. The eastern slope of Yen Tu is where Buddha Hoang practiced and the western slope of Yen Tu is his “path to propagate Buddhism”. This mountain belongs to the Dong Trieu mountain range, in the Northeast of Vietnam, with a height of 1068 m above sea level. This is also a place with a diverse and rich flora and fauna.
In addition, Yen Tu tourist area is also a place to preserve historical and cultural relics associated with the formation and development of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect. Along with beautiful mountain scenery, cool climate, fresh nature. This place has become a spiritual tourist destination that attracts visitors from near and far.
3. When is the best time to visit Yen Tu tourist area?
Quang Ninh has a typical weather pattern of the Northern region of Vietnam with 4 distinct seasons in a year. The best time to travel to Yen Tu is in the spring, from January to March of the lunar calendar. At this time, the weather is cool, pleasant, sunny but not harsh, especially with little rain. It makes it convenient for you to travel, explore and participate in outdoor activities. This is also the time when many festivals take place, attracting many people from all over to visit and worship Buddha.
In addition, in the fall, from September to November is also an ideal time for you to travel to Yen Tu. You will enjoy the cool air and fully admire the peaceful, beautiful scenery of the sacred land.
Besides, if you want to visit, visit the temple, worship Buddha, you can still go at any time of the year. Just keep an eye on the weather, avoid rainy and stormy days that make it difficult to travel.
4. How to get to Yen Tu tourist area?
4.1 Means of transport
4.1.1 By personal vehicle (car, motorbike)
The route from Hanoi to Yen Tu tourist area in Quang Ninh is about 140 km. Starting from the center of Hanoi, you can go in the following way:
Follow Chuong Duong bridge through Nguyen Van Cu, follow QL18 to Bac Ninh. From here, go straight, turn left at Trinh pagoda, go about 10 km to Yen Tu.
4.1.2 By bus:
From Hanoi, you take buses to Cam Pha, Uong Bi, Ha Long to get to Yen Tu spiritual tourist area. When the bus reaches Trinh pagoda on Highway 18, you get off the bus. From here, you take a bus to Yen Tu.
4.2 How to get there
4.2.1 From Hanoi to Yen Tu tourist area:
Go from Hanoi to Bac Ninh, then follow National Highway 18 to Trinh Temple. From here, turn left about 10 km to reach Yen Tu spiritual tourist area.
4.2.2 From Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh:
Move from the above provinces to the intersection of National Highway 10 and National Highway 8, then turn left to Trinh Temple. From here, continue for 10km to reach Yen Tu
4.3 Moving to the top of Yen Tu mountain
4.3.1 By walking
The mountain road is about 6 km long with a travel time of about 6-8 hours when there are few people. Walking is a form of exercise and also a challenge to conquer Yen Tu that many people choose for themselves. The road is quite difficult but you will admire the wild beauty of the mountain scenery.
From the parking lot, visitors go about 300m to Giai Oan stream, climb over Tung Co road to To Tower, Hoa Yen pagoda, Mot Mai pagoda, Bao Sai pagoda to Dong pagoda.
4.3.2 Taking the cable car
With a modern cable car system, 1.2km long at an altitude of 450m, taking the cable car to Yen Tu mountain not only saves time but also allows you to fully admire the beautiful scenery of Yen Tu mountain from above.
Reference ticket price:
- Round-trip ticket: 350,000 VND/person.
- One-way ticket: 200,000 VND/person/way.
- Elderly people over 70 years old and children under 1.2m: Free
5. Sightseeings at Yen Tu tourist area
5.1 Trinh Pagoda
Trinh Pagoda, also known as Trinh Temple, Bi Thuong Pagoda, is located at an altitude of 1000m. The pagoda is nearly 400 years old with a unique ancient architecture. Famous for being a pagoda that almost touches the clouds of Yen Tu, this place attracts a large number of tourists to visit and worship Buddha.
Trinh Pagoda has a peaceful landscape, a peaceful space with cool green trees, a babbling stream and unique ancient architecture. When traveling to Yen Tu, do not forget to stop here to rest and visit the pagoda.
5.2 Giai Oan Stream
On the way to Yen Tu, you will pass by the clear Giai Oan Stream. This place is also relating with the story of hundreds of palace maids. Who drowned themselves to prevent King Tran Nhan Tong from becoming a nun. Experience of backpacking in Yen Tu shows that, stopping here, you will be able to admire the poetic mountain scenery and babbling streams. Moreover, you can occasionally hear the chirping of birds and enjoy the fresh air.
