Remember to bring home these specialties when traveling to Yen Tu, Quang Ninh

1 Where is the Yen Tu landmark located?

The Yen Tu landmark, also known as the Yen Tu Scenic Landscape and Relic Site, is a spiritual complex comprising a series of pagodas, hermitages, towers, and statues nestled amidst ancient forests and breathtaking natural scenery stretching from Doc Do (Red Slope) all the way up to Yen Tu mountain peak.

Address: located near Highway 18A, in Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province.

See also: Yen Tu Pagoda - Leaving the crowded city behind for a pilgrimage to a peaceful haven

The spiritual complex of the Yen Tu Scenic Landscape and Relic Site is considered the cradle of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Vietnam since the late 13th century. At the summit of Yen Tu Mountain stands Dong Pagoda (Bronze Pagoda), perched at an altitude of 1,068m above sea level. Nestled within the rolling mountain range of the Northeast, Yen Tu has long been renowned as a spectacular landscape and is listed among the famous sacred mountains of Vietnam.

With such an elevation, Yen Tu Mountain has anciently been regarded as a sacred peak of Vietnam. As early as the 10th century, the Taoist hermit Yen Ky Sinh came here to practice and attained enlightenment. However, Yen Tu truly gained prominence when King Tran Nhan Tong—during a prosperous reign in the late 13th century—abdicated his throne to come here to practice asceticism, study Buddhism, and become the First Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen sect under the title Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang.

See also: Discover Trinh Pagoda, the sacred gateway to Yen Tu, Quang Ninh

2 Top Yen Tu - Ha Long specialties you should buy as gifts

2.1 The first Yen Tu - Ha Long specialty to mention is bamboo shoots

When talking about traveling to Yen Tu, the very first specialty that comes to any traveler's mind is bamboo shoots (mang truc). Yen Tu bamboo shoots are a famous specialty that has existed for a very long time, estimated since the early reclamation of this Yen Tu mountain area in Quang Ninh. During major festivals on Yen Tu Mountain, you will easily see crowds of tourists flocking to West Yen Tu to enjoy dishes made with fragrant and savory bamboo shoots, imbued with the distinctive flavors of the Quang Ninh mountains. Yen Tu bamboo shoots can be prepared into various dishes, from soups, stir-fries, and boiled dishes to pickles.

The unique characteristic of Yen Tu bamboo shoots is their slender, firm stalks. Chefs often stir-fry the bamboo shoots with goat meat or veal to enhance the dish's flavor. Furthermore, dishes prepared with Yen Tu bamboo shoots are typically complemented with celery, scallions, and freshly ground black pepper.

Although this is a fairly simple and easy-to-prepare dish, the distinctive quality of Yen Tu bamboo shoots gives it an exceptional flavor found nowhere else. A signature feature of Yen Tu bamboo shoots is that once cooked, they lose the sourness and bitterness common in most ordinary bamboo shoots.

See also: When traveling to Ha Long, make sure to try all the specialties on this list

2.2 Che lam cake

This Yen Tu specialty, che lam cake, has surely captivated anyone who has ever tasted it right from the very first bite. You will experience the harmonious combination of ingredients in this traditional treat.

This Yen Tu - Ha Long specialty features the soft, chewy texture and distinctive aroma of Yen Tu glutinous rice flour, with sweet molasses bursting in every bite, melting in your mouth alongside the warm spiciness of ginger and the nutty richness of roasted peanuts. It is a classic, delightful, and sophisticated combination that takes you through layers of wonderful flavors.

This Yen Tu - Ha Long che lam cake is often enjoyed during the chilly winters of Quang Ninh; when temperatures drop, holding a piping-hot portion of che lam in your hands is "warmer than your ex."

See also: Hanoi Che Lam Cake - A specialty rich in the soul of the Vietnamese countryside

2.3 Rau don (vegetable fern)

This Yen Tu - Ha Long specialty vegetable typically sprouts during springtime in Yen Tu. Long ago, while working in the terraced fields, locals would carry woven baskets and gather wild vegetables during their lunch break to prepare meals. Among the myriad plants thriving in the Yen Tu forest, one particularly special and beloved plant eventually became a famed Yen Tu specialty: rau don (vegetable fern). This plant resembles a fern but is smaller, with sprawling fronds.

This is an exceptionally delicious and unique specialty of the Yen Tu mountainous region. Rau don is not only a popular food but also an herb that helps treat several common human ailments. Additionally, locals here use rau don to brew a medicinal drink for postpartum women. People pick the young fronds to boil, cook in soups, stir-fry, or toss in salads.

2.4 Yen Tu - Ha Long specialties must include Yen Tu apricot liquor

Yen Tu apricot liquor, produced by Thang Long Beer Company since 2006, has now become the most famous in the region and holds a special place in the hearts of visitors whenever they visit Yen Tu Mountain. This liquor boasts an amber color and a stomach-warming potency. Savoring this Yen Tu apricot liquor, you will appreciate a very pleasant sweet-and-sour taste; although rustic, it rivals imported liquors in Vietnam.

Yen Tu - Ha Long apricot liquor specialty also offers notable benefits such as easing stomachaches—as its organic acid content is even higher than that of lemons—detoxifying and cooling the body, relieving abdominal discomfort or constipation, and helping alleviate fatigue while promoting healthy blood and qi circulation.

2.5 Tai long ep cake

Banh tai long ep is a signature cake in Quang Ninh Province originating from the San Diu ethnic people. Banh tai long ep has a dark brown color and is made in large slabs; the seller slices off pieces as customers purchase them.

The process of making banh tai long ep is quite elaborate. The cake features the chewy texture of special glutinous rice and a delicate sweetness from molasses. Banh tai long ep is not only a snack or treat, but also a ceremonial cake offered during Tet and festivals.

2.6 Yen Tu wild forest flower honey

Wild forest honey is considered a daily nutritious food by many, who love it for its health benefits and its gentle, delicate sweetness. In most tourist destinations centered on mountain nature, honey is consistently a sought-after specialty among visitors. The Yen Tu mountain region is no exception; nature has generously bestowed this land with a premium wild flower honey that is rare to find elsewhere.

Yen Tu wild forest flower honey offers beauty benefits, reduces fatigue, aids muscle recovery, regulates blood sugar levels, soothes coughs in children, and boosts energy in adults. Wild flower honey provides cosmetic benefits, increases energy, relieves muscle fatigue, stabilizes blood sugar, and treats coughs. The honey has a deep golden color, a thick viscous texture, and may crystallize. However, even if crystallized, the quality of the honey remains unchanged.

2.7 Yen Tu single-leaf betel

Single-leaf betel, also known as celestial betel (trau tien), only grows in Yen Tu, Quang Ninh Province. It is considered a truly unique Yen Tu - Ha Long specialty. Single-leaf betel grows at altitudes above 400m above sea level on soaring peaks or beneath dense, humid canopies deep within the forest.

The betel leaves are steeped in alcohol along with other ingredients such as aromatic ginger, bitter ginger, star anise, cinnamon, and Homalomena occulta rhizome to create a medicated liniment that is remarkably effective in relieving colds, chills, and bone and joint pain.

Traveling to Yen Tu offers visitors a journey back to inner peace, where you can experience serenity of the soul while exploring unique cultural and spiritual complexes. Moreover, Yen Tu - Ha Long specialties are also great for your health, so don't hesitate to pick up some local treats as gifts for your family and loved ones. Hopefully, the information above proves helpful to you. Wishing you a wonderful trip, and remember to share your moments with MIA.vn!