Every spring, Vietnam bustles with people rejoicing and welcoming the new year. TET is the day when families gather and exchange best wishes. Besides traditional customs imbued with national identities, such as family reunions and New Year greetings to relatives, Vietnamese people also preserve the culture of going to pagodas at the beginning of the year to pray for a peaceful and happy new year.
Going to the Pagodas or Temples is about praying for a new year of peace, luck, and health for yourself and your family. It is also an opportunity to immerse yourself in a peaceful space, wash away the old year’s worries, and be grateful.
If you are looking for Pagodas in Vietnam to offer your prayers during TET 2025, we have listed down a few –
Temples in the North Vietnam
Perfume Pagoda Hanoi
When spring comes to the North, people are excited to attend the Huong Pagoda festival. Located in the majestic Huong Son relic complex, Huong Pagoda is famous for its beautiful landscape and unique festival that lasts for the first three months of the year.
Crowds of people flock here; incense smoke swirls in the morning mist, and the temple bells ring out melodiously. Bamboo boats glide gently on Yen stream, taking visitors to a fairyland.
Passing through Huong Tich cave, one can pay respect to the sacred Goddess of Mercy. Pray for a peaceful and happy new year. Huong Pagoda Festival is an occasion for spring sightseeing and the beautiful spiritual culture of the Vietnamese people.
Yen Tu Pagoda (Quang Ninh)
On the sacred Yen Tu mountain peak, Yen Tu Pagoda is a major Buddhist centre of Vietnam, associated with the Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong. Tourists worldwide flock to the Yen Tu festival, which usually takes place from the 10th of January to the end of the third lunar month, following the ancient stone steps to the pagoda. Their hearts are filled with reverence, praying for a peaceful and lucky new year. The fragrant incense sticks blend into the mist; the temple bells ring in the middle of a fairyland.
In particular, in the first days of spring, visitors will be immersed in a unique festival atmosphere with many spiritual and cultural activities, such as an incense offering ceremony, a palanquin procession, a peace praying ceremony, and traditional art performances.
When visiting Yen Tu Pagoda in spring, people’s hearts seem pure, washing away all worries and blending into majestic nature.
Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh)
On Tet holiday, Bai Dinh pagoda puts on a new coat of brilliant spring colors. Crowds of people flock here to pray for luck and peace in the new year. The sound of the temple bells blends with the quiet incense smoke, creating a sacred and peaceful atmosphere.
The ancient pagodas are adorned with red lanterns and yellow apricot blossoms, adding splendour. Tourists from all over the world jostle to pay homage, respect Buddha, and pray for good fortune at the beginning of the year. On everyone’s face shines joy, happiness, and hope for a peaceful and happy new year.
We will be lost in a mysterious spiritual world amidst the crowd. The majestic natural scenery of the mountains further enhances the pagoda’s beauty. On the Tet holiday, Bai Dinh Pagoda is a place to send wishes and an ideal spring destination for visitors to enjoy the fresh air and find peace in their souls.
Bai Dinh Pagoda holds impressive records and is proud to be the largest pagoda in Vietnam. It stands out with its unique architecture and grand scale, making anyone who sees it admire it.
Pagodas in the Central region
Linh Ung Pagoda (Da Nang)
Located on Son Tra peninsula, Linh Ung pagoda stands out with the tallest statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in Vietnam and a beautiful sea view. On every Tet holiday, the majestic Linh Ung pagoda suddenly puts on a new coat, brilliant with the colors of apricot and peach blossoms. Crowds flock to the pagoda, wishing for a peaceful and lucky new year. The sound of the temple bells and the quiet incense smoke create a sacred and pure space in the middle of the mundane world.
Visitors worldwide come to worship, pay homage to Buddha, and admire the majestic statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in the middle of the vast sea and sky. The majestic natural scenery combined with the traditional festival atmosphere creates a beautiful, unforgettable picture in the hearts of every Vietnamese person when coming to Linh Ung pagoda on Tet holiday.
Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue)
Tet holiday at Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue) is different from usual days because of its pure and sacred beauty. The cool air of early spring blends with fragrant incense to create a feeling of peace and relaxation. Visitors from all over the world flock here to pray for a peaceful and lucky new year.
A bustling stream of people offered incense and visited the pagoda. The sound of laughter and chirping birds could be heard on the branches of trees filled with young leaves. At the foot of the ancient Phuoc Duyen tower, old people sat chatting and reminiscing about old stories. Dragon boats drifted leisurely on the poetic Huong River, taking visitors to enjoy the charming scenery.
Thien Mu Pagoda is usually busiest on New Year’s Eve and the first days of the new year. At this time, locals and tourists flock to the pagoda to pray for luck and fortune at the beginning of the year. The festival atmosphere is bustling with activities such as offering incense, picking lucky branches, asking for calligraphy, fortune telling, etc.
Japanese Covered Bridge (Hoi An)
The warm spring sunshine spreads golden on the mossy tiled roof of the Japanese Covered Bridge, combined with the brilliant red of the hanging lanterns, creating a beautiful picture for the traditional New Year in Hoi An. Crowds of people pass by the ancient bridge, their faces radiant with joy, happily welcoming a peaceful new year.
Especially on New Year’s Eve and the first days of the new year, the Japanese Covered Bridge is lively and bustling with people. Everyone is in attendance to burn incense, pray for a new year of good luck, health, and peace. The fragrant incense wafts from the temple, mixed with the faint scent of milk flowers, creating a pure, sacred atmosphere amidst the crowd. The cheerful laughter of children and the chatter of adults blend to create a lively Tet symphony in Hoi An.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the Japanese Covered Bridge still stands there, silent and ancient, as a historical witness, preserving the nation’s traditional cultural values.
