Thousands of pilgrims and visitors flock to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi on February 22 (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
From around 4 am, crowds gathered at the boat pier leading to the pagoda complex, queuing to board vessels along the Yen Stream.
Hundreds of people board boats towards Huong Pagoda before dawn on February 22 (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
This year, organisers suspended all motorboats, replacing them entirely with hand-rowed boats to reduce emissions and noise, and to create a quieter, more nature-friendly environment for pilgrims.
People collect water from a rock crevice, hoping for good luck and peace throughout the year (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).
Stalls along both sides of the stairways to Huong Tich Cave and Thien Tru Pagoda have also been cleared, creating more open space and easing congestion compared with previous years.
Many people had to worship from outside as they could not enter the main hall of Thien Tru Pagoda (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
By the afternoon, the number of visitors surged, causing overcrowding around Thien Tru Pagoda. Many were unable to enter the main hall and had to pray from a distance.
Huong Tich Cave was packed with worshippers (Photo: Tran Thanh Cong).
At the cable car station to Huong Tich Cave, thousands queued for extended periods. Despite additional staff deployed to assist, the area experienced overload and long waiting times.
People flock to Huong Pagoda on February 22 (Photo: Nguyen Ngoan).
Le Van Trang, chairman of Huong Son Commune People’s Committee, said the Huong Pagoda Festival is one of Hanoi’s largest spring events, attracting large numbers of visitors for worship and sightseeing at the start of the year. This year’s festival will run until May 11.
According to organisers, nearly 136,000 visitors arrived at the Huong Pagoda Complex in the first five days of the Lunar New Year. On February 21, more than 51,000 people visited, boosted by favourable weather.
