Northern Vietnam has many majestic mountain ranges. Furthermore, with a rich cultural history, the people here have created many architectural works. All blend together to create an impressive landscape, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists, Yen Tu Mountain is one of them.
1. Where is Yen Tu Mountain tourist area located?
Yen Tu Mountain, also known as Tuong Dau Mountain, is a mountain located between the border of Bac Giang and Quang Ninh provinces. This mountain belongs to the Dong Trieu mountain range in the Northeast of our country with a height of 1068m above sea level. This is also a place with a diverse range of flora and fauna.
Yen Tu tourist area is a place to preserve historical and cultural relics associated with the formation and development of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect. With beautiful mountain scenery, cool climate, and pure nature, this place has become a spiritual tourist destination attracting tourists from near and far.
2. Ideal time to travel to Yen Tu mountain
The climate at Yen Tu Mountain has quite clear differentiation by color. The time from April to June is summer here. The weather in the mountains is quite cool, clear and without rain, very suitable for outdoor sightseeing activities.
For those who like to participate in festivals, they can travel to Yen Tu Mountain around January to March of the lunar calendar every year.
3. Means and ways to get to Yen Tu tourist area
3.1 Travel by personal vehicle (car, motorbike)
The route from Hanoi to Yen Tu tourist area in Quang Ninh is about 140km. Starting from Hanoi center, you can go the following way:
Follow Chuong Duong bridge through Nguyen Van Cu, follow National Highway 18 to Bac Ninh. From here, you go straight, when you see Trinh pagoda, turn left, go about 10km and you will reach Yen Tu.
3.2 Travel to Yen Tu mountain tourist area by bus:
From Hanoi, you take buses to Cam Pha, Uong Bi, and Ha Long to reach the Yen Tu spiritual tourist area. When the car reaches Trinh Pagoda section on Highway 18, you get off the bus. From here, you take the bus to Yen Tu.
Bus price is 10,000 VND/person/trip.
4. Places to visit when traveling to Yen Tu
41 Trinh Pagoda
Trinh Pagoda, also known as Trinh Temple, Bi Thuong Pagoda, is located at an altitude of 1000m. The temple is nearly 400 years old with unique ancient architecture. Famous as a pagoda that almost touches the Yen Tu sky, this place attracts a large number of tourists to visit and worship Buddha.
Trinh Pagoda has a peaceful landscape, peaceful space with green trees, gurgling streams and unique ancient architecture. When traveling to Yen Tu, don't forget to stop here to rest and admire the pagoda.
4.2 Dong Pagoda
Dong Pagoda on top of Yen Tu mountain is 1068 meters above sea level. This is the largest bronze-cast pagoda in Asia. Looking down from outside Dong Pagoda, you will admire the wonderful scenery of Yen Tu mountains and clouds.
Dong Pagoda was cast according to the prototype of Dau Keo Pagoda, Bac Ninh. The temple has a total area of about 20 square meters and weighs 70 tons. Dong Pagoda has four funny-nosed tiled roofs, and the knife heads are decorated with dragon motifs of the Tran Dynasty. Inside Dong Pagoda is where the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and the three Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam are placed on lotus stands.
4.3 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 Buddha Hoang Tran Nhan Tong became a monk and founded the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.
Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery appears majestically between heaven and earth in the Northeast region with a three-entrance gate built with two floors and eight roofs. The monastery campus is divided into two parts: the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard. Including works such as: Main hall, To hall, Bell tower, Drum tower, Meditation hall, Trai hall, Library, Exhibition house, Guest house for monks, Guest house for nuns, Buddha tower, Tinh Tam lake...
4.4 Ngoa Van Am
Ngoa Van Am is located at an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level. The pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty and has undergone many restorations to get its present appearance. On mornings when the clouds are covered, Am Ngoa Van Pagoda appears like a fairyland.
There are many visitors coming to Am Ngoa Van Pagoda on Yen Tu Mountain every year not only because of the beautiful scenery but also because this place is the last stop of Buddha Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. Inside the pagoda there is a bronze statue of him in the nirvana position.
4.5 Statue of An Ky Sinh
On Yen Tu Mountain, there is a green stone statue standing tall. Legend has it that this is a scholar from the North named An Ky Sinh. But there is an opinion that this is a monk holding a rosary and facing west. Below the foot of the An Ky Sinh statue is an altar and an incense bowl. Many people come here to pray for luck, health and peace.
4.6 Statue of Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong
The Buddha statue is located on Yen Tu mountain at an altitude of about 900m above sea level. The statue was cast in bronze to commemorate the merits of building the country, fighting foreign invaders and founding the Truc Lam Zen Sect of Buddha Hoang Tran Nhan Tong.
The bronze statue was cast according to the model of the Buddha statue at Hue Quang Ancestral Tower. Sitting on a lotus, the statue of Buddha Hoang Tran Nhan Tong is in a calm sitting position, his hands clasped, his body covered with robes, his face gentle and serene. The stone braid under the statue is also exquisitely decorated with Tran dynasty dragon patterns and chrysanthemums.
4.7 Heaven's Gate Buddha stele
Located not far from the statue of Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, the Buddha stele heaven gate is one of the places you should not miss when traveling to Yen Tu mountain. Here there is a sedimentary stone shaped like an oan used to offer offerings to Buddha and is called a Buddha stele.
On the front of the Buddha stele is carved a row of Chinese characters written vertically, but the words have faded over time and are no longer clear. Below there is also a row of Chinese characters written in a horizontal row which is translated as "Four Characters of Hong Danh".
5. Specialties of Yen Tu mountain region
5.1 Dishes from bamboo shoots
Bamboo shoots are considered a specialty of the Yen Tu mountain region. This is also one of the familiar ingredients in the meals of monks in Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Yen Tu bamboo shoots are elongated, very firm and sweet, and can be processed into many different delicious dishes such as: bamboo shoots soaked in garlic and chili, bamboo shoots stir-fried with betel leaves, bamboo shoots stir-fried with beef...
5.2 Lettuce
This is a wild vegetable that grows under trees in the Yen Tu mountain forest. The shape of fern is similar to that of a fern but is smaller and has branches and leaves that spread out around it.
Rhubarb can be processed into many dishes such as: boiled vegetables, salad, soup, stir-fried meat... This vegetable also has good medicinal properties, helping to treat colds, sore throats, coughs, and anti-inflammatory properties. constipation, helps diuretic.
5.3 Yen Tu Lam sweet soup
Che lam is a dish with an attractive flavor, combined with many ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, honey, ginger, and peanuts. There's nothing better than enjoying a piece of sweet soup with a pot of hot tea in the chilly air of Yen Tu mountain. Tourists can also buy sweet soup as gifts for their relatives.
5.4 Apricot wine
Apricot wine is made from fresh ripe apricots from the Yen Tu mountain region. Can be combined with honey when processing to create an extremely attractive flavor. Drinking a little Yen Tu apricot wine every day also brings many good health effects.
6. Notes when traveling to Yen Tu
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If you intend to climb mountains, you should wear comfortable sports shoes, especially anti-slip shoes.
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The high mountain area is quite cold and humid, so bring a light windbreaker, scarf, and gloves to keep warm.
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Bring drinking water to ensure adequate hydration if you intend to explore Yen Tu by road.
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Be careful of theft, especially during the Yen Tu festival season because the number of tourists is very large.
Yen Tu spiritual tourist area is a place with beautiful natural scenery, many relics and pagodas with unique ancient architecture that attracts visitors. With the above detailed Yen Tu travel guides, hopefully you will be able to make the best plan for your visit.
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