In Vietnam, the first month of the Lunar New Year is time to make pilgrimages to pagodas to pray for a happy life, good luck and good health in the year ahead. Pilgrimage tourism is becoming a part of modern Vietnamese culture and an attractive tourist product for foreigners.
Pilgrimage tours to the north visit famous pagodas and temples, providing inner peace and interesting architecture such as Tran Temple in Nam Dinh Province, But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh Province, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ngoc Son and Quan Thanh temples in Hanoi.
Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province is known as the mother land of Vietnamese Buddhism. The mountain is 1,068m high and is where the Truc Lam Buddhism sect was first based.
The highlight of the pilgrimage to the North is Huong Pagoda. The pagoda is in natural surroundings so pagoda visitors can explore the mountain, caves, streams and forest. Discover the mystique of the incense filled Huong Tich Cave, boat tours from Duc Wharf and the picturesque Yen Stream.
The Hung King Festival will be held at Hung Temple in Phu Tho Province April 6-12 with traditional artistic shows, ethnic rituals and indigenous foods.
In the South, most provinces have pagodas and temples such as Vinh Nghiem, Ong and Giac Lam Pagoda in HCMC, Dai Giac, Long Thien and Buu Phong pagodas in Dong Nai Province.
Binh Duong is famous for Ong and Ba pagodas. Dalat, the city in mist and pine trees, has Truc Lam Monastery Zen, Thien Vuong Co Sat and Linh Phuoc pagodas.
The interlacing canals of the Mekong Delta will transport you to floating markets, fertile orchards and fascinating pagodas like Ba Chua Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau , Tay An and Nguyen Trung Truc in Chau Doc Town, An Giang Province. Ha Tien, a province known for beautiful beaches, like Mui Nai, Bai No, Bai Ot, has Tam Bao, Thach Dong and Mac Cuu temples. If My Tho is famous for Vinh Trang Pagoda, Tra Vinh is well-known for Hang Pagoda.
Temples and pagodas in the Central are very imperial and elegant. Thien Mu Pagoda and Truc Lam Bach Ma Monastery Zen in Hue City, Long Son Pagoda and Cham’s Posahnu Temple in Nha Trang City or Linh Son Truong Tho in Phan Thiet name a few. If visitors climb Ba Na Mountain in Danang City, there’s Linh Ung Pagoda.
Pilgrimage tours offered by Saigontourist Travel Service Company include a four-day tour to Huong Pagoda-Hanoi and Halong Bay priced at VND3.7 million to VND4.8 million, a four-day tour to Hanoi, Hung Temple and Halong Bay departing on April 12 and priced at VND3.7 million, a two-day tour to Do Temple and Yen Tu Mountain priced from VND1.6 to VND1.7 million, departing from Hanoi on February 17, 19, 24 and 26 and March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19, a three-day tour to Linh Ung Pagoda priced at VND2.5 million to 2.9 million, departing from Danang on February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11 and 18, a four-day tour to Hoi An City to enjoy Nguyen Tieu Festival priced at VND2.7 million to VND3.2 million, exclusive of flight ticket and departing from Danang, a four-day tour to explore Hue City priced at VND2.7 million to 4.1 million, departing from Danang on February 19 and 26 and March 5, 12 and 19 and a four-day tour to Cai Be-Vinh Long-Can Tho-Chau Doc and Ha Tien in Mekong Delta priced at VND2 million to VND2.8 million, departing on February 17, 19, 24 and 26 and March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19.
Saigontourist Travel Service Company Add: 45 Le Thanh Ton Street, HCMC’s District 1
Tel: (84-8) 3827 9279
Email: info@saigontourist.net