On the morning of February 15, 2024 (the 6th day of the first lunar month in the Year of the Rat), the special national relic site of Huong Son – Huong Pagoda (My Duc district, Hanoi) organized the opening ceremony of the Year of the Rat. The event was attended by Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and representatives from various departments and agencies of Hanoi.
A VIBRANT AND HARMONIOUS HEAVEN AND EARTH
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the My Duc District People’s Committee Dang Van Canh – Head of the Organizing Committee for the Chua Huong Festival 2024, stated that the Huong Son Complex (Huong Pagoda) is a place with great potential in terms of ecological environment, cultural and spiritual values, and tourism. The complex consists of 21 temples, Buddha caves, shrines dedicated to agricultural deities, and Buddhist temples. Over the past six centuries, the Huong Son scenic area has preserved its historical and scenic value.
The Huong Pagoda Festival lasts for three months and is rich in humanitarian and spiritual significance. The festival showcases traditional cultural beauty such as boating, mountain climbing, ceremonial singing, folk verse, poetry nights, and solemn opening drumbeats.
“Through the festival activities, we contribute to raising awareness and educating future generations about the responsibility of preserving and promoting the cultural values associated with socio-economic development. We also aim to promote the cultural value of the Huong Pagoda Festival and the potential and strength of tourism development in My Duc district to domestic and international visitors,” emphasized Mr. Dang Van Canh.
Senior Venerable Thich Minh Hien, Abbot of the Hung Lam Huong Tich Complex, stated that Huong Son possesses majestic natural scenery, with hints of red roofs and ancient architecture nestled amidst vast mountains and forests. Apart from its natural beauty, the area is also known for its ancient caves, which have been shaped by nature and are associated with legendary stories passed down through generations, such as Huong Tich Cave and Nguoi Xua Cave.
According to the venerable, since King Le Thanh Tong’s (1460-1497) second royal visit and the establishment of the shrine to worship the forefathers who fought against the Truy Tich pirates, Huong Son has become a cherished national landmark for tourists to visit and admire.
“As Spring slowly arrives, the heart of the earth awakens, and the skies echo with harmonious melodies. The spiritual realm comes alive, and all ripples fade away,” recited Senior Venerable Thich Minh Hien, expressing his poetic interpretation. He also revealed that in preparation for the new festival season, the My Duc District Buddhist Administration has worked together with monks, temple management boards, and the organizing committee of Huong Son scenic area to develop a plan that includes providing guidance to visitors and ensuring compliance with legal regulations regarding religious activities and beliefs.
“Throughout the history of the Huong Pagoda complex, no superstitious or occult activities have been held here. There are no offerings to disharmonious spirits, nor are there any offerings to resolve personal conflicts. The pagoda only holds ceremonies to pray for national peace and prosperity. To meet the spiritual needs of Buddhists and tourists, the pagoda has set up charity boxes and record boards according to the regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism,” affirmed Senior Venerable Thich Minh Hien.
FEWER PEOPLE ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS
Our observations on the opening day showed smooth and clean traffic flow on the roads leading to the scenic area. Despite the light rain, the number of visitors was high, and all activities proceeded safely and orderly.
At the ticket checkpoint and the central area of Thien Tru Pagoda, the organizing committee arranged QR code scanning points to facilitate visitor access and provide information about the Huong Son National Special Relic complex. In addition, a free Wi-Fi system operated across the entire Huong Pagoda area and the central area of Huong Son Commune.
The biggest change at this year’s Huong Pagoda Festival is the ferry service. Along the banks of the Yen pier, ticket check machines have been installed, requiring visitors to have a ferry ticket before boarding. Down on the pier, boat owners are no longer allowed to actively invite and bring visitors onto their boats as before. Instead, visitors are assigned to boats by the staff of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Service Cooperative. Each boat departs once it reaches a capacity of 20 passengers, and the next boat in line takes on new passengers.
“On the opening day (the 6th day of the lunar month), the ticket checkpoint at the scenic area recorded just over 10,000 visitors. We estimate that on the opening day, Huong Pagoda will receive only 30,000 visitors.”
Mr. Nguyen Ba Hien, Head of the Management Board of the Huong Son National Special Relic and Scenic Area.
A female boat operator mentioned that in previous years, boat owners were free to invite and bring visitors onto their boats, resulting in boats competing to attract passengers. “There were times when only 2-3 passengers boarded a boat, and once they were on board, we had to depart immediately. If we waited to invite more passengers and make the boat fuller, the passengers would get impatient and choose another boat. As we could only accommodate 3-4 passengers at a time, the fare (if charged according to the regulated ticket price) was only around VND 150,000 for rowing the boat for 3-4 hours round trip. That’s why we asked for additional money from passengers. This year, thanks to the cooperative, every boat is filled with 20 passengers, so each trip earns a fare of 1-1.2 million dong. We will no longer ask for extra money from passengers,” she happily added.
Mr. Nguyen Ba Hien, Head of the Management Board of the Huong Son National Special Relic and Scenic Area, revealed that during the Tet days, Huong Pagoda received a high number of visitors. From the 30th day of the lunar month to the 2nd day of the new year, due to the non-collection of scenery ticket fees, the number of visitors was not counted. On the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rat (February 12), the first day when festival tickets were sold in 2024, more than 21,000 people visited and admired the pagoda. On the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, about 56,000 visitors flocked to Huong Pagoda to participate in the festival. On the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, approximately 40,000 people visited. It is estimated that in the first 5 days of the lunar year, more than 140,000 visitors came to Huong Pagoda.
However, it was projected that on the opening day, Huong Pagoda would only receive about 30,000 visitors, which is only half of the average number of visitors on previous opening days before 2020.
“The reason for the lower number of visitors on the opening day compared to previous years is that visitors take advantage of the Tet holidays to visit and pay respects before going back to work. After the 6th day, which is when government offices and agencies officially resume work, the number of pilgrims decreases. But we predict that on Saturday and Sunday, the number of visitors will dramatically increase, and traffic congestion may reoccur in certain areas within the scenic area,” shared Mr. Hien.
