On the morning of February 26th (the 10th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse), the opening ceremony of the Yen Tu Spring Festival 2026 was solemnly held at Truc Lam Palace, Yen Tu Ward (Quang Ninh), marking the beginning of a series of activities promoting the World Cultural Heritage site of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical and scenic sites.
Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, Vice Chairman of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Association and Head of the Executive Board of the Quang Ninh Provincial Buddhist Association, rang the bell to officially open the festival.
PHOTO: QMG
This year, Quang Ninh province is organizing the Yen Tu Spring Festival opening ceremony in a solemn, safe, healthy, economical manner, while preserving the national identity.
The program began with a solemn procession of palanquins. Following the opening speech, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Quang Ninh province presided over the New Year blessing ceremony, praying for national peace and prosperity, and favorable weather.
The Yen Tu Spring Festival took place in a solemn manner.
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
In particular, tourists and Buddhists can witness the ritual of beating drums and ringing bells to signal the official start of the Yen Tu festival. This is followed by a prayer ceremony with incense offerings and the sacred sealing ceremony of Yen Tu - a beautiful traditional cultural event held at the beginning of spring. After the ceremony, delegates and a large number of people go on pilgrimage to climb the mountain and worship at the ancient temples, hermitages, and pagodas amidst the majestic sacred mountain.
Within the framework of the festival, from February 25th to March 4th, there will be an exhibition on Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism; an OCOP fair, a regional food festival with over 100 stalls; and a retreat "Yen Tu: The Source of Wisdom" attracting approximately 3,000 Buddhists.
The festival section was vibrant with dragon and lion dances, traditional musical instruments, folk games, and a cultural space showcasing the cuisine of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group.
Locals and Buddhists pray for peace at the Yen Tu spring festival.
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
The famous Yen Tu mountain is associated with the name of Tran Nhan Tong, the wise king who twice defeated the Mongol invaders, after which he renounced worldly life to become a monk and founded the Truc Lam Zen sect, a Zen school with a strong Vietnamese identity, emphasizing the idea of "engagement with the world," connecting religion with life.
For over seven centuries, Yen Tu has become a sacred gathering place, where people return to their roots and nurture their aspirations for goodness.
The opening ceremony of the Yen Tu spring festival was not crowded; everyone respectfully performed the rituals and prayed for peace.
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Bui Van Khang, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that the Yen Tu Spring Festival is not only a ritual to start the new year but also an opportunity to promote the value of heritage, affirming Yen Tu's position on the map of world heritage; at the same time, it sets higher requirements in the work of conservation, management and sustainable development of spiritual and cultural tourism.
On the opening day of the festival, it was drizzling at the top of Dong Pagoda, and everyone, both locals and Buddhists, wore raincoats while performing the rituals.
PHOTO: D.X
Prior to the Yen Tu Spring Festival 2026, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council issued Resolution 101/2026/NQ-HĐND, waiving 100% of entrance fees to the Yen Tu scenic area from 2026 to the end of 2028; waiving parking fees at Ha Kieu bus station until the end of 2026; providing free insurance for tourists; and implementing an AI-powered automatic recognition system.
This coordinated policy helps bring heritage closer to the community, creating momentum for sustainable tourism development linked to conservation.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khai-hoi-xuan-yen-tu-185260226130539421.htm
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