On top of the mountain is often covered with clouds so it also called Bach Van Son (White Cloud Mountain). It takes about 6 hours (about 6000m) of continuous walking through thousands of stone, mountain road …to get to the top of Yen Tu (Pagoda Dong). But don’t be worried about this because the cable car systems were put into operation since 2008 making the journey not as struggle as it was
The beauty of the mountain is the harmonious combination between the majesty of its mountains and the ancient and solemn quietness of its pagodas, shrines and towers.
A pagoda for Buddha worship called Phu Van pagoda was established in Yen Tu from Ly dynasty. However, Yen Tu really became capital of Buddhism only when King Tran Nhan Tong surrendered his thrown and became a monk. He founded Thien Truc Lam- a Vietnamese distinctly the Zen Buddhist sect which was become the first progenitor with the religious name: Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308). He had hundreds of buildings built on Yen Tu Mountain to serve for religious life and sermonizing.
After his death, his successor, Phap Loa Dong Kien Cuong (1284-1330), the second progenitor of TrucLam sect compiled a set of book “Thach That ngon ngu” during 19 years of his religious life. He also ordered building 800 large and small constructions including pagodas, shrines and towers in Vietnam with thousands of valuable statues. Many of them are famous pagodas such as Quynh Lam monastery, Ho Thien Lake in Dong Trieu. Besides, the sermonizing centre of Phap Loa also has the third progenitor of Thien Truc Lam sect, Huyen Quang Ly Ðao Tai (1254 – 1334).
Under Le and Nguyen dynasties, Yen Tu became the capital of Buddhism in Vietnamand got repaired and restored many times. Afterwards, Yen Tu relic site was considered as the meeting place of national culture and various architecture styles.