The Yen Tu Buddhist Spring Festival 2016 has opened by the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee and the Quang Ninh’s Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam in Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province.

(Photo: VNA)

The Quang Ninh traditional opera troupe and over 200 amateur performers are participating in the festival. Numerous rituals were presented to participants and visitors at the festival.

Yen Tu Spring Festival will last for three months through the spring, until March 10th on the lunar calendar, hoping to welcome about 2.5 million visitors. Last year, it greeted over 2.1 million ones.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan sealed paper to open the Festival. (Photo: Nguyen Hoang/VNA)

Yen Tu Mountain is located about 50km from Ha Long city. The winding route of the pilgrimage from the foot of the mountain to its peak is almost 30km. On the highest peak sits the Dong (Bronze) Pagoda, which is more than a kilometer above sea level.

Yen Tu was a centre of Buddhism for many years. Most people come here escaping busy daily life, taking fresh air amidst the glorious scenery of nature and praying for good fortune and health for themselves and their family in the New Year. Yen Tu is famous for the legend about Tran King and Truc Lam Zen, which attracts many Vietnamese here every year.

With its significant historical, cultural and natural values, Yen Tu was recognised as a Special National Relic Site in September 2012. It was also selected as one of the 10 most popular spiritual destinations in Vietnam by the Vietnam Records Organisation./.

( Compiled by VNF )