Yen Thanh District: A legendary Destination

3:26:19 PM | 7/8/2005

Yen Thanh is a low-lying district dotted with hills and mountains. It has 36 communes and towns with a natural area of 54,700 hectares and a population of 27,600 people. The district has over 200 lakes, with reserves of 6.2 million cubic metres of water and a canal system for watering its 12,000 hectares of arable land.

During its period of renovation, Yen Thanh boosted the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, processing, handicrafts and services. In addition to its advantage as a rice granary of Nghe An Province, Yen Thanh has also great potential in developing its culture, history and eco-tourism. The district has 14 historical and cultural relics recognised nationally, two provincial level relics and numerous picturesque mountains and caves.

The district is also famous for its long-standing history and culture, and is considered a land of learning and patriotism, intelligence and morality. Generation after generation, the people of Yen Thanh have struggled hard to survive, building prosperous craft villages such as Tien Ho, Tien Xa, supplying good quality timber from Ke Go and producing high quality rice from Ke Cuoi. In the course of their development, the people of Yen Thanh have created their own cultural identity, rich in humanity and strong in local features.

Duc Hoang temple festival is a traditional celebration of many villages in the district. The festival is in honour of national hero Lord Hoang Ta Thon, a general in teh fight against the Mongolian Yuan invasion of the 13^th century. Among the festivities at Duc Hoang temple, the Spring celebration is the biggest festival honouring General Hoang Ta Thon and his army. The festival comprises a variety of competitive activities, including wrestling, tug-of-war, boat races, cock fights, chess and parades, which attract tourists from other parts of the country. The festival serves both the cultural desires of the local people and the promotion of national unity and traditional culture.

In Yen Thanh, tourists can visit Thuan Hau temple in Bac Thanh Commune, a building classified as a national level relic by the Ministry of Culture. The temple was built in 1881 by Inspector Tran Tu Thanh with complex and unique architecture unlike any others in Vietnam. According to Prof. Trinh Cao Tuong, an expert on village temples, Thuan Hau and Vo Liet temples (Nghe An) were built in Lim and Cho wood creating a majestic look while retaining a refined and solid formation. The carvings on the wood, such as the four holy creatures, the four sacred trees, wrestling and chess players, reflect both imperial and common lives.

Thuan Hau temple is dedicated to village saints Ly Nhat Quang, Hoang Ta Thon, Cao Son, Cao Cac, Phan Van (Tran dynasty) and Nguyen Duy Thien (Le dynasty).

In Yen Thanh, there is also Bao Nham church built by a French priest in 1888 and completed in 1904. The beautiful church is located on National Highway 7A, 50 km northwest of Vinh city. The Gothic-style church is 37 metres high and 14 metres wide. The bell tower is 28 metres high with three bells weighing 800, 400 and 180 kilogram. The church also has 24 small towers and two stone lions at the entrance. Consequently, Yen Thanh does not only attract tourists but also scientists.