The Yen Tu site passed the milestone on May 3, more than three months after Quang Ninh began waiving all entrance fees as part of efforts to boost tourism, according to the management board of the Halong Bay-Yen Tu World Heritage site.
More than 4,600 visitors travelled to Yen Tu on May 3 alone, including pilgrims visiting the mountain route and tourists touring pagodas and cultural sites in surrounding areas.
Quang Ninh has exempted all entrance fees at Yen Tu from 2026 through the end of 2028. Authorities have also introduced free parking at Ha Kieu coach station, complimentary visitor insurance and technology-based crowd management measures.
Visitor numbers have risen sharply since the policy took effect.
More than 650,000 visitors travelled to the mountain area, while over 340,000 visited outer-route attractions, official data showed.
The total marks a 123 per cent increase from the same period last year, when Yen Tu received around 450,000 visitors.
Officials said the rise in visitor numbers had also been driven by UNESCO’s recognition in July 2025 of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac complex as a World Cultural Heritage site.
Authorities said UNESCO recognition had helped broaden Yen Tu’s appeal beyond the annual spring pilgrimage season, positioning it as a major cultural and spiritual destination.
Before the fee waiver was introduced, admission tickets cost VND 40,000 (USD 1.5) for adults and VND 20,000 for children.