Top 6 Most Attractive Tourist Destinations in Yen Thanh District, Nghe An

Vệ Vừng Dam Tourist Area is an appealing tourist spot, located 7km west of Yen Thanh district center. With a total area of over 720 hectares and a water surface area of 20 million m3. Surrounded by various hills and beautiful landscapes, Vệ Vừng Dam is also one of the largest irrigation lakes in Nghe An.

Exploring here will provide visitors with incredibly relaxing moments, easily sensing the rare tranquility and leisure of the Yen Thanh rice countryside. Many consider Vệ Vừng Dam as a miniature ocean with islands, green oases amidst vast waters. Surrounding the lake are lush forests, hills, lakes, and picturesque streams. Fresh green rice fields extend endlessly. The area boasts a rich and diverse ecosystem, captivating natural scenery, and refreshing air, offering visitors a sense of ease. Visiting Vệ Vừng Dam on hot days, tourists will feel their hearts soften with the lush greenery of villages and ripened rice fields. Even during the hottest summer, the air around the dam is often cool and refreshing, attracting flocks of birds from all directions to reside alongside the abundant vegetation. In the distance, on the lush islands, there are harmoniously designed guesthouses blending with the natural scenery. Light boat trips on the lake take tourists to explore the lake and its islands.

Today, the most beautiful and impressive area at Vệ Vừng Dam is the tourist area, about 5 km from the main gate into the lake, turning left along the gently sloping road shaded by green trees. This area offers well-equipped guesthouses, refreshing eateries, ecological tourism boats, and pedal boats to serve tourists; excellent fishing spots, and more. The scenery of Vệ Vừng Dam resembles a lively and captivating painting, blending the colors of nature: forests, water surfaces, skies, shores, birdsong, and gentle breezes, creating a dreamy, spacious, peaceful, friendly, charming, and inspiring beauty. Vệ Vừng Dam is also considered a paradise for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, seeking tranquility and serenity.

Vệ Vừng Dam is highly regarded in the eco-tourism and resort development plan of the Yen Thanh district government. In recent years, the infrastructure of Vệ Vừng Dam has been gradually invested in to meet the entertainment and resort needs of both local and non-local tourists. Today, Vệ Vừng Dam Tourist Area is not only a testament to the labor of the people of Yen Thanh - Nghe An but also a place for preserving hundreds of plant species and a diverse animal population.

Address: Dong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province

Sheep Farm in Bao Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province is a new trendy check-in destination that has captivated the youth of Nghe An as well as young people across the country.

Hundreds of adorable little white lambs are grazing or frolicking in the endless expanse of green fields, creating an enchanting scene at the sheep farm in Bao Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province.

This is a super-hot tourist spot that drives the youth crazy. Many young people have shared 'so cute' selfie photos on social media. These photos are continuously shared with enthusiastic comments. Talking about it, you probably want to 'hurry back before it's too late,' right?

Because the lambs are scattered and quite shy, the best time to wander and take pictures with the flock is usually in the morning when the sheep are let out to graze. There's also a beautiful forest here, just wearing a lovely dress and standing dreamily in this setting is enough to attract thousands of Instagram-worthy likes.

Address: Sơn Thành Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province

Gám Pagoda (written as Chi Linh Tu) is located in hamlet 6, Xuân Thành commune, Yên Thành district, Nghe An province. The pagoda is part of the spiritual tourism complex of Song Dinh - Rú Gám, symbolizing the pride of the people in the rice region of Yên Thành.

The pagoda was built during the Tran dynasty, belonging to the Trúc Lâm sect, worshiping Buddha Sakyamuni and various Bodhisattvas. It is a place of worship for the angels and deities who have contributed to protecting the nation and helping the people. Every year, from the 13th to the 15th of the 2nd lunar month, the local community organizes traditional festivals to educate the patriotic spirit among the people.

Gám Pagoda is an ancient pagoda dedicated to Buddha with high artistic, architectural, and cultural value. The exquisite decorations and patterns are identified as the flourishing architecture of Trúc Lâm Buddhism during the Lý-Trần period. The original historical site; Spiritual area; Bạch Y temple area; Martyrs' cemetery area; Ecotourism and comprehensive service area: On April 4, 2015, the groundbreaking ceremony for Trúc Lâm Yên Thành Zen Monastery was held, including the construction of the An Quốc Great Buddha statue, the construction of a one-pillar pagoda, and the enshrinement of the Bonze statue in the Trúc Lâm Yên Thành Monastery complex.

Visiting this sacred pagoda, along with the beautiful landscape, becomes a vibrant space, especially during the season of filial piety, attracting Buddhists who come to pray and offer incense.

