Yen Tu Spring Festival opens first festive heritage season of world heritage site

The opening ceremony takes place on February 26 (the 10th day of the first lunar month) at the Yen Tu complex of monuments and landscapes, Yen Tu ward, northern Quang Ninh province.

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A solemn palanquin procession opens the festival, drawing thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhist followers, local residents and visitors. The celebration runs throughout the first three months of spring at the cradle of Truc Lam Buddhism, where King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong renounced the throne and founded a Zen lineage deeply rooted in Vietnamese cultural identity.

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One of Vietnam’s centuries-old traditional festivals, this year’s Yen Tu Spring Festival holds added significance as the Yen Tu -Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac complex of monuments and landscapes has been recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site since July 2025.

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Most Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and head of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Quang Ninh chapter, performs the ceremonial bell-ringing ritual, while Bui Van Khang, Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee, beats the drum to open the festival.

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Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, expresses his honour at attending the Yen Tu Spring Festival opening ceremony and affirmed that cultural heritage can only remain sustainable when it is valued, safeguarded and passed on by the community across generations. He notes that through solemn rituals, traditional art forms and a wide range of cultural activities, the festival continues to demonstrate the enduring vitality of Yen Tu while highlighting the profound spiritual and humanistic values of this sacred land.

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After the sacred seal ritual, delegates and pilgrims offer incense prayers for national peace and prosperity in a solemn and reverent atmosphere.

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Large numbers of Buddhist followers, local residents and visitors come not only to worship and pray for peace, but also to reconnect with their historical roots and pay tribute to their forebears in keeping with the Vietnamese tradition of gratitude. They also turn to the teachings of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong and the Truc Lam Zen sect, a distinctly Vietnamese Buddhist lineage that promotes engaged Buddhism, harmonising faith with daily life and placing service to the people and the nation at the heart of spiritual practice.

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Despite light spring drizzle on the opening day, with mist thickening at higher elevations, streams of pilgrims continued their ascent to the sacred mountain. Many sought to pay homage and admire the hundreds of ancient pagodas and towers along the route to the 1,068-metre summit.

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The 2026 Yen Tu Spring Festival features several new elements, underscoring the stature of the World Heritage site. Alongside the ceremonial rites, festive activities take place with traditional art performances, folk games and opportunities to explore the culinary culture of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic community at the foot of Yen Tu Mountain.

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Appealing to those interested in history and culture, an exhibition on Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism runs through March 4, featuring displays of Tran Dynasty artefacts as well as documents, photographs and objects related to Truc Lam Buddhism at Yen Tu. The Yen Tu “Spring of Wisdom” retreat is also being held, drawing around 3,000 participants.

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Held alongside the festival is a trade fair showing items under the “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) programme, along with a regional culinary festival, featuring more than 100 booths displaying handicrafts, OCOP-certified goods and distinctive cuisine from Quang Ninh province and other localities. A special art programme is scheduled for the evening of March 7 (the 19th day of the first lunar month), with an audience of around 10,000. The performance will retrace the historical, cultural and philosophical journey of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, portraying Yen Tu as a spiritual symbol of the nation and a World Cultural Heritage site of outstanding universal value.

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In addition to ensuring security and safety during the festival season, Quang Ninh province is implementing policies to waive entrance fees to scenic and heritage sites (excluding cable car services), exempt parking fees for cars and motorbikes, and provide free insurance coverage for all visitors. The province has also installed an AI-powered automatic visitor recognition system at entry and exit points of the heritage site. These measures aim to further promote and spread the value of the World Heritage site while offering domestic and international visitors a solemn and comprehensive experience.

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Yen Tu Spring Festival opens first festive heritage season of world heritage site

VOV.VN - The 2026 Yen Tu Spring Festival has opened, marking the first festive season following the recognition by UNESCO of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac complex of monuments and landscapes as a World Cultural Heritage site.

2025 Yen Tu Spring festival attracts Buddhist pilgrims

Yen Tu Spring Festival opens first festive heritage season of world heritage site

VOV.VN - The 2026 Yen Tu Spring Festival has opened, marking the first festive season following the recognition by UNESCO of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac complex of monuments and landscapes as a World Cultural Heritage site.

2025 Yen Tu Spring festival attracts Buddhist pilgrims

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Quang Ninh waives entrance fees at Yen Tu complex through 2028

Quang Ninh waives entrance fees at Yen Tu complex through 2028