History of Yen Tu Festival

Nearly 1,000 years ago, the historical books recorded that Yen Tu was considered “The cradle of Buddhism in Vietnam” 

Yen Tu has been invested in a complex of large- scale pagoda architecture since 1236 by King Tran Thai Tong. Especially, after gaining victory over the Nguyen-Mong army, King Tran Nhan Tong handed over the throne to his son and went to Yen Tu mountain. At the time of the peaceful country, he decided to put on a monk’s robes and established a typical Buddhist sect of Vietnam, namely Truc Lam Zen Buddhism. He continued building hundreds of large and small pagodas on Yen Tu mountain as places for practicing and preaching Buddhism. Since then Yen Tu has become a Buddhist center of Vietnam with dozens of pagoda foundations, temples, bridges,... under the Tran and Le dynasties. You can also have a chance to admire the unique and creative motifs, patterns and architecture. Thousands of ancient objects such as statues, bricks, bells, steles,... are waiting for you to explore! 

Yen Tu Festival Dates

Yen Tu Festival starts from the 10th day of the first lunar month until the end of the third lunar month. It lasts all three months of spring at Yen Tu Pagoda on the mountain. This is also the best time to travel Yen Tu because the atmosphere is so pleasant, cool and peaceful while other time is hot, humid and rainy, or monsoons flourish. The festival is held to honor the contribution and merit of King Tran Nhan Tong. He was the hero of Vietnamese people to win the war and the founder of Truc Lam Zen monastery. 

You can see the big statue of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong in a meditative pose on the top of the mountain, 138 tonnes in weight, is the largest copper statue in Vietnam. Monk Danh Dara, verger of Sareyvonsa Pagoda said: “Only reaching the top of the high mountain and seeing with my own eyes the place where the Buddhist King led a religious life in the old days can I perceive how noble and great his virtue, will and mind was.” Beautiful scenery at Yen Tu is the magnificence of the mountain in harmony with the system of pagodas, ancient towers and tree forests, bamboo growing on both sides of the road. 

Activities at Yen Tu Festival

Visitors coming to the festival of Yen Tu Pagoda are separated from the mundane world, join a religious pilgrimage between majestic nature. People try to get to the top of the mountain by walking although they have to hike up thousands of step stones to the peak at a height of 1,068m above sea level. Most of them believe that taking up this challenging journey is a great way to start a new year and express their sincerity to Buddha. Especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), thousands of locals from around the country come here to commemorate Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong, worship Buddha and wish for the new year. They can use the cable car going to Yen Tu mountain much quicker and easier. The cable car opens from early morning to serve visitors. Don’t forget the cable car stops running at 6 p.m. However, visitors still have to walk a stretch of road around 500m to see everything. 

Visitors will marvel at a stone marked “ "the Sacred Yen Tu Mountain Peak" and a statue of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong in a meditative pose on the top of the mountain. Even if you visit at sunset or sunrise, you will admire the breaking views seen from the top of Yen Tu Mountain, the natural landscape and historical relics. The natural landscape of Yen Tu looks like a watercolor painting. Yen Tu also has a well-known road of pine trees and vast forests of green bamboo trees which are a unique plant species. That might be the reason that King Tran Nhan Tong named his Zen sect Truc Lam which means bamboo forest. 

Not only Yen Tu pagoda, but there are also mostly sightseeing of wonderful scenery at Yen Tu such as Dong pagoda, Truc Lam Yen Tu Monastery, Giai Oan stream, or Heaven's gate,... Don't worry about getting lost! There are a lot of direction signs along the roads showing travelers the way to Yen Tu mountain. Dong pagoda has had great spiritual importance. The pagoda has construction works in the Post-Le Dynasty (15th century). The pagoda was decorated with the Buddha statue, bell and musical stone made of bronze. Every year, thousands of visitors make a pilgrimage to the Buddhist sanctuary, worship and pray in Dong pagoda. 

The traditional festival of Yen Tu mountain is considered one of the holiest activities in Vietnam.  Visitors can enjoy nature with a sacred atmosphere of a peaceful and pure Buddhist world.