Apart from an art program called “Yen Tu welcomes spring”, visitors had a chance to take part in folk games such as cockfighting, tug of war and chess, and enjoy lion dance, and traditional martial art performances.
During several days ahead of the festival, about 150,000 tourists had visited Yen Tu Mount, up 25% year-on-year, according to Le Minh Quang, head of the Division of Culture and Information of Uong Bi City.
Located about 40 kilometers from Halong City, Yen Tu region is well-known for its beautiful landscapes, historical relics and hundreds of ancient pagodas and towers, especially Dong (Bronze) Pagoda.
King Tran Nhan Tong, who reigned over the country from 1279 to 1293 and twice led the country to defeat Mongol invaders, founded the Truc Lam Zen sect in the late 13th century after abdicating the throne and embracing the life of a Buddhist monk on Yen Tu Mount. Since then, Yen Tu has become the country’s leading Buddhist center.
Yen Tu was recognized as a special national relic site in September 2012 and listed in the top ten spiritual destinations in Vietnam by the Vietnam Records Book Center.
Lasting until the end of the third lunar month, the months-long Yen Tu Spring Festival attracts the largest number of pilgrims among the festivals held in Quang Ninh Province.
