Yen Tu Ward is making full use of its valuable resources, balancing the preservation of traditional values and UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage while developing diverse and distinctive eco-cultural tourism products and experiences.
Yen Tu Ward was established in 2025 through the merger of three administrative units, namely Thuong Yen Cong, Phuong Dong and Phuong Nam. Located at the western gateway of Quang Ninh Province, Yen Tu holds a strategic position bordering Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Vang Danh, Uong Bi, Binh Khe and Hoang Que. This location creates favourable conditions for regional connectivity and diversified economic and tourism development.
Yen Tu is not only rich in heritage value and ecological landscapes but also benefits from a convenient transport network, including national highways, provincial roads, the Hanoi - Quang Ninh railway line, extended road routes, riverside roads and inland waterway ports. This provides a solid foundation for developing cultural and ecological tourism associated with high-quality services.
Yen Tu is best known for the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes, which has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site. It is also regarded as the cradle of Truc Lam Buddhism, Vietnam’s only indigenous Buddhist sect. The area also features diverse natural landscapes, including primeval forests within the Yen Tu National Reserve, Yen Trung Lake, Khe Song - Bac Waterfall, Khe Su 2, the poetic river landscapes of Phuong Nam... These are valuable resources for developing eco-tourism, leisure travel and nature-based experiences.
The northern area is rich in the cultural identity of the Dao Thanh Y ethnic group. It is also associated with distinctive agricultural and forestry products such as early-ripening lychee, red-flesh dragon fruit, Taiwan pear guava, OCOP products. These factors provide a strong foundation for community-based tourism development while contributing to the preservation of ethnic cultural values.
In recent years, Yen Tu’s tourism infrastructure has been significantly upgraded. The heritage site has been improved, while the Dao Thanh Y Cultural Exhibition House and the Khe Su 2 community tourism site have been completed. Uong Bi Golf Course, Yen Tu Legacy Resort and Lang Nuong Village... have also contributed to improving visitor experiences.
Tung Lam Development JSC has played an important role by introducing high-end tourism services and distinctive cultural and artistic programmes such as “Lang Nuong Village Night Festival”, meditation courses, international summer camps... These activities not only enhance visitor experiences but also diversify tourism products, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
Year-round cultural and tourism events further strengthen Yen Tu’s appeal. Notable events include Yen Tu Tourism and Culture Week, the festival commemorating King-Buddha Tran Nhan Tong, the Yellow Apricot Blossom Festival, the “Conquering Phu Van Peak” race, the Yen Tu Marathon... According to statistics, from 2020 to 2025, the Yen Tu area welcomed around 3.6 million tourist arrivals, generating nearly VND 2 trillion in tourism revenue, with the Yen Tu heritage site accounting for more than 85 per cent.
Yen Tu Ward is focusing on developing signature tourism products, including spiritual and cultural tourism linked to Yen Tu pilgrimage routes; community-based tourism and Dao cultural experiences; eco-tourism at Yen Trung Lake; agricultural tourism combined with OCOP products; as well as leisure travel, cuisine and traditional craft village experiences. With a vision to 2030, Yen Tu aims to become an internationally recognised cultural, ecological and spiritual tourism centre, as well as a year-round destination of Quang Ninh.
By Ha Phong
