Huong Pagoda festival blends heritage, technology and serene pilgrimages
VGP - The Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 opened on February 22, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors under the theme “Spring Pilgrimage to Huong Pagoda”.
The opening ceremony of Huong Pagoda festival
Running from February 18 to May 11, this year's festival introduces free entrance tickets through February 22, free car parking, reorganized traffic flows and expanded digital management.
Electronic ticketing, QR-code entry control, AI camera systems and an operations center are now in use to manage peak crowds.
Motorboats on the Yen Stream are now limited to emergency use, restoring a quieter pilgrimage atmosphere. Hand-rowed boats dominate the route, offering a slower, more reflective journey. Officials have also cleared unauthorized vendors and required public price listings.
Running from February 18 to May 11, this year's festival introduces free entrance tickets through February 22, free car parking, reorganized traffic flows and expanded digital management.
Electronic ticketing, QR-code entry control, AI camera systems and an operations center are now in use to manage peak crowds.
Motorboats on the Yen Stream are now limited to emergency use, restoring a quieter pilgrimage atmosphere. Hand-rowed boats dominate the route, offering a slower, more reflective journey. Officials have also cleared unauthorized vendors and required public price listings.
These measures aim to reinforce the image of one of Viet Nam's largest and longest-running festivals, said Tran Duc Hai, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Huong Son Commune.
Spanning the Huong Pagoda National Special Monument complex, with four main routes and about 20 temples, pagodas and caves dedicated to the Buddha, Huong Pagoda remains northern Viet Nam's largest pilgrimage site and a hallmark of Ha Noi's spiritual tourism.
The site is expected to gain recognition as a national tourism area by 2026 and is preparing documentation for submission to UNESCO by 2030 for World Cultural and Natural Heritage status.
The Tuyet Son journey begins in Phu Yen village along the Tuyet Son Stream. A 1.5-kilometer boat ride winds past limestone peaks and rice fields before reaching Bao Dai Pagoda at the mountain's foot.
Built in 1694 during the reign of King Le Hy Tong by Princess Hoang Thi Ngoc Huong, the pagoda marks the starting point for a trekking trail through ancient apricot orchards, vegetable plots and old forest trees toward Tuyet Son Mountain.
From the 10th lunar month, when white apricot blossoms blanket Huong Son forest, the route attracts hikers and photographers./.
