People flock to pagodas for a prosperous year ahead

(VNF) - Visiting pagodas and temples on the first days of the Lunar New Year (Tet) is a deep-rooted tradition of Vietnamese people. Amidst the Tet atmosphere, let’s join a tour to pagodas and temples in the capital city.

Many people visit Tran Quoc pagodas at the beginning of Lunar New Year. (Photo: ng.trunghieu92)

Visiting pagodas at the beginning of Lunar New Year has become an age-old tradition of Vietnamese people.

While streets in Hanoi are less crowded on the first day of New Year, a stream of people goes on a pilgrimage at Tay Ho, Tran Quoc pagodas or Ngoc Son and Quan Thanh temples.

At Ngoc Son temples. (Photo: tugnt)

Among the religious destinations, Tay Ho pagoda attracts the largest number of visitors from both in and outside Hanoi with several thousand each day during Tet holidays.

A stream of people goes on a pilgrimage at Tay Ho pagodas on the 3^rd day of Tet. (Photo: tienvanguyen)

Fruit and offering shops in the entrance leading to the pagoda are overcrowded with visitors on the occasion.

Azerbaijani, Greek, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Russian Ambassadors to Vietnam visited Dong Ha temple and Bach Ma temple on the first day of Tet.

Greek Ambassador (blue suit), Russian Ambassador (white shirt) and his wife. (Photo: Russian Center of Science and Culture in Hanoi/Facebook)

Many arrived at the Temple of Literature in the Vietnam's capital to receive the letters written by skilled calligraphers, which are believed to symbolize good fortune for the Lunar New Year.

Canadian Ambassador Ping Kitnikone visited the Temple of Literature and tried her hand at calligraphy on the first day of Tet. (Photo: Canadian Embassy in Vietnam/Facebook)

The first half of the first lunar month is the best time for a pilgrimage. Joining the flow of devotees in spring’s wonderful atmosphere you may feel the harmony of the sky and the earth./.

( Compiled by VNF )