Address: Xuân Thành commune, Yên Thành district, Nghe An province

Approximately 200m from Bảo Thành Stone Church - Yên Thành, there is the area of Bảo Nham Rock Carving, a stunning scenic spot associated with ancient stories in the religious beliefs of the people in Bảo Nham parish.

Utilizing the beauty of the rock carvings, local people and priests built a stone staircase leading to the top and opened a path down behind the carving.

The ascending path has 171 curved steps in an S shape, resembling the head and body of a dragon, embracing the rock, designed and built by Father Phêrô Nguyễn Văn Hanh from 1947 to 1950. The descending path behind resembles the tail of a dragon, consisting of 137 steps, designed and built by Father Phêrô Nguyễn Văn Duyệt in 2000.

On both sides of the path are large statues depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, forming a sightseeing route for tourists. Along the ascent, tourists encounter a holy feast table or statues of winged angels conveying the message: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.'

Ascending to the 91st step, visitors see the first Station of the Cross, where a natural cave houses the statue of Our Lady of Lộ Đức and an altar. Descending 69 steps leads to the Holy Garden with a pond and lush greenery, where visitors can stand in the shade, blending with nature. There are also various cute animal-shaped sculptures, like a small park. From the top of the rock carving, visitors can enjoy the rich beauty of the villages in Yên Thành district in all four directions.

Address: Bảo Thành commune, Yên Thành district, Nghe An province

Bảo Nham, a not-so-large parish near Highway 7 in Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province. Distant visitors, when coming to visit the parish, can take budget flights to Vinh and have transportation from Vinh airport to Yen Thanh. Leaving National Highway 1A, turning towards Highway 7 for about 15km, the first thing that catches the eye of visitors is Bao Nham Stone Church. This is the most remarkable church among all churches in Nghe An.

The church was built when Western missionaries came to Vietnam for evangelization, following Western architecture with a tower having the shape of three tall bells carrying the sound of deep resonant musical notes. Inside, there are domes rolled into a round shape with large stone blocks. The windows of the church are inlaid with colorful religious paintings illuminated in the morning light. The high walls are created by large, smooth stone slabs. Around the tiled roof are small towers with the ancient architecture of the former imperial capital of Hue. In front are two welcoming gates on the back of two majestic and imposing lions, guarding and protecting the church day and night, ensuring peace.

Since the church is made of stone, in the summer, inside the church is cool without the need for a fan, and the cool air emanating from the large stone walls is fascinating. In winter, the church is warm, dispelling the cold of the winter night. Perhaps it is for this reason that in the past, the Messiah was born in a cave to keep warm.

Not only that, in the churchyard, there is a beautiful stone carving, attracting many visitors. On the rock, there are decorations with vivid and spiritually valuable statues. Coming to the stone church on holidays, the church bell rings, and the sacred songs blend into the refreshing air, delighting many people, especially the parishioners.

Address: Bảo Thành commune, Yên Thành district, Nghe An province

The Temple of Duc Hoang in Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province, is located 60km north of Vinh city. You can use buses or motorbikes along Route 538 to get here. The construction is situated in a favorable geomantic position, with a solemn, sacred, and mysterious appearance. The temple leans against the pristine 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 Yen Thanh.

In the book 'Dong Thanh phong tho ky,' scholar Ngo Tri Hop ranked the lotus pond of Dieu as one of the 'eight scenic spots' of the region. Therefore, the beginning of spring, during the Duc Hoang Temple festival, is an opportunity to enjoy the scenery of a green land and picturesque waters. Located in the Nghe An countryside, with many green trees around, it creates a rustic and intimate place, a peaceful destination that many people want to return to. Despite numerous renovations and enhancements, the temple still preserves its original heritage status, ensuring deep respect.

The temple was built to worship a general with many meritorious contributions during the resistance against the Mongol Yuan invaders. Just standing in front of the temple gate, I could feel the sacred atmosphere with the road leading to the temple courtyard. The temple consists of three sections: the upper temple, middle temple, and lower temple. The architectural scale is not large, but the ancient and sacred atmosphere of the temple is the most distinctive feature. Therefore, this place has become a venue for cultural and spiritual activities, deeply imbued with the local cultural identity of Nghe An. Lighting incense to remember Duc Hoang and the deities, I began to explore and learn about the long-standing history of the temple and the residing deity here.

Every year, on January 30th - February 1st, when the violet flowers bloom along the road and the green rice fields are about to enter the girlhood season, the people of Yen Thanh enthusiastically organize the Duc Hoang festival, attracting millions of visitors from near and far. Coming here, visitors can immerse themselves in the green space, respectfully tilt themselves to light incense to express gratitude to the deity, as if returning to their homeland, reliving the nostalgia.

• Address: Phuc Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province