Bronze Pagoda on top of Yen Tu mountain in the Yen Tu historical relic and landscape area.

Yen Tu mountain range is known as the sacred Buddhist land, where Vietnamese people come on pilgrimages or to enjoy the magnificent scenery all year round.

700 years ago, King Tran Nhan Tong left his throne to serve Buddha on Yen Tu Mountain. He founded the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, laying a foundation for Vietnamese Buddhism.

A statue of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong who founded the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, laying a foundation for Vietnamese Buddhism.

The Complex was declared a special national relic and has become a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

“The dossier for UNESCO recognition of the 11,000-square-kilometer Yen Tu complex should be based on four criteria,” said Nguyen Thi Hanh, Deputy Chairwoman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.

“There has never before been a heritage dossier based on four criteria. It will be a huge amount of work, but three localities will collaborate in preparing the dossier.”

The first draft of the dossier will be submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by July 30.

After making any necessary revisions, the dossier will be submitted for evaluation to UNESCO by September 30, and the official dossier will be submitted to UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris by December 31.

Leaders of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces sign a commitment to work together to prepare the complex’s nomination dossier to UNESCO.

The Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes is comprised of four clusters of special national historical relics: the Yen Tu historical relic and landscape area in Uong Bi city in Quang Ninh, the Tran Dynasty historical relic area in Dong Trieu town in Quang Ninh, the western Yen Tu relic and landscape area in Bac Giang, and the Con Son-Kiep Bac complex in Hai Duong.