Happy Entrepreneur Program

Program of the year 2021

In 2021, as the COVID-19 crisis continued to affect Vietnam and the wider world, entrepreneurs remained under intense pressure, facing survival challenges and uncertainty. In times like these, clear wisdom and inner strength become essential. Mindfulness and awakening offer a way to transform hardship into sweet fruit—remaining steady through constant change.

Building on the beautiful tradition established in recent years, the organizing committee continued the “Happy Entrepreneurs” retreat in 2021 with the theme “Stillness.” With the message “In stillness, wisdom will arise,” the retreat was designed to help entrepreneur meditators stay committed to their mission and goals, gain a fresh perspective in a changing world, and renew their motivation and energy to move forward with optimism, even in the most difficult moments.

The sacred Yen Tu Mountain continues to stand in peace and steadiness, serving as a spiritual anchor for entrepreneurs and for the people of Vietnam. This land of the Ancestors remains a place of refuge, always welcoming those who return. After the difficult months of the pandemic, the simple miracle of being together again—seeing one another, holding hands, smiling, and sharing peaceful energy—felt especially meaningful. It seemed that the worst had passed, and Vietnam could finally begin to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Program of the year 2022

The world remained unsettled in 2022, shaped by economic crises, wars, pandemics, and an unpredictable business environment. Like boats adrift on a vast ocean, enterprises continued to face powerful waves. Yet difficult times are also when love and understanding must take root, helping us recognize the real value of happiness and appreciate what is present now.

The annual “Happy Entrepreneurs” program at Yen Tu once again offered a remarkable opportunity to renew faith, inspiration, and mindfulness energy. The 2022 retreat, themed “Walk Like a River,” carried a message of multidimensional connection, creating boundless strength as a gift of love from the revered monks, nuns, and organizing committee to entrepreneur meditators.

In the cool, peaceful atmosphere of the mountain forest, participants opened their hearts through mindful steps and morning breathwork, connected with the steadfast energy of the thousand-year spiritual lineage of the ancestors, and meditated while watching the sunrise on the sacred mountaintop. They also enjoyed the gentle atmosphere of the “Zen Fragrance” poetry and music night, and shared fragrant tea in an environment filled with care. Their minds were further illuminated by Dharma talks from the monks and nuns, as well as heartfelt sharing from fellow practitioners.

When we become as steadfast as the mountain, as relaxed as the clouds, and as graceful as the flowers, trees, and plants around us, we can return to ourselves, listen deeply, understand more fully, and feel empathy for our own struggles and the suffering of others. From there, we can connect with our spiritual and ancestral lineage, unite like a river, and spread love into life, “holding hands tightly as we move toward the ocean.”

Program of the year 2023

In the difficult climate of the “lost decade,” entrepreneurs—often seen as heroic warriors—found themselves caught in waves of anxiety and fear, sometimes losing direction and forgetting the philosophies and missions that first guided their journeys. In the midst of such turbulence, how can one face difficulty, transform it, and turn challenge into opportunity for oneself, one’s business, and the wider community?

The 2023 Happy Entrepreneurs program, themed “Finding Yourself Again,” invited meditators and entrepreneurs to return to sacred Yen Tu Mountain to care for and heal the pain of loss, and to rediscover the miraculous life and meaningful opportunities still available. It was a chance to reconnect with the true self, restore energy, and rekindle the joy of living.

By returning to the sacred mountain, participants walked together in calm steps on holy ancestral land, welcomed by sunrise over the Đong Pagoda peak, birdsong, and the whispers of ancient pine trees planted long ago by King Buddha Tran Nhan Tong and other revered ancestors. In returning, everyone had the opportunity to “find themselves” again—to be listened to, understood, and to realize that even amid suffering and loss, happiness is still present when we look deeply.

Program of the year 2024

In the serene autumn atmosphere of sacred Yen Tu Mountain, nearly 250 practitioners gathered for three joyful days at the “Happy Entrepreneur Program 2024” with the theme “Mindfulness in the Age of AI: Challenges and Opportunities.” Yen Tu Mountain expresses deep gratitude for the peaceful and fulfilling journey home shared by all participants.

Amid the constant flow of economic change, leaders face countless challenges. Yet if we remain trapped in those difficulties, we exhaust ourselves and lose sight of what matters most: the good relationships we share with family, colleagues, and society. At the 2024 retreat, practitioners explored self-management through mindful intelligence, transforming pain into opportunity and rediscovering a quiet, peaceful heart.

This year’s program was also enriched by meaningful insights from prominent business speakers, and Yen Tu Mountain sincerely thanks them for their energy and support.

No matter who we are, what role we hold, or what work we do, may we live joyfully and wholeheartedly in each moment. May these happy entrepreneurs remain grounded and continue to nurture seeds of peace, building many happy businesses.