HANOI – Huong Pagoda this year does not hold festivals, the boat docks limit the number of guests, and visitors are not allowed to stay too long at one spot.
Huong Pagoda (Huong relic site) is located in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, 65 km south of Hanoi capital center. In order to have a safe visit and ceremony at the temple this festive season, visitors should note the following things.
Time
Visitors to the Huong Pagoda festival often choose between January and March of the lunar calendar, specifically, the most crowded is from January 6 to the end of March of the lunar calendar, the peak is from January 15 to February 15 of the lunar calendar. This year, Huong Pagoda opens late, from February 16 (ie, January 16 of the lunar calendar).
In addition to the Tet holiday, visitors can visit the pagoda all year round, watch the rice flower blooming season in March-April, or go down the Yen stream in the water lily blooming season from October to November.
Note the epidemic season
This year, to ensure safety and prevent epidemics at the relic site, My Duc district will not hold a festival. The district established 8 sub-committees, a station to check tickets and operate boats and boats, and an interdisciplinary inspection team.
The management board of the relic site stipulates that when visiting the Huong Son relic and scenic area, visitors must scan the QR code at the health declaration points. In addition, the marina will limit the number of guests, the houseboats do not carry more than the specified number of guests (depending on the type of boat, ranging from 12 to 30 guests). The attractions also limit group visitors and tourists not to stay too long at one point.
After the decision was made to open the Huong Pagoda to welcome guests, My Duc district was asked by the Hanoi Department of Health to develop a plan when detecting and treating tourists with Covid-19, arranging a diagram of the flow of visitors in and out of the area. relics, disinfecting food service establishments, cable car cabins, reviewing vaccination against Covid-19…
How to move
From Hanoi, visitors can go to Huong Pagoda by many different means such as bus, motorbike, personal car or limousine, car rental…
If traveling by motorbike, visitors follow the direction of Nguyen Trai – Ha Dong – Ba La – Van Dinh – Te Tieu and then ask for directions to Duc wharf to Huong Pagoda. If you go by car, you choose National Highway 1A Phap Van – Cau Gie, go to Dong Van intersection, turn right onto Highway 38, continue 15 km in the direction of Cho Dau.
Costume
When going to places of worship at pagodas, temples, communal houses, historical sites, heritage… especially when going to pagodas to offer incense and perform rituals, visitors should choose polite clothes and dress not offensively. Also, check the weather to dress appropriately. January in Hanoi currently has a temperature of 14-17 degrees Celsius and is prone to rain.
The sights and ceremonies at the Huong Pagoda require a lot of walking, so a pair of sports shoes and flat shoes will help your feet feel more comfortable.
Currently, the epidemic in Hanoi is still complicated, the number of infections increases daily, visitors to the temple on crowded occasions should bring masks, drop shields, and hand sanitizer.
Visiting sites
The main sightseeing route in Huong Son (Huong Pagoda) is the Huong Tich route: Trinh Temple – Thien Tru Pagoda – Tien Son Cave – Giai Ona Pagoda – Tran Song Temple – Huong Tich Cave – Hinh Bong Pagoda.
The route Thanh Son – Huong Dai has the route: Thanh Son pagoda – Huong Dai cave – Van Dong pagoda Long Van – Cay Khe pagoda.
Tuyet Son route has the route: Trinh temple – Tuyet Son pagoda – Bao Dai pagoda – Ngoc Long cave – Fish pagoda.
Map of spiritual attractions in Huong Pagoda. Photo: dulichsucsongviet
Visitors can go back and forth during the day from Hanoi with the Huong Tich route. There are two additional routes, visitors should stay for the second day to have enough time to visit.
Currently, many travel agencies organize and sell tours to Huong Pagoda during the day for about 700,000-800,000 VND/person.
Fare
Boat ticket is 50,000 VND/person for the main route, 35,000 VND/person for the side route, scenic ticket is 80,000 VND/person. If you go in a large group, you can rent a large boat for 15-20 people to sit together, it will be more convenient. More necessary, you can call to book a boat with a date and time in advance to avoid crowded situations.
The cable car ticket price applied to this year’s Huong Pagoda festival remains the same as in previous years. The round trip ticket is 180,000 VND/adult and 120,000 VND/child. One-way tickets are 120,000 VND/adult and 90,000 VND/child.
Note when buying specialties and souvenirs
Huong Son relic area has many shops selling specialties and souvenirs on both sides of the road to temples, pagodas, caves… Need to ask the price before buying, check the expiry date of packaged and canned products especially during the festive season.
Do not buy products from wild animals, banned animals, limit killing, eat salty foods when going to pagodas.