Yen Tu Spring Festival 2026, the largest of its kind, is scheduled to open in the northern province of Quang Ninh on February 26, or the 10th day of the first lunar month, marking an important milestone following the July 2025 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage inscription of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes.

The announcement came on February 9 at a press conference unveiling an exhibition on Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism and a special music show to celebrate the site's newly elevated global status.

According to the organising board, this year’s festival will be co-hosted by the management board of the Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Site, the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s provincial chapter, along with various relevant agencies. It seeks to reaffirm the diverse tangible and intangible values of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, a distinctly Vietnamese tradition now more than 700 years old.

This year, the festival will be much larger than before, spreading across Vang Danh, Yen Tu, Thuong Yen Cong, Phuong Dong, and Bac Son wards, instead of just a few spots like in the past. The highlight will be an evening music show on February 26, broadcast live on Quang Ninh newspaper and radio-television, with modern lighting and sound to bring the story and spirit of Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong to life.

The event also features displays of the Tran Dynasty antiquities and rare Truc Lam Buddhism documents, along with a major OCOP and culinary fair boasting over 100 booths offering handicrafts, bronze and wooden ritual items, and local specialities. Visitors can also enjoy immersive cultural areas like “Heritage Spring – Tet of Nuong Village,” where they can play folk games, watch dragon and lion dances, and see traditional martial arts in action.

To make it more welcoming, the provincial People’s Council has approved full exemption of entrance fees to the Yen Tu scenic area (cable car tickets excluded) from 2026 through 2028. To keep everyone safe, authorities have deployed AI-powered surveillance cameras and secured full insurance coverage for all visitors.

With all this careful planning and those generous policies, the 2026 festival is set to ripple far and wide economically, culturally, and spiritually. Yen Tu is becoming a safe, irresistible spot for anyone seeking heritage and inner peace, and a "living classroom" for the next generation to learn about roots, values, and what really lasts.

Last year, almost 600,000 made the journey there. Quang Ninh plans intensified promotional efforts in 2026 and beyond to drive more to this sacred place./. VNA