Ngo Manh Hai, 34, said as a fourth-time visitor to the Huong Pagoda spring festival, that he found the fees notably higher this year.
"An adult visitor has to pay at least VND465,000 (approximately USD20) for boats, cable car, shuttle bus, and entry tickets to the Huong Pagoda Festival," Hai stated. "Parking costs an additional VND10,000 (approximately USD0.45) per hour per car. That's a steep price for a spring festival visit."
Vu Hai My from Thanh Hoa Province mentioned that her family of seven spent nearly VND7 million (approximately USD300) during their visit last week.
"Besides the high fees, boat operators typically request tips," My noted. "The most disappointing aspect is the entry fee, while many other pagodas in the country don’t impose such charges. The parking and cable car tickets are exorbitantly priced, costing up to VND220,000 (approximately USD9.40) for a cable car ride of less than five minutes to Huong Tich Cave."
A restaurant owner at the pagoda voiced concerns over the declining number of visitors to the Huong Pagoda Festival this year.
"The rising prices, combined with the economic downturn, seem to have deterred visitors this year," she observed. "Our customer numbers are dwindling."
Addressing the situation, Nguyen Ba Hien, head of the management board of the Huong Son landscape complex, indicated that most fees at this year's Huong Pagoda Festival increased by VND10,000-40,000 (approximately USD0.45-USD1.70).
"The new fees are reasonable compared to those at other special national historical sites," Hien argued, adding that the Hanoi People's Council had approved all the fees, which would fund facility upgrades and service improvements at the pagoda.
Hien also mentioned that many spring festivals this year, not just the Huong Pagoda, reported fewer visitors.
The Huong Pagoda Festival, the longest running festival in the country, located in Hanoi’s outlying district of My Duc, continues until May 1.
