People pay pilgrimage to Dong pagada on top of Yen Tu mountain

The Buddhist land of West Yen Tu covers the Vinh Nghiem temple and 130 relic sites. 26 of them have been officially designated provincial or national relic sites, including the ancient Suoi Mo temple, But pass, and the West Yen Tu Buddhist center. The Vinh Nghiem pagoda is considered the first Buddhist site in northern Vietnam. Suoi Mo temple is dedicated to princess Que My Nuong, daughter of the 9^th Hung King, who was the incarnated Mother Goddess of the Forest. Bac Giang province has created a Dong Thong eco-tourism area and built a cable car from the foot of the mountain to Dong pagoda on the summit.

Bac Giang has potential for developing religious and eco-tourism

Nguyen Phuc Thuong, Deputy Director of the Bac Giang provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, says: “Historical documents show that the Tran Kings came to Yen Tu mountain from the west. Bac Giang province is on the right track in developing West Yen Tu’s cultural and historical values for tourism.”

The tourism development plan will boost local incomes. Nguyen Van Tai of Tuan Mau commune said: “We live mainly by farm work, growing rice and potatoes. We hope the tourist development plan will provide us service work to earn extra income.”

Hoang Mi Ca, Deputy Secretary of Son Dong district’s Party Committee, said the master tourism plan will connect pagodas and build eco-tourism sites and resorts.

“We are calling for investment to build a tourism complex. But tourism development must protect the environment and forests.”

The West Yen Tu tourism development project will open a new pilgrimage route as well as economic opportunities for Bac Giang province.