Ngoc Dung’s family from Van Chuong alley on Kham Thien street in Hanoi’s Dong Da district often goes to the pagoda on the first day of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. While most business households visit large and well-known pagodas, Dung’s family chose one nearest their house for traffic convenience and to avoid the hustle.
“Apart from praying for happiness, prosperity and good health for family, visiting pagodas gives us a chance to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere at religious places,” the 40-years-old Hanoian said.
Visiting pagodas at the beginning of Lunar New Year has become an age-old tradition of Vietnamese people. While streets in
Among the religious destinations, Tay Ho pagoda attracts the largest number of visitors from both in and outside
Fruit and offering shops in the entrance leading to the pagoda are overcrowded with visitors on the occasion.
Madam Thanh, 70 who is also from
“We can go to the pagoda anytime but the first day is a special time of a year to pray for good things for our family”, he explained.
Meanwhile, many citizens, especially students, chose to visit the
Nguyen Thu Phuong from
“This year, I pray for good health for my family and wish that I will enter
The first half of the first lunar month is the best time for a pilgrimage. Joining the flow of devotees in the spring’s wonderful atmosphere you may feel the harmony of the sky and the ground, she said.