At 7 AM on February 2nd (the 5th day of the first lunar month), the national scenic area of Huong Son (My Duc District, Hanoi) saw tens of thousands of tourists from all over the country arriving to pay homage and admire the scenery. This is the time just before the opening of the 2025 Chua Huong festival, attracting particular attention from locals.
Bustling Boat Rides on Yen Stream
Boats continuously shuttle along the Yen stream, ferrying visitors from Yen Wharf to Thien Tru Pagoda. This year, the Chua Huong Tourism Service Cooperative has prepared more than 3,700 boats and ferries to meet the high demand from tourists. The organizers aim to create a civilized festival season, putting an end to negative and unseemly scenes.
Congestion at Thien Tru Pagoda Wharf
By noon, thousands of boats lined up waiting to dock at Thien Tru Pagoda. The congestion worsened as the number of visitors increased. Tourists had to walk through rows of boats and ferries close to the shore to reach the wharf.
Tourist Experiences at Chua Huong
One tourist from Ha Nam shared, “Our family visits Chua Huong every year, so we’re used to it, but we worry about the kids slipping and falling into the water.” Many other tourists expressed concern about the swaying boats and were hesitant to disembark.
Record Number of Visitors
According to statistics from the Management Board, since Tet, Chua Huong has welcomed approximately 92,000 visitors. Even in the afternoon when heavy rain fell, the paths leading to Chua Huong remained crowded with people in raincoats paying their respects.
Overcrowded Cable Car Area
At the cable car area, lines stretched from the ticket control gate to the cabin entrance. Many tourists showed impatience while waiting for their turn. Ms. Bich (from Quang Ninh) said, “Our family started yesterday and spent the night outside the wharf. We took over an hour by boat this morning to reach Thien Tru Pagoda. With such long queues, it will take a long time to get on the cable car.”
The 2025 Chua Huong Festival Opening
Tomorrow morning (the 6th day of the first lunar month), besides the opening of the 2025 Chua Huong festival, the My Duc District People’s Committee will also announce the recognition of Chua Huong as a city-level tourist site. The theme of the 2025 Chua Huong festival is “Chua Huong: A Destination for Vietnamese Culture, Tradition, and Tourism,” running for three months, from February 3rd to May 1st.
Chua Huong continues to be a spiritual and cultural destination that attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors. With thorough preparations, the organizers hope to deliver a civilized, safe, and meaningful festival for everyone.
