The esteemed Yen Tu Spring Festival 2025 commenced on February 7 at the Truc Lam Yen Tu Cultural Center in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province. The festival is one of the largest and most spiritually significant events in Northern Vietnam.
As per the Quang Ninh Provincial Buddhist Sangha, the highlight of this year’s festival is the sacred palanquin procession, the largest of its kind. It includes 11 palanquin teams from Uong Bi City and members of the Quang Ninh Buddhist Sangha.
On the inaugural day, nearly 20,000 domestic and international pilgrims visited the Yen Tu Relic Site. Pham Tuan Dat, Chairman of the Uong Bi City People’s Committee, in his speech, reminded attendees of the site’s significance. Yen Tu is a holy land that has held a special place in the hearts of Vietnamese people throughout history. It was the chosen retreat of King Tran Nhan Tong, who dedicated himself to meditation and founded the Truc Lam Zen sect.
“The sacred mountain of Yen Tu embodies the indelible spirit of the Vietnamese people,” he asserted. He further added, “The Yen Tu Spring Festival is a reminder for future generations to honor our roots, pay reverence, and express gratitude to our ancestors and King Tran Nhan Tong, the ‘Buddha King’.”
The 2025 opening ceremony featured a grand recreation of an ancient spring celebration, including the revered palanquin procession, sacred offerings, and spiritual rituals such as the Drum-Giving Ceremony, Bell-Requesting Ceremony, and New Year’s Blessings.
Beyond the spiritual and historical significance, the festival presented a series of cultural activities rooted in Vietnam’s ancient traditions. These included meditation instruction, a spring market, exhibitions of Dong Ho folk painting, folk games, and a flower lantern release ceremony, allowing pilgrims to immerse themselves in the nation’s cultural heritage.
On this auspicious day, monks, nuns, Buddhists, and devotees gathered in reverence and made the pilgrimage to Yen Tu. Among them was Dao Lam Phong, a Vietnamese student studying in Germany, who shared, “This is my first time attending the Yen Tu festival. The journey has deepened my understanding of this sacred land associated with King Tran Nhan Tong, the only ‘Buddha King’ of Vietnam.”
The Yen Tu Spring Festival, an annual event held on the 10th day of the first Lunar New Year, has become a cultural treasure for the Vietnamese people. It encapsulates the spirit of “Uong nuoc nho nguon,” reminding us to remember our roots. The festival serves as a spiritual haven, gathering the faithful and inspiring reverence and gratitude for our ancestors’ values.
Mount Yen Tu, rising approximately 1,068 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in northeastern Vietnam. Located north of Uong Bi, not far from the renowned Halong Bay, it is also known as Elephant Mountain due to its resemblance to a reclining elephant facing the sea.
For centuries, Yen Tu Mountain has been a sanctuary for monks seeking seclusion. However, it gained prominence when the revered Emperor Tran Nhan Tong chose to settle here after abdicating in 1299 to devote himself to Buddhism and enlightenment.
The beauty of Yen Tu lies in the majestic mountains intertwined with the ancient serenity of its pagodas, shrines, and towers. The site, located about 150 kilometers from Hanoi’s center, attracts travelers seeking a religious pilgrimage in nature, away from the mundane.
In 2024, a dossier was submitted to UNESCO for the inscription of the Yen Tu Relic Site and Spring Festival as World Heritage. It is hoped that this sacred mountain and its profound spiritual and cultural significance will gain global recognition and reverence.
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