The complex spans across Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh provinces and Hai Phong city. With hundreds of historical relics, scenic spots, and traditional festivals, this region is considered the cradle of Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhist Zen sect.

Woodblocks at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda are recognised by UNESCO as Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Programme for the Asia-Pacific.

On July 12, 2025, UNESCO officially inscribed the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes as a world heritage site.

This milestone has elevated Yen Tu’s position on the global tourism map and unleashed the potential to welcome millions of domestic and international visitors each year.

The complex boasts outstanding universal values. It is not only home to ancient architectural works but also serves as a vivid testament to the formation and development of the Truc Lam Buddhism, founded by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century.

Notably, two pagodas in Bac Ninh - Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Tan An ward) and Bo Da Pagoda (Van Ha ward) - are considered major centres of the Buddhist Zen sect, playing a crucial role in preserving and promoting the religion.

These pagodas house a unique collection of woodblocks, especially at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, which preserves 3,050 woodblocks carved with Buddhist scriptures, medical texts, and monastic codes in Han and Nom scripts.

This collection has been recognissed by UNESCO as Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Programme for the Asia-Pacific.

To leverage the potential of the Yen Tu region, the localities had previously issued various resolutions and tourism development proposals. Building upon those strategies, relevant departments and sectors across the three localities have collaborated to develop inter-provincial tour routes.

Among those are heritage pilgrimage tours, including Luy Lau, Dau Pagoda – Western Yen Tu, and Vinh Nghiem Pagoda; Yen Tu – Con Son, Kiep Bac; cultural-historical tours combining Quan ho folk songs, traditional craft villages, archaeological sites with Buddhist relics and natural landscapes; and experiential tourism products offering new and engaging visitor experiences.

In recent times, the number of tourists visiting these heritage sites has increased significantly, particularly after the UNESCO inscription.

In the first six months of 2025, Bac Ninh recorded thousands of visitors to Western Yen Tu spiritual-ecological tourism area, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Mo Spring, Bo Da Pagoda, and other ancient pagodas.

Many major travel agencies have launched inter-regional tours attracting tourists from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, as well as international travelers.

In the first eight months of 2025, the Western Yen Tu spiritual-ecological tourism area welcomed around 150,000 visitors, including numerous out-of-province and international groups.

To further enrich the tourism offering, during 2025-2027, new investments will be made in hotel facilities, camping zones, and commercial-culinary streets.

Tourists visit the Western Yen Tu spiritual-ecological tourism area.

From 2026 to 2030, projects will include the development of riverside and forest resorts, a world Buddhist park, and a live-action stage complex.

The Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac world heritage site is a priceless asset not only for the three localities (Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong) but also for the entire nation.

Establishing links to create distinctive tourism products in the Yen Tu region is an urgent requirement to fully harness the value of the heritage and simultaneously promote sustainable socio-economic development.

With decisive and coordinated implementation of strategic solutions, Yen Tu has the potential to become a leading spiritual and cultural tourism destination in Asia, generating livelihoods for local communities and elevating Vietnam's image on the global tourism stage.

Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex recognised as World Heritage

Vietnam’s Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Scenic Landscape Complex has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held recently in France. This marks Vietnam’s 9th World Heritage site recognised by UNESCO and the second trans-provincial heritage site, following Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago (which spans Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City).

 

Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac Complex recognised as World Culture Heritage

This is the 9th world heritage of Vietnam and the second inter-provincial world heritage, after Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city.

 

Paris event highlights spiritual significance of Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac complex

The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.

 

Ancient Tran Dynasty pagodas in Tay Yen Tu hold great values

BAC GIANG - The ancient pagodas in the Tay Yen Tu (western Yen Tu range) region of Bac Giang province are deeply connected to the formation and development of the Tru Lam Buddhist Zen sect during the Tran Dynasty. These pagodas possess significant values that need to be preserved, restored, and promoted in combination with tourism development.

Culture-Tourism Week and Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival spreads cultural identities, promotes Bac Giang’s tourism development

BAC GIANG- The provincial People’s Committee of Bac Giang province on the morning of February 9 solemnly held the opening ceremony of the 2025 Culture-Tourism Week and Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival themed "Sacred Tay Yen Tu" at the Tay Yen Tu spiritual- ecotourism complex (Son Dong district).

Yen Tu Spring Festival draws crowds on opening day

The Yen Tu Spring Festival in the northern province of Quang Ninh attracted nearly 20,000 domestic and foreign visitors on its opening day (February 7).