5.3 Hoa Yen Pagoda
Located at an altitude of 535 m above sea level, Hoa Yen Pagoda, formerly known as Phu Van, means drifting clouds and smoke. When traveling to Yen Tu, you cannot miss this pagoda. In the past, this place was a small hermitage for King Tran Nhan Tong to preach. Today, this place is a tourist attraction and pilgrimage destination for Buddhists to the land of Buddha, with a peaceful and serene natural landscape.
5.4 One Roof Pagoda
One Roof Pagoda is also known as Bo Da Pagoda. The pagoda has a unique architecture with half hidden in a cave, the other half exposed to the outside with a moss-covered tiled roof. Located halfway up the sky, surrounded by rocky mountains and trees, this place offers a peaceful space, in harmony with nature. 5.5 Bao Sai Pagoda
Located in the middle of the lush green mountains and forests is an ancient, rustic pagoda with a simple tiled roof, bringing a peaceful and quiet look. This place used to be the place where King Tran Nhan Tong’s most trusted disciple – Bao Sai practiced and trained disciples, wrote books. Today, this place is considered a place where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, attracting many Buddhist followers to come here to make pilgrimages and worship.
5.6 An Ky Sinh and the statue of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong
An Ky Sinh is a natural rock shaped like a monk with his hands clasped respectfully. Taking advantage of the amazing beauty of nature, people have built a shrine to worship An Tu – a monk who invented many remedies to cure and save people.
The statue of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong is located at an altitude of more than 1,000m above sea level, amidst the majestic and magnificent mountain scenery. The statue is cast from a solid block of bronze, weighing 138 tons and 12.6m high. This is a monument built by the people to commemorate the merits of King Tran Nhan Tong for the nation and religion. The statue with a calm and leisurely posture between heaven and earth is a place to visit and worship Buddha worth visiting when traveling to Yen Tu.
5.7 Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery
Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery is likened to a school for monks, nuns, and Buddhists to chant sutras and study religion. Located in the middle of a poetic natural landscape with unique architecture, this is a place to visit and visit many tourists.
5.8 Dong Pagoda
Located at an altitude of 1,068m, Dong Pagoda is the highest pagoda in Yen Tu. The pagoda is carved with meticulous patterns, sophisticated and skillful carvings according to the Tran Dynasty architecture. Standing here, you feel like touching the clouds, standing in the middle of the vast, vast sky and earth. Therefore, this place has become the most visited tourist destination when traveling to Yen Tu mountain.
5.9 Hue Quang Tower Garden
Hue Quang Tower is 7m high, with 5 floors made from green stone blocks. The outside is elaborately carved with graceful, soft and extremely divine wave patterns. The tower is decorated in the typical architectural style of the Tran Dynasty with 102 lotus petals and soft vines. Surrounding the tower are hundreds of years old trees that protect the tower from wind and rain. With its majestic and ancient beauty, Hue Quang Tower is a must-see attraction when traveling to Yen Tu, Quang Ninh.
5.10 Heaven’s Gate – Buddha’s Stele
Heaven’s Gate is a place where countless large and small sedimentary stone slabs are stacked on top of each other. All are arranged naturally and beautifully. When you come here, you will see a large stone slab erected straight, with the words “Ai Di Da Phat – Tu Tu Hong Danh” written on it. This stone slab is called Buddha’s Stele.
5.11 Ngoa Van Temple
Ngoa Van Temple is an important relic in the Yen Tu Mountain tourist area. Located at an altitude of 500 m above sea level, Ngoa Van Pagoda has a beautiful position with its back against Ngoa Van Mountain covered in clouds. In front is a small mountain, on both sides are embraced by 2 mountain ranges. In the distance is a valley with the winding Cam River. It is this beautiful scenery that attracts thousands of visitors every year to visit and enjoy.
5.12 Ho Thien Pagoda
Ho Thien Pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty and is the most famous pagoda in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism during the feudal period. The pagoda is located on the slopes of Phat Son Mountain, Yen Tu, Binh Khe Commune, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh Province. Around the pagoda are pristine mountains and forests and some remaining ancient relics, bearing strong cultural and historical imprints.
