The owner of a privately owned luxury temple in Vu Xa Village in Hai Duong Province has recently shocked the public by organising extravagant parties.
The Goddess Temple
"The Goddess Temple" was named after Doan Thi The, a 60 year-old woman who bought thousands of metres of land to built the temple on.
The temple has three ceremonies each year marking the full moon of the first month, the first opening day of the year and the temple's main festival on lunar March 13. Vu Xa Village is often swamped by people and vehicles on those days.
During the festivals such as the full moon of the first month, meals for thousands of people including two tonnes of pork and 800 chung cakes will be readied in the front yard of the temple. However, the locals said the temple is often short of food.
A visitor said, "The meals are offered to everybody, they don't prohibit anyone."
A woman who cooks for the temple said, "It took us nearly a day to complete the meals."
On the temple's first opening day of the year, thousands of people lined up in the yard and waited until they could give their offerings. Many others gathered outside and watched the commotion.
Taking advantages of the festivals, the local people here have developed many kinds of services such as vehicles parking and other services. The farmers have turned into one-day service providers.
Th., owner of an offering shop and parking lot said, "We only have three exciting festivals, we have to make the most of them. My family can earn millions of VND each time."
A old woman who rents out her toilets for VND2,000 a turn said, "The toilets are so dirty, I had to spend forever cleaning it each day. But I earn several millions each day."
Inside the The Goddess Temple
Elaborated stairs
The temple is decorated with lakes
The temple's towers
Tables set up
Vehicle parking places
Toilet service outside