Festival season on Yen Tu's sacred mountain were officially launched yesterday morning with special performances and traditional rites.

The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province revealed that preparations for the festival 2010 included a wide range of events, particularly on opening day.

This year Yen Tu will welcome 3 million visitors (Photo by Van Tuyen)

The opening ceremony began just after rites to commemorate King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong and prayers for national prosperity.

Rites to commemorate King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (Photo by Van Tuyen)

In order to meet increasing demands of visitors, many construction projects have been under way. A suspended cable system heading to Hoa Yen and Bronze Pagodas have been upgraded to serve 2,500 visitors per hour and decrease congestion at the station.

The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province required local authorities to prevent superstitious activities or violate regulated service fees to protect the interests of visitors.

According to organisers, the opening ceremony attracted 100,000 visitors. From the 1st through the 9th day of Tet, 24,000 people made the pilgrimage. Officials are expecting Yen Tu to welcome 3 million visitors this year.