Ngoa Van Outdoor Meditation Retreat (2 Days 1 Night): A Journey to Return

Amidst the Yen Tu pine forest, where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong chose to enter Nirvana over 700 years ago, Ngoa Van Zen Village brings a journey unlike any meditation retreat you have ever experienced: Outdoor Meditation Retreat - Journey to Return, 2 days and 1 night immersing yourself in nature, heritage, and yourself.

What is the Ngoa Van Outdoor Meditation Retreat?

If you are looking for a Yen Tu meditation retreat that is deep in practice, rich in experience, and close-knit in community, then this is exactly it. Outdoor Meditation Retreat - Journey to Return takes place on July 18 - 19, 2026 at Ngoa Van Zen Village, Trai Loc Area, An Sinh Ward, Quang Ninh.

Unlike a closed-room meditation course, this retreat is designed for you to live with nature: mindful vegetarian eating amidst the pine forest, outdoor tea meditation by candlelight, hiking up to Ngoa Van Hermitage at dawn, playing traditional folk games like a child, and finally sitting down to listen to each other, completely.

Why Choose Ngoa Van for Meditation?

Among dozens of Yen Tu spiritual tourism destinations, Ngoa Van Zen Village holds a special place that nowhere else can replace: this is where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong - the only king in Vietnamese history to renounce the throne to practice asceticism and attain Buddhahood - chose to pass into Nirvana on November 1, 1308.

The founding patriarch of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect, who led the people to defeat the Mongol invaders twice, entered Nirvana at Ngoa Van Hermitage in the "Lion lying down" posture after many years of ascetic practice here. His sarira (relics) are enshrined at the Buddhist Emperor Stupa - a unique sacred relic that remains to this day.

The spiritual energy of this land is not something you can read about, but something you feel when stepping onto the mountain at dawn, when the mist still covers the ancient pine trees, when placing your hand on the old stone foundation of Ngoa Van Hermitage. That is why the outdoor meditation retreat at Ngoa Van is completely different from any other Quang Ninh spiritual retreat.

5 Unmissable Experiences of the July Retreat

Every outdoor meditation retreat at Ngoa Van has its own unique features. This July retreat is designed with 5 special highlights that you will not find in any other course of the year:

• 01
  Mindful cake wrapping - Warm as coming home: On the afternoon of Day 1, the group sits together to wrap traditional cakes with gentle background music. This is not an ordinary craft activity this is meditation through the hands. When attention is fully placed on every fold of the leaf, the mind naturally settles. The atmosphere is as warm as returning to grandmother's house during Tet.

• 02
  Traditional folk games - An ancient village amidst the Yen Tu pine forest : Tug of war, sack race, blindfolded ball hitting, shuttlecock kicking the Ngoa Van Organizing Committee forms teams and sets up games, creating the atmosphere of an old village right in the middle of the Yen Tu pine forest. This is the moment you will laugh the most and forget all worries the fastest in the entire retreat.
• 03
  Outdoor Ngoa Van tea meditation - The most unforgettable evening of the year: At 7:30 PM on Day 1, the whole group sits outdoors with flickering candlelight, a warm cup of tea in hand, and the nocturnal sounds of the mountain forest. Experiencing Ngoa Van tea meditation under the Yen Tu night sky this is a moment that everyone who has participated says they "will remember forever".

• 04
  Mindful hiking to Ngoa Van Hermitage - A sacred journey from 5:30 AM: At 5:30 AM on Day 2, before the sun has a chance to peek out, the group begins the journey of hiking up to Ngoa Van Hermitage in silence and mindfulness every footstep is a breath, every breath is a return. This is the most sacred experience of the entire outdoor meditation retreat, and also the reason many people book early.
• 05
  Listening circle - Deep connection at the end of the journey: On the afternoon of Day 2, before saying goodbye, the group sits in a circle to listen to one another. No judgment, no rushing, no looking at phones each person gets to hear and be heard completely. Many attendees share that this is the most emotional moment, even though no one prepares for it in advance.

Information to Know Before Registering

Accommodation & Cuisine at Ngoa Van Zen Village

One of the things that makes the Ngoa Van Yen Tu retreat experience different is the accommodation space. Participants will rest at Pine Hamlet (Xom Tung) or Bamboo Hamlet (Xom Truc)  two housing areas designed in a minimalist style, close to nature, true to the spirit of meditation. Not luxurious, not noisy there is only tranquility and sufficiency.

Regarding cuisine, all 5 mindful vegetarian meals in the course are from the Cho Que kitchen a vegetarian culinary brand with 20 years of experience at Yen Tu, offering wholesome, nutritious food cooked with a mindful spirit.

Who Can Participate? Do I Need to Hike?

The outdoor meditation retreat at Ngoa Van is open to everyone from 18 to 60 years old. No meditation experience is needed. No special physical fitness is required.

As for the hiking to Ngoa Van Hermitage on the morning of Day 2 this is an optional activity. For the elderly, young children, or anyone who does not want to walk, the Organizing Committee provides a package of round-trip Ngoa Van cable car tickets going straight up to Ngoa Van Hermitage. The sacred sanctuary experience remains complete no one is left behind.

What to Bring for the Outdoor Meditation Retreat?