The name “Minh Tâm” is given to the main gate, the square, the stage, the drum tower, and the bell tower. Minh Tâm (明心) means “bright heart.” When the heart is calm (as experienced in the Mirror of Meditation), wisdom arises, and the heart becomes bright. When the heart is bright, the flowers of Wisdom and the heart bloom, this is when enlightenment of the Buddha’s heart occurs. “A calm and bright heart is the Buddha!” – National Teacher Dao Vien said to King Tran Thai Tong.
To construct this square, tens of thousands of cubic meters of earth and stone were brought here, raising the ground level more than 10 meters above the original ground.
With an area of over 10,000 m², this square can host large events with tens of thousands of participants, such as the annual Yên Tử Spring Festival Opening Ceremony (known as the Opening Ceremony), Buddhist ceremonies, and other large outdoor cultural events. This is also a place where visitors can join major community events and is the best spot to get a panoramic view of the entire Truc Lam Cultural Center and the Yên Tử Historical and Scenic Area. Here, one can stop to take photos with a wide (panoramic) background as a memento of their journey.
On the right side of the square, next to Minh Tâm Square, is the Legacy Yên Tử – MGallery Resort. Two small gates connect the square to the resort. Right behind the Dưỡng Đức building is the Am Tuệ Tĩnh Health Care Center. Further away is the Thanh Long mountain range, serving as a natural backdrop for the series of buildings of Legacy Yên Tử.
On the left side of Minh Tâm Square is Làng Nương Yên Tử. Behind Làng Nương Yên Tử is the Giải Oan stream, and further away is the Bạch Hổ mountain range, which forms the left side of the Sacred Yên Tử Mountain.
Behind the square is the Hoa Tâm Garden and the grand Cung Trúc Lâm. Behind Cung Trúc Lâm is the Phật điện (Buddha hall). Further ahead is the sacred Non Thiêng Yên Tử Mountain. On clear days, visitors can catch glimpses of the temples on the mountain.
At the far end of the square, facing us, is the Minh Tâm Stage/Ceremonial Platform, the Drum Tower, and the Bell Tower. Right behind the ceremonial platform is the Hoa Tâm Garden and the grand Cung Trúc Lâm. After Cung Trúc Lâm is the Phật điện, and further ahead is the Non Thiêng Yên Tử Mountain. On clear days, visitors can see the temples on the mountain in the distance.
At Minh Tâm Square, visitors can engage in various activities such as horseback riding, archery, plastic bullet shooting, swinging, or taking photos with peacocks.