Are you curious to know more about TET? Check out our blog on Vietnamese Lunar New Year!
Pagodas to Visit in Ho Chi Minh and South
Thien Hau Pagoda (HCMC)
Nestled in the heart of bustling Saigon, Thien Hau Pagoda still retains its serenity and antiquity. But when Tet comes, spring returns, the space here suddenly changes, donning a new, colorful coat.
Right from the last days of the year, people flocked to the pagoda, bringing incense, fruits, and cakes to offer to Thien Hau Goddess with the wish to pray for peace, health, and luck in the new year. The bustling sound of drums and gongs mixed with the smoke of incense created a bustling festival atmosphere.
Inside the main hall, bright red lanterns hang high, illuminating the majestic statues of gods. Visitors jostle each other to burn incense, bow, and pray. Stalls sell all kinds of offerings outside the temple yard, from incense, flowers, votive paper to Tet decorations. Laughter and bargaining are everywhere.
Thien Hau Pagoda on the Tet holiday is not only a place for people to pray for luck but also an opportunity to meet, exchange, and share the joy of welcoming spring. The image of elderly people respectfully burning incense, children in new clothes running around, and families gathering together creates a warm and meaningful Tet picture.
No matter how busy life is, Thien Hau Pagoda is always a spiritual support for the people of Saigon, a place that preserves the good traditional cultural values of the nation.
Jade Emperor Pagoda (HCMC)
Located on Mai Thi Luu Street, District 1, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda is famous for its sacred and magical place, attracting many locals and tourists from all over. This ancient pagoda was built in 1909 in the Southern Buddhist style, with sophisticated architectural works such as Tam Bao Pagoda, Phuoc Duong Pagoda, Phuoc Hai Pagoda, Phuoc Duc Pagoda and Phuoc Tho Pagoda.
The large lotus pond in the temple grounds adds to the serenity, home to various fish, birds and fragrant lotus flowers. Ngoc Hoang Pagoda is a sacred place of worship and a famous destination for praying for children and fortune with the statue of the God of Wealth and the statue of Bodhisattva Guanyin.
In particular, on the 23rd of December every year, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda becomes even more bustling with a lucky festival, attracting thousands of people to attend, wishing for a new year of peace and prosperity.
Tay An Pagoda (An Giang)
Tet holiday at Tay An Pagoda (An Giang) has a very different beauty. The bustling atmosphere of the streets seems to calm down, giving way to the serenity and peace of the Buddha’s gate. People from everywhere flock here, with a sincere heart to burn incense and pray for a peaceful and lucky new year.
Located on Sam Mountain, Tay An Pagoda is a famous spiritual tourist destination with unique architecture, a blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian styles. The red of the parallel sentences and lanterns blend with the brilliant yellow of the apricot blossoms, creating a brilliant and solemn spring picture. The sound of the temple bells resonates, deep and deep in the quiet space, as if washing away all the worries and concerns of the old year.
Tourists from all over the world come here to pray for peace and worship Buddha and to admire the ancient pagoda’s unique architectural beauty. The curved tiled roofs, sophisticated motifs, and majestic statues… all exude an ancient, sacred beauty.
The pagoda is usually busiest in the year’s first days, especially from the first to the tenth day of Tet. Under the shade of green Bodhi trees, visitors can sit and rest, enjoy the fresh air, and feel the peace in their souls. Tay An Pagoda on Tet is a place to send wishes and an ideal destination for spring travel, where visitors can find traditional spiritual and cultural values.
How To Reach the Cities via Buses and Limousines
Hopefully, the list of the most beautiful Pagodas in Vietnam to visit during Tet 2025 will help you make your pick. Vietnam has excellent bus and limousine connectivity.
To help you book your tickets for the TET 2025 holidays, check out the popular routes and details here –
| Destination | Pagodas Nearby | Bus Operators | Limousine Operators | Departure Locations | Travel Duration | Approx. Fare (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Bai Dinh Pagoda, Ninh Binh | Phuong Trang, Kumho Viet Thanh | Luxury Van, Sapa Limousine | My Dinh Bus Station, Hanoi | 2 – 2.5 hours | 120,000 – 250,000 |
| Ho Chi Minh | Vinh Trang Pagoda, My Tho, Tien Giang | Phuong Trang, Mai Linh | Saigon Limousine, Green Limousine | Mien Tay Bus Station, HCMC | 1.5 – 2 hours | 80,000 – 200,000 |
| Hue | Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue | The Sinh Tourist, Hoang Long | Hue Premium Limousine | Hue Bus Station, Hue | 15 – 20 minutes | 30,000 – 70,000 |
| Da Nang | Pagodas in Ba Na Hills, Da Nang | Camel Travel, Hanh Cafe | Dana Premium Limousine | Da Nang Bus Station, Da Nang | 45 minutes – 1 hour | 120,000 – 250,000 |
Notes for Travelers
- Limousines: Provide a more comfortable and luxurious journey with reclining seats, Wi-Fi, and refreshments.
- Bus Options: Budget-friendly, with frequent services catering to various schedules.
- Booking: Use platforms like redBus.vn for easy and reliable bookings with multiple operators.
- Tet Travel Tips: Book tickets in advance to avoid the holiday rush and ensure seat availability.
To make your TET 2025 trip more convenient and economical, don’t forget that right now; you can enjoy a 25% discount with the code DAUTIEN when booking hotel tickets with redBus. Many other attractive offers await you, along with the exclusive Flash Sales promotion for the upcoming Tet 2025 season. Don’t miss this golden opportunity and plan your TET 2025 Travel now!
Visit the redBus Vietnam website or download the redBus app to stay updated on 2025 Tet deals, cheap tickets and special promotions. Book your bus tickets now and enjoy incredible savings on your Tet trip!