Yen Thanh - the land that holds people's feet

(Baonghean.vn) - Rich potential in natural resources, humanities, intangible culture, craft villages... has created Yen Thanh a unique cultural identity. In recent years, Yen Thanh has focused on investing in developing infrastructure to serve the needs of tourism development, forming attractive tours of Nghe An.

Many of my friends exclaimed: I thought Yen Thanh only had rice and ducks, but unexpectedly, tourism here is equally rich and attractive, once you come, you want to come back again. Many spiritual and ecological tourist spots, caves, along with folk songs, vi melodies... attract people. That is why Yen Thanh land has inspired musicians: "We promised each other that this moon season I will return/My heart still feels sad, not yet fully in love with rice/And then I feel restless remembering Yen Thanh/Where the Dinh River and Gam River of my childhood..." (lyrics of the song Love of Rice Country - Phan Thanh Chuong).

Procession at Duc Hoang Temple, Phuc Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Thai Duong

Talking about spiritual tourism in Yen Thanh, the first highlight is the spiritual tourism area of ​​Gam Pagoda, whose Chinese name is Chi Linh Tu, meaning Chi Linh Pagoda (in Hamlet 6, Xuan Thanh Commune), an ancient and sacred pagoda with high artistic, architectural and cultural values; this is a space visited by many people, especially during the Vu Lan festival season.

Next is Duc Hoang Temple in Phuc Thanh Commune - a construction placed by our ancestors in a position of water flow and air gathering, with a solemn, sacred and mysterious appearance. The temple leans against a primeval forest with many ancient trees, facing the lotus pond of Dieu Oc village (also known as Thuy O pond) - one of the most beautiful landscapes in the district. Going to Duc Hoang Temple in early spring is an opportunity to admire the scenery of a magical green mountain and blue water area, a peaceful place that many people want to return to.

Ve Vung Dam - Yen Thanh - Nghe An. Photo by Tran Chau

In Yen Thanh, ecotourism is famous for its system of dams and lakes hanging on the cliffs, of which the Ve Vung dam tourist area is the focal point. Located 7 km west of Yen Thanh town, with a total area of ​​over 720 hectares, a reserve of 20 million m3 of water, surrounded by large and small hills and beautiful mountains, and an extremely rich and diverse flora and fauna, Ve Vung dam is considered an ideal destination for those who want to find a peaceful and quiet place. Today, at Ve Vung dam, locals have invested in building a comfortable rest house, a restaurant, a team of eco-tourism boats and pedal boats to serve tourists, and great fishing spots...

Traditional boat racing at Duc Hoang Temple Festival. Photo: Archive

Coming to Yen Thanh rice land, visitors can also enjoy the simple and rustic Vi and Giam folk songs, imbued with the humanity of the honest farmers, who work hard in the fields. Nowadays, Vi and Giam folk songs in this rice land are increasingly rich and diverse, it is an endless source of inspiration for Yen Thanh people. Coming to any commune in the district, especially during festivals and spring days, you can hear the soulful Vi and Giam folk songs that hold people's feet.

Yen Thanh has long been known as an ancient land. Since the Tien Le and Ly dynasties, many migrations and land reclamations to this land have been promoted, establishing prosperous hamlets and villages, forming fertile fields, the granary of the North Central region with the typical characteristics of wet rice civilization.

Ve Vung Dam in the dry season, many submerged islands appear, creating flat beaches suitable for camping and resting. Photo: Document.

Yen Thanh has a system of caves, lakes, dams, primeval forests with rich vegetation, a system of communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines and attractive landscapes. The whole district has 522 scenic relics, of which over 200 have been listed for management. Up to now, 24 relics have been recognized as national relics and 39 relics have been ranked at the provincial level. Many relics have unique architectural and artistic values, which can be exploited to serve the development of community tourism. Along with the system of cultural and historical relics, Yen Thanh has many traditional craft villages, historical and cultural festivals, traditional folk festivals and beliefs... folk songs, vi, giam, cheo, tuong, folk poetry,... which are places to preserve national cultural treasures, attracting tourists to visit and research.

Mr. Phan Van Tuyen - Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Committee said: With the promotion and introduction of the locality on mass media in recent times, many travel agencies have come to Yen Thanh to survey and invest in the tourism sector.

Most recently, Bac A Group has surveyed investment in developing the Ve Vung Dam eco-tourism area by planting vineyards and orange gardens around the lake area, creating a more attractive eco-tourism highlight. At the Ru Gam Temple Spiritual Tourism Area, a unit has also prepared to invest in building a lookout, Buddha statues and some other items.

Hoa Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) prospers thanks to new rural areas. Photo: Thai Hong

This year, the district will invest in renovating and upgrading the spiritual eco-tourism road of the lotus pond of Duc Hoang temple, preparing for the Lotus Festival at Duc Hoang temple (the first time) next July. Currently, the district is assigning Phuc Thanh commune to clear the road, prepare the parking lot as well as other activities, so that the Lotus Festival can be organized carefully. In addition, Yen Thanh is also preparing to organize the inauguration ceremony of the Phan Dang Luu Monument in the district center and the district's Martyrs' Temple on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs' Day, July 27. These meaningful activities will create a deep impression for visitors to Yen Thanh.

Xuan Hoang