Thousands of people visit the Huong Pagoda Festival which officially opens on February 15. Photo by Danviet.
Most Venerable Thich Minh Hien, abbot of the Perfume Pagoda Complex, said that although the official opening ceremony was conducted on February 15, the pagoda has started receiving a large number of visitors since February 11.
The pagoda welcomed some 80,000 visitors over the past three days, including over 40,000 reported on February 14. It is expected that the site will receive 30,000 more visitors on the official opening day on February 15, an increase of 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
Speaking at a recent meeting on the festival organisation, Vice Chairman of the My Duc district People's Committee Dang Van Canh who is also head of the festival organising board, affirmed preparations for the festival have completed.
This year, e-tickets will be used instead of paper ones as a measure to curb congestion and overcrowding in the first days of the festival.
The Huong Son relic site management board has improved the quality of boat management, along with locating restaurants and regulating traffic flows.
About 3,800 - 4,500 boats are qualified to provide service at this year's festival. Moreover, 110 electrical cars will be available on three routes, namely Hoi Xa bus station - Yen Vy ferry station, Duc Khe bus station - Dong Cu station, and Road No1 bus station - Tuyet Son pagoda ferry station.
Going to Huong Pagoda is a spiritual journey to the Buddhist Land – where the Goddess of Mercy leads a religious life.
Visitors have sightseeing trips to pagodas, temples and caves which are the main attractions at the Huong pagoda festival, and join ceremonies to ask for favours from Lord Buddha.
Built in the late 17th century, the Huong Pagoda Complex has a large number of pagodas, temples, and caverns filled with marvelous stalactites and stalagmites.
The Huong Tich cavern has the autograph of Lord Trinh Sam in 1770, describing the cavern as the most beautiful cave in the country.
It was recognised as a special national relic site in 2018.
The festival will last three months until May 1.
