Fragrant Pagoda Festival (06/02)

The Fragrant Pagoda Festival is held annually and begins on the 6th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, ending at the very end of the third lunar month.

It is the longest holiday in Vietnam; it will last more than two months. The central event of the holiday is a prayer said in the ancient sacred cave of Huong Tich on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

The fragrant pagoda — is one of the oldest Buddhist sanctuaries in Vietnam. It is located in Hatai province, 70 km southwest of Hanoi. Every year for three spring months it becomes a center of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over Vietnam.

Having visited it at the beginning of the Lunar Year, you should offer prayers to the Almighty in this sacred place for yourself and your family. It is believed that in this way a person will be able to protect his family from evil spirits and enlist the support of good forces for a whole year.

The pagoda was founded in the 15th century. Now it is not just a temple, but a whole complex of mountain and cave sanctuaries and tombs, considered one of the main historical monuments of Vietnam. In addition to pilgrims, the pagoda is visited by thousands of tourists. Up to 500 thousand people visit the complex annually.

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