Autumn and winter arrive on the sacred mountain of Yen Tu.

The dry, breezy weather, the scenery of mountains, temples, and forests in the clear air of autumn as it gradually turns into winter, makes anyone who comes to Yen Tu at this time feel truly special...

The crystal-clear Giải Oan stream flows alongside the lush green forest in Yên Tử during the autumn and winter seasons.

Although it's currently the dry season in Northern Vietnam, the green landscape of Yen Tu (Uong Bi City) remains dominant. The entire mountainous region, from the foot of the mountain to the summit of Dong Pagoda, is still covered in lush green forests, with only occasional yellow leaves. The lingering effects of Typhoon Yagi from early September are barely noticeable; only those with keen eyesight can spot the green trees sprouting new leaves, reviving after nature's fury amidst the vast expanse of greenery.

Autumn and winter are traditionally the most beautiful seasons at Yen Tu, but since the spring festival hasn't arrived yet, it's relatively quiet, making it ideal for groups of visitors who prefer tranquility and seek more private, introspective experiences. For Yen Tu, this is also the peak season for foreign tourists.

Mr. Le Trong Thanh, Deputy General Director of Tung Lam Development Joint Stock Company, the unit operating tourism services at the foot of Yen Tu, said: "We have European tourists here who stay for a whole month. Korean tourists are a traditional group of visitors to Yen Tu; after the Covid-19 pandemic, this group slowed down and is currently in the recovery phase. Recently, Korean tourists staying in Yen Tu are mainly people working and doing business in Vietnam who come for family vacations or individual trips. In addition, on average, there are about 200-300 Korean tourists visiting Yen Tu on day trips each day. The company is currently developing product packages to attract this group of tourists to stay longer in the future instead of just visiting for the day."

Tourists check in at the Truc Lam Cultural Center at the foot of Yen Tu mountain.

Mr. Thanh said that, in addition to traditional tourist groups, the unit is also stepping up its promotional efforts and seeking new markets at tourism fairs. As a result, this year Yen Tu has seen an increase in Taiwanese tourists, brought in by large travel agencies, with approximately 15-20 rooms booked daily. The Halal tourist segment is also very promising; Legacy Yen Tu previously hosted a Halal group from Malaysia who booked over 80 rooms and stayed for two nights. The unit also welcomed the tour organizer and owner of a company that had previously visited Quang Ninh for tourism. They visited Yen Tu for a survey, and together they plan to build large groups to exploit this tourist source in the future.

As a highlight of tourism in Uong Bi City, tourism at the sacred Yen Tu mountain has seen significant investment and development in recent years. The system of ancient and majestic temples and pagodas on the mountain, with a history spanning thousands of years, nestled within the Yen Tu National Forest, offers visitors unique experiences and opportunities to learn about the Truc Lam Zen sect – a purely Vietnamese Zen school founded by Emperor Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century. Visitors can choose to walk along the paved pilgrimage paths to the temples or take the cable car to admire Yen Tu from above.

Guests can rest and relax at the Zen retreat of Legacy Yen Tu.

At the foot of the mountain, tourism services have been developed by Tung Lam Development Joint Stock Company for many years. Visitors to Yen Tu this autumn and winter can continue to experience attractive tourism products with the service system at Lang Nuong and Legacy Yen Tu, ranging from sightseeing, check-in, relaxation, and culinary experiences to packages of meditation, yoga, and health care using medicinal herbs, tailored to their needs.

This holiday season, visitors can also explore and experience some new products, such as participating in health seminars with knowledge sharing from renowned scholars, or business people can attend the Happy Entrepreneur course organized at the end of November…

Many trees that were broken and felled by Typhoon Yagi have begun to sprout new leaves in the area at the foot of the mountain.

According to Uong Bi City's plan, the "Yen Tu Heritage 2024 - Touching the Heritage Region" race is scheduled to start on December 8th at Yen Tu, coinciding with the announcement and launch of Uong Bi City's tourism brand identity. The race is organized free of charge by the city, aiming to strongly promote the image of Yen Tu on its journey towards UNESCO's nomination of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical and scenic sites as a World Cultural Heritage site.

To date, registration for the race has closed with 6,000 participants registering for the 5km, 10km, and 21km distances. Visitors to Yen Tu during this period are promised a vibrant sporting atmosphere at the foot of the mountain and can cheer on the runners. In early December, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the solemn ceremonial activities commemorating the 716th anniversary (1308-2024) of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong's passing into Nirvana at Yen Tu…

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