When does the Perfume Pagoda Tourism Festival take place?
Huong Pagoda Festival 2026 takes place from February 18 to May 11, 2026 (ie from the 2nd day of the first lunar month to the 25th day of the 3rd lunar month of Binh Ngo). The opening ceremony takes place on February 22nd, 2026 (January 6th).
This year, the Perfume Pagoda Festival is held in a special context, when Hanoi intends to build the Perfume Pagoda Special National Relic Area into a National Tourist Area in 2026. At the same time, gradually complete the dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2030.
Entrance ticket prices at Perfume Pagoda Tourism Festival
From January 1, 2025, the integrated ticket price for sightseeing and transportation services by boat on the Huong Tich route for adults is 230,000 VND, and for children is 65,000 VND.
Long Van - Tuyet Son route is 85,000 VND for adults and 50,000 VND for children.
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 vehicle from the parking lot to the ferry terminal is 20,000 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.
Implementing the policy of the Hanoi People's Committee, from February 20-22 (the 4th to the 6th day of Tet), the Organizing Committee of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 deploys free sightseeing tickets.
From the morning of February 20, tourists do not have to buy tickets to visit Huong Son relic site, just buy boat tickets at 110,000 VND/person for pilgrimage. The policy aims to create conditions for people and tourists to access cultural and spiritual values at the beginning of spring, and at the same time contribute to stimulating tourism in the Capital.
The Organizing Committee refunds money to those who have booked scenic spot tickets within the time frame from 0:00 on February 20 to 24:00 on February 22, through direct and online forms. The separation of ferry tickets and free sightseeing has received the consensus of a large number of tourists.
Many new points at the Perfume Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026
Strengthening digital transformation
From this year's festival season, the organization and management work continues to be promoted with digital transformation. Accordingly, the Organizing Committee sells tickets, controls scenic spot tickets and boat services using QR codes; installs AI cameras to monitor security and order.
One of the notable new points is the arrangement of a separate hotline, operating throughout the festival season to receive and promptly handle feedback from tourists.
Mr. Vuong Trong Dao, Vice Chairman of Huong Son Commune People's Committee, said that this year the locality assigned specialized officials to the hotline 19001207. The addition of a regular hotline, associated with a rapid response team, is to avoid overload and ensure that information is processed quickly and effectively.
Security and order assurance, traffic safety have been strengthened, especially on Yen stream and Tuyet Son stream. Boat operations ensure absolute safety; resolutely handle violations and encroachment on relic space.
Expanding the space of the Perfume Pagoda Tourism Festival
The 2026 Perfume Pagoda Tourism Festival covers the entire Huong Son complex with 3 sightseeing routes, including 20 sacred temples, pagodas, and caves. Visitors not only pilgrimage to Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich cave but also have the opportunity to fully explore the cultural - spiritual - landscape beauty of Perfume Pagoda.
The situation of business encroachment on relics has been handled, many trading points have been cleared, restoring ventilation and solemnity to the festival area, towards a civilized and polite environment.
Traditional rituals are solemnly organized, in accordance with Buddhist rituals and folk beliefs, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and people's peace and happiness. The festival part is organized selectively, focusing on cultural and folk art values, community activities; limiting commercialization, preserving the solemnity of relics.
Tighten management, say no to motorboats
This year's festival season, the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee tightened the management of vehicles on Yen stream, requiring ferries to equip life jackets when departing and requiring tourists to wear them fully. In particular, strictly prohibiting motorized boats from operating on Yen stream, belonging to the Perfume Pagoda complex.
Mr. Ta Dinh Dung - Head of Communications Department of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 said: "This decision aims to limit noise and exhaust gas pollution, avoid creating waves affecting manual ferries; and at the same time rectify the situation of some vehicles not meeting registration conditions and taking advantage of motorboats to carry passengers, causing adverse impacts on the landscape, environment and the rights of ferry owners".
Right from the beginning of the Binh Ngo year, the restriction of motorboats on Yen stream and waterways in the festival area has been strictly implemented. The organizing committee only arranged a number of vehicles to be on duty to serve traffic regulation and emergency handling. The remaining forces are required to use manual rowing boats.
According to the Organizing Committee, this measure aims to ensure the goal of a safe and friendly festival, enhance the experience for tourists and maintain a green, clean and beautiful tourism environment.
In addition, service forces were also deployed early, coordinating at many locations to ensure security and order, traffic safety, environmental sanitation, rescue and relief work, and support and guide tourists.
Huong Pagoda aims to become a four-season destination
In 2026, the locality orients tourism development at Perfume Pagoda in the direction of year-round exploitation instead of only focusing on the festival season. From May to December, cultural - spiritual, ecological, experiential and adventure tourism products will be built and organized on all four routes belonging to the special national relic complex.
In parallel, the locality plans to organize cultural, artistic, and sports activities associated with times such as Buddha's Birthday, lotus flower season, water lilies; and at the same time promote the display and introduction of cultural and tourism products and promote Huong Son specialty agricultural products to increase economic value and create more livelihoods for people.
The festival organizing committee is assigned specific tasks, establishing specialized sub-committees and rapid response teams to handle arising situations. Professional departments and the Relic Site Management Board play the role of advising, coordinating and supervising the implementation process.
