The construction of general complex of Tay Yen Tu cultural eco-spiritual tourism in Bac Giang province is boosted for completion.

So far, the localities in Bac Giang province has chosen their typical features to boost tourism development. In particular, Yen The district connects its tourism with the relic site of Yen The Uprising. Luc Ngan district links Khuon Than Lake, an outstanding landscape, with its fruit- growing area. Yen Dung district continues its investment in promoting the cultural and historical values of Vinh Nghiem pagoda and Truc Lam Phuong Hoang Zen Institute. Luc Nam district is associated with Suoi Mo festival and landscapes while Khe Ro and Dong Cao plateau are typical features of Son Dong district. In addition, exploiting potentials of trade village and adventure tourism is also paid attention.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Giang province, a major target is set to make tourism become a key sector with a high proportion in the economic structure and strengthen the promotion and targeted investment for successful establishment of three key tourism products: spiritual culture, historical culture and eco-resort.

Although Bac Giang tourism has not produced an echo, it has made dramatically changed, particularly establishing a tourism brand name of Tay Yen Tu (West Yen Tu) to become a highlight of Bac Giang’s spiritual culture. The project of Tay Yen Tu spiritual-ecological tourist area at Tuan Mau commune, Son Dong district is included in the list of priority investment projects of Bac Giang province under the Decision No. 269/QD-TTg dated on 2 March 2015 by the Prime Minister approving the master plan on socio-economic development of Bac Giang province until 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Yen Tu Mountain lies on the bow-shaped range of Dong Trieu embracing the northeast region of Vietnam. The east side of Yen Tu is mostly situated in Quang Ninh province while its west side belongs to such districts as Yen Dung, Luc Nam, Luc Ngan and Son Dong of Bac Giang province. While Yen Tu is the place where Emperor Buddhist Tran Nhan Tong practiced Buddhism and preserves his śarīra after he passed away, Tay Yen Tu marked his pilgrim's journey to Buddhism.

Construction and development of Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological area are included in the strategy on potentials exploitation and sustainable tourism development driving the local socio-economic development. The construction works within this area embody a cultural atmosphere creating a connected system including pagoda system, historical relics and beautiful landscapes, which provide an overview of the land of Bac Giang to people nationwide.

Recovering the pilgrim's journey of Emperor Buddhist Tran Nhan Tong in a general cultural atmosphere and helping tourism reach Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhist place from Bac Giang province convey the great vision of Bac Giang and Quang Ninh provinces. This is an important tie in preserving, embellishing and promoting values of the heritages between Tay Yen Tu area of Bac Giang province and Yen Tu landscape area (Eastern Yen Tu of Quang Ninh province), the birthplace of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect.

Tay Yen Tu spiritual area in Bac Giang province is planned within Dong Thong area, Tuan Mau commune, Son Dong district, next to the special national heritage site of Yen Tu, Quang Ninh province, to create a complex including the natural conservation and spiritual areas of Bac Giang and Quang Ninh provinces covering an area of 415 hectares.

However, Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological area in Bac Giang province will be distinct from the special national heritage site of Yen Tu in Quang Ninh province. Besides the spiritual activities like doing worship at the pagodas, tourists can attend religious activities including vegetarianism, Buddhist meditation and eco-tourism such as climbing mountain, sightseeing or relaxing at the resorts.

The holy mountain of Yen Tu creates a bow for spiritual tourism development.

According to the Bac Giang provincial People’s Committee, preservation and promotion of the special national heritage site of Yen Tu are the share opportunity and responsibility of both provinces. It is necessary to make great efforts in protecting the ecology and current natural forests so that this linkage can contribute to boosting tourism of the two provinces without breaking the common planning.

The tourism development in line with protecting landscapes and historical values is targeted to help tourists and mass people have a full understanding of the cultural land of Bac Giang, the heritage and cultural values inherited from the ancestors.

Nguyen Quang Ngan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Son Dong district said, “Building and promoting the local tourism potentials and strengths; calling for investment in Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological area are targeted to express the sense of national pride for generations, raise awareness of the community in preserving, inheriting and promoting historical and cultural tradition of the nation so as to create a tourist and service area connecting to the historical and cultural relics, contribute to preserving and promoting special cultural values of Tay Yen Tu and meet the needs for spiritual activities of local people providing a new drive for tourism development of Bac Giang province”.

Minh Anh