Many projects on infrastructure have been implemented

This year, the functional bodies and authorities of northern Ha Tay province have been carrying out a large number of projects with total investment of dozens of million of Vietnam Dong (VND) to build, upgrade and expand the Huong Pagoda relic site and its surrounding areas in a bid to ease traffic congestion which has occurred in previous years.

Huong Pagoda itself contributed VND3 billion to expanding the session from Yen pier to Thien Tru pagoda. The session has three lanes, including one for people with disabilities.

The authorities of Huong Son commune have expanded Thien Tru pagoda’s ground by nearly 20m. A project to build a guesthouse and museum worth thousands of millions of Vietnam Dong is expected to be completed before the traditional Lunar New Year Festival (Tet) to welcome visitors to Huong Pagoda. In particular, the session from Thien Tru pagoda to the suspending cable station No.1 has been widened by 7m to prevent traffic jams. The session from the suspending cable station No.3 to Quan Am Kieu bridge near Huong Tich cave has also been upgraded.

Apart from developing infrastructure at the relic site, functional bodies and provincial authorities are actively dredging Yen stream, upgrading the pathways to Long Van, Tuyet Son and Yen pier, as well as planting green trees along Yen pier.

Zoning plan on service system

In previous years, many shops and service suppliers mushroomed in Thien Tru’s surrounding areas and along the pathway to Huong Tich cave, badly affecting its beautiful appearance and causing traffic congestion. This year, the situation is expected to be changing for the better. A series of shops in Thien Tru pagoda have been ordered to move to an area close to Thien Tru pier, creating a fresh and clean environment. In addition, five W.C houses have been built in the relic site.

Since January 1, 2006 the entrance tickets for visitors to Huong Pagoda have no longer included ferry fares. The ticket price remains at VND22,500 per person (including insurance fee), while the ferry fare costs VND20,000 per person. In previous years, the entrance ticket was VND35,000 per person for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Getting ready for new festival season

The Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival 2007 officially kicked off on the sixth day of the first lunar month. According to Huong Son communal officials, Hoai Duc district is now ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors after Tet.

Like many other relic sites in Vietnam, Huong Pagoda is open to visitors all the year round. They can enjoy good services in Duc pier, Trinh temple, Thien Tru pagoda, Huong Tich cave and surrounding areas.

Of course, there still remain certain negative practices like overcharging visitor, or even begging for money from visitors, particularly foreign tourists. There must be strict regulation to prevent such bad things from happening during the festival.