The northern region of Vietnam is blessed with many majestic mountains. In addition, with a long history of culture, people here have created many architectural works. All of these combine to create impressive landscapes, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit, especially, explore Yen Tu mountain is the one should not miss.
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General information about Yen Tu
The area of Yen Tu is made up of a system of pagodas, shrines, towers and forests belonging to the village of Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi Town. It’s about 40km from Halong bay City and 14km from Uong Bi Town.
The beauty of Yen Tu consists in the majesty of its mountains mingling with the ancient and solemn quietness of its pagodas, shrines and towers. The flora and fauna ecosystem on Yen Tu mountain is extremely developed. In addition, this place also stores a system of cultural and historical relics associated with the Tran dynasty and the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.
the beauty from the top of Yen Tu
The total height of Yen Tu mountain is 1068m above sea level, belonging to the Dong Trieu mountain range, located on the border of Quang Ninh province and Bac Giang province. The journey to conquer the sacred peak of Yen Tu – Dong Pagoda is 6,000 m long and can take up to 6 hours if you choose to walk. In addition, you have to cross the pagodas, stele nestled among the ancient bamboo forests, and the beautiful pine forests on the pilgrimage. Coming here, visitors can not only explore the beautiful nature but also immerse themselves in a sacred space. Helps you relieve a lot of pressure and stress in daily life.
To travel to Yen Tu Mountain, you can drive a motorbike or car and in just over 2 hours you can get there. For those who live far away, you can buy a plane ticket to Quang Ninh.
What the best time to explore Yen Tu?
The climate at Yen Tu Mountain has a clear color differentiation. The period from about April to June is summer here, the weather on the mountain is quite cool, the sky is clear and there is no rain, very suitable for outdoor sightseeing activities.
For those who like to participate in festivals, you can travel to Yen Tu mountain from about January to March of the lunar calendar every year. At this time, Yen Tu mountain organizes many attractive festivals.
How to conquer Yen Tu?
There are 2 ways to reach the top of Yen Tu: b trekking or by cable car. To approach Dong pagoda which located on the top of the mountain by cable car (With reference ticket price: 350,000 VND / person / round trip – 200,000 VND / person / 1 way – Free for children under 1m2 and the elderly over 70 years old).
view from cable car in Yen Tu
For trekking, it will take from 4 hours to 6 hours on a road with thousands of stone steps through the pristine, green, and vast forest. It would be tired but surely you will get a great experience.
a way to trekk
Tourist attractions on Yen Tu Mountain
Trinh Pagoda
Trinh Pagoda was built during the Later Le Dynasty and was extensively renovated in 1993 and 1999 to achieve its current appearance. This pagoda is considered the gateway to visitors’ journey to explore Yen Tu Mountain.
The overall structure of Trinh Pagoda is built in the shape of the letter (一), including structures such as: front hall, main hall worshiping Buddha, right shrine worshiping the Eighteen Arhats, left shrine, To house worshiping the three first ancestors of Truc Lam, Mother God…. Trinh Pagoda currently preserves many Buddha statues made of bronze and jackfruit wood, which are exquisitely crafted.
Dong Pagoda
Dong Pagoda on the top of Yen Tu Mountain is 1068 meters above sea level. This is the “largest bronze pagoda in Asia”. From the outside of Dong Pagoda, you can admire the wonderful scenery of the mountains and clouds of Yen Tu.
Dong Pagoda was cast according to the prototype of Dau Keo Pagoda in Bac Ninh. The pagoda has a total area of about 20 square meters but weighs 70 tons. Dong Pagoda has four roofs covered with fish-tail tiles, the ends of the roofs are decorated with dragon motifs of the Tran Dynasty. Inside Dong Pagoda is a place to worship Buddha Shakyamuni and the three first ancestors of Truc Lam sect sitting on a lotus pedestal.
Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery
Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery is one of the largest monasteries in Vietnam and is a place you should not miss when traveling to Yen Tu mountain. This is where Emperor Tran Nhan Tong surrendered his throne to establish a Buddhist sect called Thien Truc Lam.
Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery appears majestically in the middle of the Northeast region with a three-door gate built with two floors and eight roofs. The Zen monastery campus is divided into two parts: the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard. Including works such as: main hall, patriarchal hall, bell tower, drum tower, meditation hall, library, exhibition house, guest house, Buddha tower, Tinh Tam Lake…
Ngoa Van pagoda
Ngoa Van pagoda is located at an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level. The pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty and has undergone many renovations to achieve its present appearance. On mornings when the clouds are all around, Ngoa Van appears like a fairyland.
There are many visitors to Ngoa Van Shrine on Yen Tu Mountain every year, not only because of the beautiful scenery, but also because this is the final resting place of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong after he became a monk. Inside the shrine, there is a bronze statue of him in the position of entering nirvana.
statue Emperor Tran Nhan Tong
Statue of Tran Nhan Tong and Statue of An Ky Sinh
On Yen Tu Mountain, there is a towering green stone statue, according to legend, this is a scholar from the North named An Ky Sinh. But there are opinions that this is a monk holding a rosary and facing the West. At the foot of the An Ky Sinh statue, there is an altar and an incense bowl. Many people come here to pray for luck, health and peace.
The statue of Tran Nhan Tong, after becoming a monk, is located on Yen Tu mountain, about 900m above sea level. The statue is cast in bronze to commemorate the contributions of the Emperor in building the country, fighting foreign invaders and founding the Truc Lam Zen sect.
This bronze statue is modeled after the statue in the Hue Quang Tower, sitting on a lotus pedestal, with both hands in a seal, wearing a robe, and a gentle, otherworldly face. The stone woven under the statue is also elaborately decorated with Tran Dynasty dragon patterns and chrysanthemums.
Giai Oan Pagoda & Giai Oan Stream
Another famous destination in Yen Tu is Giai Oan Pagoda & Giai Oan Stream. The path leading to Giai Oan Stream is a 10m long green stone bridge stained with ancient time, spanning a clear stream.
Giai Oan Pagoda, also known as Ha Pagoda, is the main pagoda on your upcoming journey to conquer Yen Tu, next to Trinh Pagoda, Dong Pagoda & Trung Pagoda, Hoa Yen Pagoda. When you arrive at the pagoda, you will have the opportunity to admire 6 towers.
Among them are the tomb of monk Phap Loa, monk Huyen Quang and the tower worshiping Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.
Hue Quang Tower, Hoa Yen Pagoda
Hoa Yen Pagoda or also known as Ca Pagoda is located at an altitude of 534 m, considered the largest pagoda, and also the heart of Yen Tu as well as the most anticipated coordinate when learning about the experience of going to Yen Tu Pagoda. This pagoda was started to be built during the Ly Dynasty with the name Phu Van.
Through many later kings, the pagoda changed its name to Hoa Yen Pagoda during the Le Dynasty. This most beautiful pagoda on Yen Tu Mountain was once the place where the Tran Nhan Tong, after becoming a monk, preached to monks and Buddhists in the pagoda.
At the end of thousands of stone steps, you can stop at Hoa Yen Pagoda to enjoy the scenery and admire the unique and extremely elaborate architecture of the Tran Dynasty.
In addition, you can also visit Hue Quang Tower – where a part of the relics of Tran Nhan Tong are kept.
Mot Mai (One-Roof) Pagoda
Mot Mai Pagoda (Semi-Roof Pagoda) leans against the Yen Tu mountain cliff and is built in a sophisticated three-room architectural style. This place is also the place to worship Buddha Quan The Am.
When you arrive at the pagoda, you will immediately see the three main worshiping rooms: the ancestor altar, the Three Buddhas altar and another altar in the back which lowest and deepest position. The experience of explore Yen Tu cannot be complete without the experience of drinking a sip of sacred water at the stream at One-Roof Pagoda. After drinking this sip of water, your whole body will feel as if it has been purified and light.
Source: collected by An
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