The history...

Underthe Ly Dynasty, Yen Tu held the Phu Van Pagoda, with Yen Ky Sinh as itswarden. But Yen Tu only really became a Buddhism centre when EmperorTran Nhan Tong surrendered his throne to establish a Buddhist sectcalled Thien Truc Lam and became the first progenitor with thereligious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308). Heordered building hundreds of constructions, large and small on Yen TuMountain for leading a religious life, sermonizing. After his death,his successor, Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong (1284 - 1330) the secondprogenitor of Thien Truc Lam, compiled a set of book “Thach that ngonngu” and ordered the building of 800 pagodas, shrines and towers withthousands of value statues throughout 19 years of religious life. Somefamous pagodas are Quynh Lam, Ho Thien. There is the third progenitorof Thien Truc Lam, Huyen Quang Ly Dao Tai (1254 - 1334), in thesermonizing centre of Phap Loa.

Passingthrough to the Le and Nguyen Dynasties, Yen Tu became the focal pointof Vietnamese Buddhism, and was often subject to restorations. It is ameeting place of different styles from various historic periods:visible in the many different designs and decorations that ornate itsconstructions.

Themountain scenery and beautiful pagodas and hermitages, inspired KingTran Nhan Tong, who reigned over the country from 1279 to 1293, to passthe throne to his son to lead the life of a Buddhist monk at Yen Tu.There, he founded the Truc Lam medication sect, making Yen Tu thecountry’s leading Buddhist center.

... and the festival

Yen Tu Festivalcommences annually on the 10th day of the first lunar month and lastsfor three months. Tens of thousands of pilgrims begin their journey tothe uppermost shrine after a solemn ritual held at the base of Yen Tu Mountain.

Duringthe festival, the people near and far flock to Yen Tu which wasregarded as the Buddhist land to show their belief and aspiration or toget rid of all sorrows and sadness. Other go to Yen Tu to dosightseeing and to enjoy the pure atmosphere of a mountain region.Foreign visitors come to Yen Tu to witness a famous beauty spot, amysterious tourist attraction. Many cultural and historical values arecarefully preserved in Yen Tu, where is also home to a rare ecosystemin Vietnam.  

Inthe wide ensemble of vestiges in Yen Tu, there are 11 pagodas andhundreds of shrines and towers. One form of entertainment is to climbthe peak to where the Dong Pagoda was built (1,068m above the sea). Onthe way, you will see pagodas, a tower, a stream and a forest. At thetop, after having burned joss-sticks, you seem to be lost in naturesomewhere between the sky and the earth. When clear, you can perceivealmost all of the northeast area from here.

Dong Pagoda

Thecomplex of historical sites and beauty spots in Yen Tu features variouspagodas, shrines or stupas now appearing now disappearing under thethick foliage of the primary show their belief, or doing away with allsorrow and sadness. Others go to Yen Tu to do sightseeing and to enjoythe pure atmosphere of a mountain region. Foreign visitors come to YenTu to witness a famous beauty spot, a mysterious tourist attraction.Anyone who makes all the way to the Bronze Pagoda feels themagnificence of Yen Tu and forests. Atop Yen Tu Mountain, one feelslike standing by the Heave Gate shrouded in white cloud. On clear daysone can have a partial view of the northeastern region...