Opening ceremony of Huong Pagoda 2026, visitors brave the rain to go to temples overnight
Chí Long |
Hanoi - On the morning of February 22nd (6th day of Tet), the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 officially opened in Huong Son commune, attracting people and tourists to visit and worship.
Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival takes place from February 18 to the end of May 11 (ie, from the 2nd day of the first lunar month to the 25th day of the 3rd lunar month of Binh Ngo), with the theme "Safety - Friendliness - Quality".According to Lao Dong's records, from 4 am on February 22 (the 6th day of Tet), the Yen stream ferry wharf area was bustling with people queuing in the rain to wait to get off the boat to worship Buddha at the beginning of the year.Groups of people wearing raincoats and sitting on boats stretched from Yen wharf. Many visitors moved all night to Huong Tich cave to offer incense and worship.Boat wharves operate continuously, thousands of boats take visitors to the festival center. This year's festival season, the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee tightened the management of vehicles on Yen stream, boats when departing must be equipped with life jackets and require tourists to wear life jackets fully.Boat wharves operate continuously, thousands of boats take visitors to the festival center. This year's festival season, the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee tightened the management of vehicles on Yen stream, boats when leaving the wharf must be equipped with life jackets and require tourists to wear fully. This is the first year to strictly prohibit motorized boats from operating on Yen stream to limit noise and emission pollution, avoiding creating waves affecting manual boats. There are a total of 1,033 traditional boats, 2,636 boats and 6 electric boats serving operation. Huong Pagoda Tourism Service Cooperative coordinates with functional forces to carry out registration and inspection of vehicles in accordance with regulations.In the Den Trinh and Thien Tru pagoda area, the flow of people coming to offer incense continuously. Many tourists take advantage of worshiping in the morning, before the opening ceremony and then continue their journey to Huong Tich cave.Ms. Thu Hien (58 years old, Thai Nguyen) shared: "My family left at 2 am to arrive early to attend the opening ceremony. Arriving there, we saw it was raining but there were still many people. Guests had to wait to arrange to board boats, and only arrived at the Thien Tru Pagoda area at 7 am.Some families choose to walk the distance from Thien Tru wharf to the cave, lasting about an hour to an hour and a half, instead of taking the cable car.According to the Organizing Committee, on the 5th day of Tet alone, the relic site welcomed more than 51,000 visitors. From the 1st to the end of the 5th day, the total number of visitors reached nearly 136,000, an increase of more than 37,000 visitors compared to the same period last year. Entering the main festival day, the number of people continued to increase, concentrated in the Den Trinh area, Thien Tru Pagoda and the cable car route to Huong Tich cave.This year, the Organizing Committee continues to deploy electronic ticket sales, QR code control, install artificial intelligence camera systems and operate the operating center. Functional forces are on duty at key points to divert and regulate traffic, ensure security and order, fire prevention and fighting and rescue.
The integrated ticket price for sightseeing and transportation service by boat on the Huong Tich route for adults is 230,000 VND, and for children is 65,000 VND. For the 20-22. 2 days (from the 4th to the 6th day of Tet), the Organizing Committee of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 implements free sightseeing tickets. Visitors only need to buy boat tickets at 110,000 VND/person for pilgrimage.
For cable car transportation services from Thien Tru Pagoda to Huong Tich cave, round-trip tickets are 260,000 VND for adults, 180,000 VND for children and priority people.
The fare for one trip is 180,000 VND for adults, 120,000 VND for children and priority people. The fare for transportation by electric car from the parking lot to the ferry terminal is 220,000 VND/person/trip.
Especially this year, the Organizing Committee of this year's Festival has applied a policy of free parking for cars and motorbikes at stations managed by the unit. This is considered an adjustment step to support tourists, reduce arising costs and improve service quality.
Especially on the 5th day of Tet, the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 in Huong Son commune, Hanoi city recorded more than 51,000 visitors to visit and worship Buddha.
From February 20-22 (January 4-6 of the lunar calendar), the Organizing Committee of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 deploys free sightseeing tickets.
Especially on the 5th day of Tet, the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 in Huong Son commune, Hanoi city recorded more than 51,000 visitors to visit and worship Buddha.
From February 20-22 (January 4-6 of the lunar calendar), the Organizing Committee of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 deploys free sightseeing tickets.
