I hiked up Yen Tu Mountain and discovered a secret wellness escape in northern Vietnam
I would never have thought cricket chirps would be therapeutic – but there I was, in a lotus-shaped pink marble tub, steeped in a Vietnamese herbal bath, being lulled into a deep calm by the natural soundtrack. It was quite the way to unwind after my earlier hike up Yen Tu Mountain.
Given that it is situated in Uong Bi city, midway between Hanoi and Halong Bay, I’m surprised that the locally revered mountain has not caught on as a popular pit stop among international visitors. A three-hour drive from the northern capital, Yen Tu features a hiking route that weaves through centuries-old red pine trees and ancient temples, a small village offering native dishes and traditional medical salves, and scenic cable car rides to the peak. And if you wish to make a wellness escape from it all, Legacy Yen Tu – MGallery sits at the base, waiting to welcome you as a modern monastic sanctuary.
Photograph: Morgan AwyongLegacy Yen Tu compound
Locals make a pilgrimage of the hike, journeying by foot for eight hours to the peak. The reason? After the 12th-century King Tran Nhan Ton abdicated his throne to be a monk, he retreated to Yen Tu to practice Buddhism and eventually founded the Truc Lam School of Zen there. This is why the main path is dotted with spiritual sites, such as the Hue Quang Stupa, Hoa Yen Temple, and, right at the top, the bronze-covered Dong Pagoda.
For visitors who prefer something less challenging, two cable car rides take you close to the peak. Between admiring the cl