5.13 An Sinh Temple
When coming to Tay Yen Tu tourist area, don’t miss the opportunity to visit An Sinh Temple in An Sinh commune, Dong Trieu town, Quang Ninh province. This relic site stretches over an area of over 20km, including an ancient temple and many tombs of Tran dynasty kings.
5.14 Da Chong relic site
The Da Chong relic site is located at the foot of Bao Dai mountain, nearly 3 km from Ngoa Van pagoda. This is where archaeologists have discovered many traces of architectural foundations and raw material production areas for the construction of ancient temples and towers in the Ngoa Van complex. Not only does it preserve valuable traces of the past and is an attractive destination for archaeologists, the Da Chong area also attracts tourists with its majestic beauty and vast landscape.
5.15 Lang Nuong Yen Tu tourist area
The Lang Nuong Yen Tu tourist area is located at the foot of the sacred Yen Tu mountain range and is an attractive destination for tourists. Yen Tu Nuong Village is built with dozens of laterite houses and earthen walls. It vividly recreates the identity of a traditional Northern village. In addition to visiting traditional architecture, Nuong Village also offers visitors many exciting experiences of traditional crafts such as: making Dong Ho wooden paintings, making conical hats, bamboo dragonflies, writing calligraphy, etc.
6. Specialties when traveling to Yen Tu Tourist Area
When traveling to Yen Tu, you have the opportunity to enjoy Quang Ninh specialties and many delicious dishes with the rich flavor of the mountains and forests. Below are some famous dishes and specialties as gifts that you can choose from:
- Specialties: chicken soup with wine, stir-fried bamboo shoots, lam tea, Tien Yen ca sai, Quang Ninh clam porridge, etc.
- Specialties as gifts: Yen Tu plum wine, tai long ep cake, wildflower honey, etc.
7. Accommodation when traveling to Yen Tu Tourist Area
When traveling here, you can refer to some of the accommodations below.
- Legacy Yen Tu – MGallery Hotel. Address: Commune, Thuong Yen Cong, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh.
- Sentosa Hotel. Address: Group 21, Area 6, Quang Trung Ward, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh.
- Thu Ha Hotel. Address: 4 Tran Hung Dao, Thanh Son, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh.
- Sky Hotel. Address: 394 Quang Trung, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh.
- Thai Son Hotel. Address: Yen Tho, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh.
- Long Ngan Hotel. Address: Vinh Hoa, Mao Khe, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh.
- Dong Trieu Hotel. Address: Ha 2 Village, Trang An, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh.
- Mai Villa Hotel. Address: QL18, Hong Thai Dong, Dong Trieu Town, Quang Ninh.
8. Some important notes when traveling to Yen Tu Tourist Area
In addition to information about destinations, transportation, and accommodation. Please note the following to have the most convenient and enjoyable trip to Yen Tu:
- Polite clothing: Yen Tu is known as a sacred land with many ancient temples and pagodas. Therefore, please note to wear polite and discreet clothing when visiting the sacred place.
- Choose suitable sports shoes: You should prioritize wearing soft sports shoes with anti-slip soles for more convenience and comfort when walking up the mountain or moving between cable car stations.
- Pay attention to keeping your body warm: The Yen Tu mountain top area has a cold and humid climate. Therefore, you should bring a jacket, scarf, gloves to keep warm and protect your body from the cold wind.
- Drinks: You should bring drinking water and some cakes to replenish your energy throughout the tour.
- Keep your belongings safe: This is a note you need to know when traveling to Yen Tu during the festival season. At this time, the number of visitors is very large, making it easy for jostling and pickpocketing to occur.
- Absolutely do not violate relics and nature: When traveling to Yen Tu, you should pay attention to maintaining public hygiene. Absolutely do not litter and avoid violating relics and landscapes.
It is worthy visiting Yen Tu tourist area
Yen Tu with the majestic beauty of mountains and ancient and quiet relics is a meaningful destination for your spiritual travel and nature exploration journey. The peaceful space of the sacred land is also an ideal place for you to find tranquility and fully enjoy the beauty of nature as well as cultural and historical values.
Hopefully, with the updated and detailed information about Yen Tu tourism that Origin Vietnam – a professional tour operator, has shared through the above article. It will help you not only have a journey to explore Vietnam with interesting activities. But you also have a convenient trip to Yen Tu tourist area with the best feelings and experiences.
