Yen Bai Province Seeing Advantages in Tourism

Both nature and man have endowed Yen Bai with diversity and richness in nature and human resources for tourism. Greatly supported by the State, in recent years, the tourist infrastructure has been developed, forming tourist resorts for the province. The province’s tourist industry has focused on exploring the potentials of the region to make regionally typical tourist products, and, at the same time, training human resources, encouraging all economic sectors to invest in the tourist industry, and strengthening co-operation with neighbouring provinces to make complete and diversified tours.

Coming to Yen Bai, tourists have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful resorts such as:

Thac Ba Lake, 180 km in the west of Ha Noi, formed in 1970 with an area of 23,400 ha of which the water surface area is 19,050 ha. The lake is 80 long, about 10-15 wide, and 45-60 m deep. The lake is famous not only for having the first Hydropower Plan in but also for being one of the three largest man-made lakes in . This place is known as an attractive ecological tourist resort with 1,331 islands of various sizes forming a lot of beautiful caves and landscapes. Travelers can visit Thuy Tien Cave and Xuan Long Cave where there are a variety of stalactites. Or they can visit Cao Bien Mountain , Chang Re (Son-In-Law) Mountain, Trinh Nam Island , and Thac Ba Temple which are connected by mysterious legends. Coming to Thac Ba Lake , travelers have the chance to enjoy the beautiful nature, with old forests, thousands of hills and islands, and ranges of rocky mountains. Thac Ba Lake is not only a beauty-spot but a well-known place of historical interest. 1285 saw the Thu Vat Battle led by General Tran Nhat Duat defeating the Yuan invaders. During the war against the American imperialists, Thuy Tien Cave was the working place of Yen Bai Provincial Committee of the Party. The landscape of Thac Ba Lake has been recognized by the State as a place of historical and cultural interest. Furthermore, Thac Ba Lake is a symbol, a pride for the Yen Bai people.

The area of Thac Ba Lake is the residential place of 12 brotherly ethnic minorities, namely Dao, Tay , Nung, Cao Lan, Phu La, etc. Therefore, this place is the convergence point of different cultures with unique traditional festivals. In addition, travelers can enjoy the lake’s specialties such as bream, hemibagrus, snake-head, sturgeon, and white goby, and can visit islands where various types of fruits like the reputed “Dai Minh” grapefruit are grown. In particular travelers here have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular view of thousands of storks at nightfall.

At the moment, Yen Bai province is constructing a central tourist resort at Thac Ba Lake . The total area of the resort is 206 ha, including five functional areas: the area for reception and operation; the area for entertainment; the area for hotels, trade, and services; the area for ecological tourism; and the area for a telecommunication tower and adventurous sports. All these will help create a special tourist resort in Northern Viet Nam .

Thac Ba Temple, located at a height of 70 m on Hoang Thi Mountain in front of Men Mountain and next to Cao Bien Mountain . From here visitors can cast their view over the whole Thac Ba area and the surrounding rivers and lakes. The temple is linked with the legend that “the Goddess, who is now worshiped in Thac Ba, was a daughter of Hung King 18, named Ngoc Hoa Princess”. The temple festival is held annually on the 8^th and 9^th of January and on the 10^th of October of the lunar calendar.

Dai Kai Temple , located in Tan Linh Commune, including Dai Kai Temple , Ben Lan Communal House, Thap Dat Nung Hac Y Pagoda, and the Bau Citadel. On the left is Chay River , and on the right is the mighty Vua Ao Den (Black Clothed King) Mountain.

Dai Kai Temple was built in the Hau Le Dynasty in honour of Vu Thi Ngoc Anh - a woman general who was both a scholar and a warrior and who helped the Le Dynasty to rule the Northern part of the country. She was appointed by the

Thap Dat Nung Hac Y Pagoda or Hac Y (Black Clothes) Temple was once located on top of Than Ao Den (Black Clothed God) Mountain. It is said that in the era of Hung King 18, a holy snake turned up in the shape of a man dressed in black to help the King fight against the Northern invaders. After that, in honour the God, the people of the region built a temple under an ancient tree in the area of Dai Kai Temple . From the temple visitors can look up to Vua Ao Den Mountain to see images of gods emerging from the cliff stretched out from the mountain. Behind the mountain is a deep valley with numerous cliffs of different heights, where there is a fairy altar, a holy pond, some small caves and fruits gardens. There also grow various types of precious woods like ironwood and bassia. The area is also home to wild animals such as antelopes and monkeys. It can be said that this is a natural masterpiece, a rare wonder of nature.

