Autumn in Yen Tu offers a refreshing contrast to the bustling pilgrimage season of spring. Golden foliage, crystal-clear waterfalls, and a tranquil heritage landscape create an atmosphere of peace and renewal. This year, visitors have even more reason to ascend the sacred mountain, as the first-ever large-scale “Yen Tu - Autumn of Zen Serenity” festival takes place from September to December 2025, promising a journey that harmonizes culture, spirituality, art, and wellness.
Visitors have been welcomed with captivating art performances, exhibitions of paintings, photography, and poetry celebrating Yen Tu’s golden season, along with a lantern procession in Lang Nuong Village since late September. These scenes blend solemnity with warmth, inviting travelers to pause the rush of daily life and rediscover inner tranquility. More than a cultural festival, it is an open invitation to embrace mindfulness amid the sacred mountains.
What makes “Autumn of Zen Serenity” truly special is its three-month program, ensuring every visit brings a unique experience. Begin the morning with breathing meditation or yoga among bamboo groves, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves while awakening positive energy for the day.
On weekends, the “Sunrise at Dong pagoda” tour offers an unforgettable moment: meditating above the clouds at over 1,000 meters and witnessing the first light of dawn, a spiritual and awe-inspiring experience.
From the foot of the mountain, travelers can follow in the footsteps of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, stopping at pagodas such as Giai Oan, Hoa Yen, and An Ky Sinh by cable car or on forest trails. Each step is not only a journey through nature but also a reflection of the monarch’s path of enlightenment and the origins of the Truc Lam Zen tradition.
Daily performances at Khai Tam gate and Guong Thien stage, including “Sacred sounds of Yen Tu” and “Essence of Vietnamese culture”, fill the air with traditional melodies, graceful dances, and meditative chants.
As evening falls, Lang Nuong village comes alive with Dao Thanh Y cultural showcases, lantern parades, flower lantern releases, and bonfires where communities gather. Visitors can explore local rituals, folk songs, xam music, traditional games like tug-of-war and human chess, or enjoy vegetarian cuisine and Dao ethnic specialties. The result is a Yen Tu both sacred and vibrant, where joy and serenity naturally converge.
For active travelers, the festival also highlights sporting events. The Yen Tu Ultra Trail has impressed athletes with its dramatic mountain landscapes and waterfalls.
In mid-November, the “Yen Tu heritage run - Touch the heritage” will continue this momentum, with every stride connecting participants to a site newly inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
The best time to experience Yen Tu’s autumn is from late September to November, when the mountains are brushed with golden leaves. Must-see stops include Trinh, Giai Oan, Hoa Yen, An Ky Sinh, and Dong Pagoda, along with Lang Nuong village, the hub of festival activities. A two-day, one-night trip is ideal, allowing time to join the evening festivities and greet the sunrise at Dong pagoda. Comfortable clothing, hiking shoes, and a light jacket will make the journey even smoother.
More than a tourism event, “Yen Tu - Autumn of Zen serenity” is a bridge between heritage and the present, offering Quang Ninh the chance to share with the world an authentic, sacred, and welcoming destination.
If spring in Yen Tu is the season of pilgrimage, this autumn promises to be the season of meditation and a peaceful destination where every traveler can discover stillness within and a renewed sense of wonder in this timeless land.
