Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 officially opens, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors
WVR - Despite the rain, tens of thousands of visitors attended the opening ceremony of this year's Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival, marked by numerous innovative management solutions, technology applications, and site renovations, aiming for sustainable development of the special national relic complex of Huong Son.
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| The ceremonial procession was solemnly conducted at Thien Tru Pagoda. (Photo: Phu Le) |
On the morning of February 22 (the 6th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse), the opening ceremony of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 officially took place in a solemn and respectful atmosphere at Thien Tru Pagoda.
The event was attended by Mr. Truong Viet Dung – Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, along with representatives of city and local departments and agencies.
The Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival is a large-scale annual cultural and tourism event of the capital, attracting a large number of monks, Buddhists, and visitors from all over, reaffirming Huong Pagoda's position as a prominent cultural and spiritual tourism center of Hanoi and the nation.
Innovative organization, aiming for sustainable development
This year's festival runs from February 18 to May 11, 2026 (from the 2nd day of the first lunar month to the 25th day of the third lunar month), encompassing the entire Huong Son relic and scenic complex.
The system of tourist attractions includes Thien Tru Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave, Giai Oan Pagoda, Trinh Temple, along with dozens of caves, limestone mountains, and Yen Stream, creating a complex of relics with outstanding historical, cultural, and scenic value.
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| Chairman of Huong Son Commune People's Committee Le Van Trang delivers the opening speech. (Photo: Phu Le) |
In his opening speech, Chairman of Huong Son Commune People's Committee Le Van Trang emphasized organizing the festival with innovative thinking and methods not only ensures a safe, friendly, and quality festival season but also lays the foundation for sustainable development of the relic site in the coming period.
The locality identifies tourism as a key economic sector, associated with the preservation and promotion of the special national relic's value.
According to the Huong Son Commune People's Committee, before the festival season, the locality dismantled, cleared, and renovated 155 business points no longer suitable within the relic site (71 points were completely dismantled, 84 points were dismantled and renovated), returning about 6,500m² of common space to the relic, contributing to a more open and solemn landscape.
Technology application, enhancing service quality
A notable highlight of the 2026 festival season is the strong application of technology in management and visitor service: implementing electronic ticket sales, online ticket sales, installing automatic ticket vending machines, QR code ticket control, and installing AI cameras to assist in traffic flow management. The organizers also established a rapid response team to handle information via the hotline 19001207.
In line with Hanoi city's tourism stimulus policy, the organizers waived entrance fees to scenic spots from the 4th to the 6th day of the first lunar month, and also waived car parking fees on the opening day. This policy has contributed to attracting a large number of visitors to the festival from the early days of spring.
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| Passenger transport activities on Yen Stream. (Photo: Phu Le) |
Security, traffic safety, and fire prevention measures have been strengthened. Passenger transport activities on Yen Stream are tightly managed; about 4,000 boats are mobilized to serve during peak times.
At Duc Wharf, boats are numbered and queued in order, reducing the previous situation of competing for passengers. The mandatory life jacket rule when taking a boat continues to be strictly enforced. The organizers stated they would firmly refuse service to those who do not comply to ensure visitor safety.
Tens of thousands of visitors brave the rain for the opening ceremony
Despite heavy spring rain on February 22, tens of thousands of visitors and Buddhists gathered at Yen Wharf, patiently waiting for boats to begin their pilgrimage journey to Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave. The festive atmosphere at the beginning of the year remains vibrant, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the Huong Pagoda festival.
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| Visitors brave the rain for a spring pilgrimage to the pagoda. (Photo: Phu Le) |
Statistics show that from the 1st to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the relic site welcomed nearly 140,000 visitors, an increase of 138% compared to the same period in 2025.
However, at the two cable car points and Huong Tich Cave, local congestion still occurred during peak days. The organizers advise visitors to proactively adjust their visiting times to avoid overcrowding.
As part of the opening ceremony, a special art program themed "Spring Festival at Huong Pagoda" recreated traditional cultural values associated with the festival and Buddhist religious life.
The incense offering ceremonies, praying for national peace and prosperity, were solemnly organized, contributing to spreading heritage preservation awareness within the community.
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| Art performance at the opening of the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026. (Photo: Phu Le) |
With comprehensive preparations, technology applications in management, site renovations, and service quality enhancements, the Huong Pagoda Tourism Festival 2026 demonstrates a clear shift in organizational approach.
From a traditional festival, Huong Pagoda is gradually moving towards a civilized, professional festival model, linking heritage preservation with sustainable tourism development, contributing to enhancing the destination's status of Hanoi in the new phase.