Khai Trung Plain, about 20 km from the centre of Luc Yen District to the west, is surrounded by ranges of high rocky mountains and primeval forests, which gives this area a cool climate and green trees all year round.

Khai Trung welcomes visitors with gardens of oranges, natural oak forests and unlimited open spaces with green trees stretching as far as the eye can see. Here travelers can live in the community of the Tay and Dao people. They can find many simple-but-rich-in-cultural-identity things in this highland area. Sitting by a cooking fire in a house on stilts, they can enjoy regional specialties such as “thÞt lîn m¾m” (salted pork), different dishes of baked meat, and highland rice wine. After a sound sleep in the peaceful and fresh environment, visitors begin a new day by exploring Diem Cave and Nam Ru Waterfall, and conquering Tac En Mountain where many types of animals and plants shelter.

Huong Thao Tu Cave, about 15 km away from Dai Kai Temple , is located on a rocky mountain in Sao village, Tan Lap Commune. The cave used to be a place of worship for Vu Thi Ngoc Anh, and also a place for  her to gather soldiers and foods. Now there is still an altar made of stone in the cave for the people to worship. The cave has a virgin beauty. Stepping into the cave, visitors can feel a flow of cool air and smell the fragrance of flowers and trees, making this place a real paradise. Coming deeper into the cave, they will be delighted with the natural beauty inside, particularly with the stalactites of different shapes.

Giang Spring, located at a height of almost 1,400 m, is called “Heaven’s Gate”. The weather here is very cool and fresh, and this is the only place where the century-old Tuyet tea, one of special drinks of , can grow. Coming to Giang Spring, travelers can enjoy not only fresh and warm cups of tea but also sweet melodies of the KhÌn (pan-pine), together with graceful traditional dances of H’mong young people, and mysterious stories told by the village old people when night falls.

Ho Chi Minh Monumental Area is 3 ha large, including a museum called the “Ho Chi Minh Museum”, an Uncle Ho’s House on stilts, a fruit garden and a fish pond. The Ho Chi Minh Museum (in Nghia Lo) is the only museum that is part of the system of central Ho Chi Minh museums in Northwestern mountainous provinces. Now the museum keeps more than 200 books, 1,000 photos and pictures, autographs, films and other materials about the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

Bon Village Hot Spring is 500 km away from the town to the west on the way to Mu Cang Chai. The temperature of the spring water is about 45⁰C- 60^oC and there are 30 bathrooms ready for use here. It is clearly an ideal place to develop into a medical treatment centre as well as a place to study the traditions and customs of the Thai people.

Hoc Village Ecological Tourist Area, located near national road 32, just 10 km away from the Giang Spring tourist area, has a natural hot water source, and is perfect for ecological-cultural tours combined with hot water medical treatment.

Nguyen Thai Hoc Tomb, located in Yen Hoa Park of Yen Bai City with an area of 300 m², is surrounded with 17 pillars connected by an incomplete circle representing 17 revolutionary martyrs. The insurrection led by Nguyen Thai Hoc was not successful but served as a foundation for the patriotic movement and the struggle for national salvation.

Thuan Bac Lake Ecological Tourist Resort is in Bao Minh Commune, about 5 km away from Yen Bai City . The total area of the resort is 17 ha, including a wide range of services such as catering, accommodation, fishing, and boating. Here travelers can visit lychee farms and gardens of “Van Du mangos” that are famous nationwide. Travelers can enjoy mountainous fruit specialties, listen to melodious songs and watch beautiful dances of young Thai ladies.

Dong Cuong Temple is about 50 km away, upstream of the Red River from Yen Bai City . This temple is one of the two that worship “Ba Chua Thuong Ngan” who is believed to be a daughter of Chieftain Cam. There are two anniversaries a year and there is a big festival every three years.

Tuan Quan Temple, about 3 km away from Yen Bai City , was built in the 14^th century in the Le Dynasty. This temple was formerly called "Than Diep phu nhan Bach Lam Temple:" . The temple is dedicated the Holy Mother Lieu Hanh, King Tran Hung Dao and other holy spirits.

Ngoc Am Pagoda is located in Hong Ha Ward, Yen Bai City . The pagoda, built in late 18^th century, has a history of more than 100 years. Now the pagoda is a place for the spiritual practice of the people in the region.