The Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival officially opened in My Duc district, Hanoi on January 30, the sixth day of the first month of the lunar Year of the Buffalo.

Over 80,000 people have flocked to Huong pagoda since Jan. 27. As many as 3,700 ferry-boats and 5,00 boatmen and boatwomen are serving visitors on the Yen Stream leading to Huong pagoda. Security is well in force to ensure safety for visitors.

Entrance tickets range from VND25,000 to VND30,000, while ferry fees for one visitor are VND25,000 for the Huong Tich route and VND15,000 for the Tuyet Son route.

In other developments, the Hai Ba Trung Festival was held on Jan. 31 in Me Linh commune in the district of Me Linh and the Soc Temple Festival began the same day in the outlying district of Soc Son.

Other visitors went to the Co Loa Temple Festival in the suburban district of Dong Anh to gain a better understanding of the ancient Viet state under the reign of King An Duong Vuong King.

The highlights of these festivals invlude various cultural activities and rituals, such as incense offerings, rice cooking contests, and Chinese and human chess performances.

In addition, a tourism programme themed “Returning to the Roots 2009” was launched in the northern province of Phu Tho on the evening of Jan. 31. This is an annual event organised in rotation in the three northern provinces of Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai.

More than 1,000 pupils and students participated in the programme’s opening ceremony at the Hung Temples historical complex to promote national unity and uphold the tradition of “drinking water and remembering its source”.

The programme included cultural festivals, traditional games, music and dance performances, photo exhibitions, and singing contests.