A woman worships at a pagoda (Illustrative photo/ VTC)

Early in the morning, the pagodas are crowded with people coming to pray for peace, happiness, good health, and prosperity.

Pham My Nuong of Nam Dinh province says she prepares offerings to worship the ancestors and goes to a pagoda to pray to Buddha.

“I go to a pagoda with my family to humbly pray for blessings. We give a donation to the pagoda. We don’t burn much incense or and votive papers because the pagoda is crowded,” said Nuong.

Hoi An city has cancelled its First Full-moon Festival this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Religious sites in Hoi An will still hold traditional rituals for small groups of people under strict pandemic protocols, but the Ông pagoda and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall are closed.

Nguyen Van Lanh of Hoi An city in Quang Nam province, says: “Ong pagoda and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall held a traditional ritual for their Executive Boards. They have informed the public that they are not welcoming tourists. Last year about 4,000 to 5,000 people came here. Normally lots of tourists come to Hoi An.”

Ho Chi Minh City’s Organizing Board of Major Festivals will celebrate the First Full-moon Festival to promote Vietnamese culture and local trade and investment.

The highlight of the Festival is District 5’s Vietnamese-Chinese Culinary Week from February 11-20, when visitors can enjoy dishes from Vietnam and China, such as pho, noodles with beef, spring rolls, dimsum, and sweet porridge.

Most Venerable Thich Minh Tuong, Head of Kim Quy pagoda in Dong Anh district, Hanoi, says the first full-moon day is a appropriate day to hold a peace ceremony for the whole year. People go to pagodas, release live birds and fish, do good deeds, make offerings, and pray for peace and harmony for themselves and the whole nation.