yen tu mountain is a pilgrimage site for locals. it is the place where the truc lam (bamboo forest) sect was established by king tran nhan tong (click here for more info). ascending the mountain is no easy chore. the steps are steep and slippery. so it's doubly amazing (not just amazing) when i witnessed elderly women and children making the way right to the summit. i couldn't. when i descended, my legs were out of strength. i suffered from muscle aches for the next few days.