Quang Ninh (VNA) – The 2018 Cherry blossom – Yen Tu yellow ochna flower festival openedwith a ceremony in Truc Lam Yen Tu Culture Centre in Uong Bi city, the northernprovince of Quang Ninh on March 22.

The event formed partof the National Tourism Year 2018 hosted by Quang Ninh and will last until March26.

This year, the eventis taking place at the Yen Tu relic site of Uong Bi city - the land of foundingTruc Lam Yen Tu Zen.

The yellow ochna flower is indigenous to the area near Yen Tu Mountain. Legendhas it that the species was grown in the area by King Tran Nhan Tong(1258-1308), the third King of the Tran Dynasty.

The King abdicatedwhen he was 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain practicing andpropagating Buddhism. He founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called“Thien Tong” or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain.

 The Cherry blossom – Yen Tu ochna flowerfestival has drew the participation of many Vietnamese and Japanese businessesand visitors over the years. It promotes the images of Yen Tu relic site andthe yellow ochna flower, along with introducing cherry blossoms and Japaneseculture to attendees.

Through thefestival, Quang Ninh aims to promote its image and strengths in economy,culture and tourism to Japanese people, thus enhancing cooperation and tradebetween businesses and ties between the province and Japan’s localities andagencies.

The festival will include a display of 50 cherry blossoms trees, 5,000 bonsaitrees and more than 100 Yen Tu yellow ochna flower trees and a trade fairintroducing local farm produce. It will also have a show on traditional andmodern clothing of Vietnam and Japan, art performances.-VNA