Yen Tu Mountain
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Yen Tu Vinh Nghiem Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex (2025). The Mountain Where King Tran Nhan Tong Founded Truc Lam Zen Buddhism In The 13th Century, With Pagodas, Bronze Statues And An Ancient Path Of Stone Steps. Climbed On Foot Or By Cable Car At Festival Time From January To March · Uong Bi, Quang Ninh
Yen Tu is a forested mountain in Quang Ninh province, about 130 km east of Hanoi, where King Tran Nhan Tong gave up his throne in the 13th century and founded Truc Lam, a Vietnamese school of Zen Buddhism built on meditation and a simple life. A stone path of roughly 6,000 steps climbs past Hoa Yen pagoda and many smaller pagodas, tombs and bronze statues to the small Dong pagoda at the top, which is made of bronze and sits at around 1,000 m in frequent fog. Cable car sections replace the steepest stretches, so many visitors ride part of the way and walk the rest. It is steep, slippery in wet weather, and in the spring festival, from January to March, the crowds are enormous. The site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2025 as part of a Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac complex; confirm current status. It is a pilgrimage first and a hike second. Ha Long Bay is the nearest famous place and is separate.
Yen Tu mountain, Thuong Yen Cong commune, near Uong Bi, about 130 km east of Hanoi, Uong Bi, Quang Ninh, Vietnam
The site is open daily in daylight, with the main gates and cable cars running from morning to late afternoon, and exact times vary by season, so confirm them. Hours are longest in the festival season from January to March, when pilgrims start before dawn. Cable cars can stop in strong wind, heavy fog or maintenance. Pagodas are open to worshippers through the day and quieter pagodas may close for rest at midday. Nothing is FREE at the main gate, as entry and cable car tickets are paid, though the pagodas themselves ask only for donations. It is not closed on a fixed weekday, and weekends and the first lunar month are the busiest. Confirm current times and prices.