(VOVworld) For Vietnamese people, the first lunar month of the year is a time for festivals and visiting pagodas to pray for health, luck, happiness and prosperity. During this time of the year, Yen Tu pagoda in Quang Ninh province, Tran temple in Nam Dinh province and Huong pagoda in Hanoi are the most popular destinations for pilgrims.

Festival at Ba Chua Kho temple Photo: Internet

 In the early spring, Vietnamese people try to arrange time to visit pagodas and temples to pray for luck. Saigontourist company offers a dozen tours of pagodas, temples and festivals including Huong pagoda, Hung King temple, Ba Chua Kho (Queen of the Stock) Temple, Vieng market and Giay Temple. Ancient pagodas and temples on the outskirts of Hanoi, in the northern province of Bac Ninh and those in Lang Son and Quang Ninh province are other popular destinations for pilgrims. These tours cost 30 to 60 USD each.

Viettravel company also offers attractive pilgrimage tours including a 4-day tour from Hanoi to Ha long bay, Bai Dinh pagoda, and Trang An village in the northern province of Ninh Binh. A 6-day Viettravel tour to Hanoi, Yen Tu, Halong Bay and Sa pa offers a combination of scenic rural areas and historic pagodas and temples for just 500 USD.

Bai Dinh pagoda Photo: Internet

These days, many families, groups and organizations are organizing tours by themselves. Since the beginning of the lunar year, Ms Tu Tam Duc has visited the Huong and Yen Tu pagodas with a group from Hanoi. "We can organize pilgrimage tours by ourselves to visit the Buddhism Institute and the Bronze and Gold Temples which are part of the religious complex of Uong Bi city. This tour gives us a chance to learn more about Vietnamese Buddhism, which teaches us to help one another and be charitable", said Ms Duc.

The seal issuance ceremony at the Tran temple in Nam Dinh province always attracts a large number of pilgrims, who come there to pray for a good year. "The ceremony was well organized this year as order and security was ensured. Pilgrims are very happy and excited", said Duong Dinh Thiet, a pilgrim from Hanoi. 

Beautiful spots in the central and southern regions are attractive destinations for tourists from the north during the early days of the spring. "Our company offers tours to scenic spots in Phan Thiet, Ninh Chu, Phu Quoc, Hue, Nha Trang and Hanoi. For those who prefer highlands, there’s a tour to Da lat while pilgrims can go to the pagodas and temples of Chau Doc, An Giang and Ha Tien", said Le Van Hung, Director of the Thanh Nien Tourism Company in HCM City..

Lan Anh