A journey to five world heritage destinations

Joining this 2-day tour, visitors will experience five outstanding relics in the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex recognized by UNESCO as world cultural heritage, including Con Son pagoda, Kiep Bac temple, Thanh Mai pagoda, Kinh Chu cave, and Nham Duong pagoda.

Con Son pagoda - one of the five relics in the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex recognized by UNESCO as world heritage.

On the morning of the first day, visitors will tour Kiep Bac relic site in Tran Hung Dao ward, with Kiep Bac temple as the highlight.

In addition to visiting the relic site, visitors will take part in exciting activities like making Van Yen ceramics, taking photos in ancient costumes, and painting lotus flowers on conical hats.

On this journey, visitors will also taste Kiep Bac lotus tea, enjoy Con Son mung bean cakes, and shop for local OCOP products.

After lunch with local specialties at Kiep Bac, visitors will continue their journey to Con Son pagoda and Nguyen Trai temple at Con Son relic site.

Kiep Bac temple.

Con Son pagoda was built in the Tran dynasty and still preserves many national treasures such as Thanh Hu Dong stele, Con Son Tu Phuc Tu stele, and a set of past, present, and future Buddha statues.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Trai temple is associated with the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival commemorating the death anniversary of National Hero and World Cultural Figure Nguyen Trai.

The festival features many unique rituals and was recognized by the State as a national intangible cultural heritage festival in 2012.

Along with visiting the relics, visitors will also enjoy various activities such as turning the Cuu Pham Lien Hoa (nine-tier lotus-shaped tower), exploring Con Son stream, learning woodblock printing and calligraphy, taking photos in ancient costumes, and tasting Con Son chrysanthemum tea.

The second day of the tour begins at Thanh Mai pagoda. This 14th-century pagoda is associated with the Truc Lam Zen sect and is famous for its unique landscape. Here, a stele carved in 1362 is preserved, which was recognized as a national treasure in 2016.

Visitors will have the entire morning to visit the relic complex, explore the Thanh Mai 2 archaeological site located 300 m behind the mountain, and immerse themselves in the special space of the maple forest. They will also experience making and tasting unique ethnic cakes and enjoying herbal tea.

On the afternoon of the second day, visitors will continue their journey to Kinh Chu cave in Duong Nham mountain. This natural cave formed inside a limestone massif features magical stalactites and, notably, an inscription system carved directly on the rock walls dating from the Tran to Nguyen dynasties.

The final destination of the tour is Nham Duong pagoda. This pagoda is the ancestral seat of the Vietnamese Caodong school, where Zen Master Thuy Nguyet resided in the 17th century.

Thanh Mai pagoda appears serene amidst the maple forest on the slopes of Phat Tich mountain.

There, visitors will tour and listen to presentations about the relic complex and archaeological artifacts, notably the discovery of fossilized teeth and bones of animal species dating back 50,000 - 30,000 years, along with many other archaeological items.

Exploring Con Son - Kiep Bac heritage

For nature lovers, the 2-day tour “Exploring Con Son - Kiep Bac heritage” is a remarkable choice.

The first day of the tour explores the Con Son - Kiep Bac complex, similar to the “A journey to five world heritage destinations” tour.

The second day will be entirely devoted to experiencing Nguyen Trai temple, Bach Van hermitage, Ban Co Tien (Fairy Chess Board), and Ngu Nhac mountain.

Kinh Chu, once called the sixth most beautiful cave of Vietnam.

After offering incense, visiting and listening to explanations about Nguyen Trai temple, his life, career, and genealogy, visitors will freely immerse themselves in the beautiful natural scenery and experience Con Son stream.

Notably, visitors will practice meditation at Bach Van hermitage, play chess, join cultural exchanges, and enjoy local cuisine in the fresh air on the top of Con Son mountain.

On the afternoon of the second day, visitors will continue to explore the mysteries of five temples, called Ngu Nhac Linh Tu, on Ngu Nhac mountain.

Ban Co Tien (Fairy Chess Board) is an interesting destination on Con Son mountain.

After offering incense, visiting, and listening to explanations about Ngu Nhac mountain and the five temples, visitors will learn about the rituals of worshiping heaven and earth at Trung Nhac temple, Thach Ban, the foundation of Nguyen Trai’s house, and Thanh Hu temple.

The journey will end with relaxing moments sipping chrysanthemum tea at Nghinh Phong pavilion on the mountain.

Following the footsteps of Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam Zen sect

For those who are religious and do not have much time, visitors can join the 1-day tour “Following the footsteps of Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam Zen sect” associated with three figures: King Tran Nhan Tong (the First Patriarch), Zen Master Phap Loa (the Second Patriarch), and Zen Master Huyen Quang (the Third Patriarch). These three patriarchs founded and developed the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, an important Buddhist sect of Dai Viet (former name of Vietnam) during the Tran dynasty.

Visitors relax on Con Son stream.

Within one day, visitors will enjoy many exciting experiences at three ancient pagodas associated with the three patriarchs, namely Sung Nghiem, Thanh Mai, and Con Son.

Sung Nghiem pagoda, located in Chi Linh ward, boasts beautiful landscapes. It was built during the Ly dynasty and flourished during the Tran dynasty, closely associated with the Truc Lam Zen sect. King Tran Nhan Tong often came here to preach.

The next destinations will be Thanh Mai pagoda (where Zen Master Phap Loa once resided and passed away) and Con Son pagoda (associated with Zen Master Huyen Quang).

In addition to valuable information about the relics and the lives of the three Zen masters, visitors will also participate in many interesting experiential activities at these relics, similar to those in the “A journey to five world heritage destinations” tour.

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.

 

Over 1,000 runners join “Journey to connect Con Son-Kiep Bac heritage” marathon

The 2025 Con Son-Kiep Bac marathon is a journey to connect the heritage between Con Son Pagoda and Kiep Bac Temple, a symbol of Hai Duong Province associated with the sacred land of talented people in Chi Linh City.

Con Son-Kiep Bac Spring Festival opens in Hai Duong

The Con Son – Kiep Bac Spring Festival 2019 commenced in the northern province of Hai Duong on February 13, the 16th day of the first lunar month.

Dialogue on scientific dossier of Yen Tu- Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex for UNESCO’s recognition

BAC GIANG- An in-person and online dialogue between the Vietnamese delegation and the international council of monuments and sites (ICOMOS) on the scientific dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition for the Complex of Yen Tu- Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape as a world heritage took place on November 25 in Paris, France.