Pilgrims pray at Bronze Pagoda on top of Yen Tu mountain.

Activities will include a lantern night, dragon and unicorn dances, and folk games. 

Nearly 5,000 monks, nuns, Buddhists, and pilgrims are expected to attend the religious event, according to the Executive Board of the Quang Ninh Buddhist Sangha.

The festival is set to last until the end of the third lunar month.

A painting exhibition showcasing the majestic beauty of the complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscapes will serve as the highlight of the festival.

The Yen Tu spring festival is held annually to honor the great value of Yen Tu mountain, the origin of the Truc Lam Zen sect, and the contributions made by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong.

King Tran Nhan Tong founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called “Thien Tong”, also known as Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen, on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. The 20,000ha site is widely considered to be the capital of Vietnamese Buddhism.

The Yen Tu scenic site was officially listed as a special national relic site in September 2012, and attracts millions of visitors each year.