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The decision to offer free admission to the Yen Tu historical and scenic site complex for three years is not only an act of gratitude to the community but also a strategic move by Quang Ninh province to revive the appeal of Vietnam's Buddhist "cradle." After being officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Yen Tu is facing a golden opportunity to affirm its international standing and simultaneously address the problem of declining visitor numbers in recent years.
Recently, Quang Ninh province officially passed an important resolution on waiving entrance fees to the Yen Tu historical and scenic complex. This policy takes effect immediately and will last until December 31, 2028. This is considered a meaningful gift to the people, monks, Buddhists, and tourists from all over – those who have persistently contributed their efforts to the long journey of preserving, maintaining, and building the dossier submitted to UNESCO. Previously, entrance fees were 40,000 VND for adults and 20,000 VND for children.
The policy of free admission for the next three years is expected to help this destination quickly regain the milestone of 1 million visitors per year, as it was before 2018.
The recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO at its 47th session in July 2025 marked a brilliant milestone for Vietnam's tourism industry. This is the ninth heritage site in our country to receive this recognition, a rare inter-provincial site spanning three localities: Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and Bac Giang (with close connections to Hai Phong City).
This is an important spiritual gathering place, where visitors will be able to enter completely free of charge from 2026 onwards, according to the latest policy of Quang Ninh province as a token of gratitude to the people and Buddhist followers.
In this context, the "zero-fee" policy acts as a powerful media lever, bringing the image of the Đồng Pagoda perched precariously on the sacred peak or the majestic and otherworldly statue of Emperor Trần Nhân Tông closer to international tourists and the younger generation in the country.
With projected revenue from Ha Long Bay entrance fees in 2026 exceeding 1.011 billion VND, retaining 26% would amount to approximately 276 billion VND, ensuring sufficient funds for the unit's operations and mission.
Statistics on visitor numbers to Yen Tu over the past period have presented many challenges for the management board. From a peak of over one million visitors in 2018, this number has drastically decreased to only about 567,000 in 2025. The reasons may stem from changes in tourist trends or competition from new destinations. Therefore, opening up completely free entry for the next three years is expected to create a "wave" of growth, strongly stimulating demand for ancillary services such as cable cars, accommodation, and food in the area as well as neighboring localities.
In the future, Yen Tu promises to become a focal point for pilgrims and those who love cultural experiences. Significantly, with its policy of welcoming visitors at a "zero fee," Yen Tu promises to continue being a focal point of national pride, a key location for educating the younger generation about traditions through historical sites such as the Tran Dynasty relics and the Bach Dang National Special Monument, within a space connecting inter-provincial heritage sites.
