Yen Tu is not only famous for its ancient temples and stupas but also for the centuries-old Cypress Road (Đường Tùng), which is closely associated with the enduring existence and development of Yen Tu and the Truc Lam Zen sect.
The Cypress Road serves as the main pilgrimage route to the Buddhist Realm and is regarded as “The most famous row of trees in Vietnam.” Many people believe that Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong, his disciples, and generations of practitioners of the Truc Lam Zen sect planted the cypress trees along both sides of this road and in other areas of Yen Tu. In 2014, the number of cypress trees at the Yen Tu Relic Site was 247; by 2024, it had reduced to about 230.
It is rare to find such a concentration of cypress trees as in Yen Tu, where the trees are often planted in clusters or in sacred places along pilgrimage routes to create scenery, provide shade, and mark the path. The Cypress Road is a precious heritage, a testament to history, and a cultural symbol that represents love for life, respect, and harmony with nature — core values of the Truc Lam Zen sect of Yen Tu. At the end of the poem Đắc thú lâm tuyền thành đạo ca (The Joy of Retreating into the Forest to Attain Enlightenment) by Buddha King Tran Nhan Tong, there is a verse that says:
The peaceful scene, living in tranquility, the mind at ease,
Cool breeze blows, bringing the sound of the cypress,
A meditation mat beneath the tree, a single book of sutras,
The two characters “peaceful” and “leisure” are more precious than a thousand gold coins.
Translation:
The peaceful scene, living in tranquility, the mind at ease,
Cool breeze blows, bringing the sound of the cypress,
A meditation mat beneath the tree, a single book of sutras,
The two characters “peaceful” and “leisure” are more precious than a thousand gold coins.
The image of the cypress tree is also seen in the Phú Vịnh chùa Vân Yên (Ode to the Vân Yên Pagoda) by the Third Patriarch of Truc Lam, Huyền Quang:
The royal official bows in two rows,
The nobleman, strong like the cypress, shelters the nightingale.
