At 13:02 on July 12, 2025 (Paris time) – or 18:02 the same day (Hanoi time), during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee – UNESCO held in Paris, France, the Chair of the session – Professor Nikolay Nenov officially declared: Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site!

Yen Tu – The Sacred Land of Truc Lam Buddhism

Yen Tu is the spiritual and historical heart of the heritage complex – the birthplace of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism founded by Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century.

• A place that harmoniously blends Buddhism – Confucianism – Taoism – and Vietnamese folk beliefs, creating a unique Zen tradition imbued with national identity.
• Yen Tu is home to a system of temples, stupas, hermitages, and sacred forests… such as Dong Pagoda, Hoa Yen, and Truc Lam Zen Monastery, all closely tied to the monastic journey of King Tran Nhan Tong.
• The Yen Tu site preserves numerous tangible and intangible cultural values that have been cherished for centuries.

A Living Heritage of Global Significance

• This is Vietnam’s 9th World Heritage Site and the second inter-provincial heritage site, following Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago.
• Yen Tu and its associated locations form the first serial heritage site in Vietnam, spanning the provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong.
• Recognized by UNESCO under criteria (iii) – representing a unique religious tradition, and (vi) – bearing a direct connection to vibrant, universally significant spiritual beliefs.

Pride and Future Path

This milestone not only affirms the cultural – spiritual – historical significance of the sacred Yen Tu Mountain, but also opens up opportunities for Yen Tu to reach global prominence as a premier destination for cultural tourism, pilgrimage, and mindfulness retreats.