Place:Long
Tiên Pagoda at the foot of Bài Thơ (Poem) Mountain, Hạ Long City Time: The
official festive day is on the 24th of the third lunar month Significance: Long Tiên
Pagoda was built quite recently, 1941, and is the largest pagoda
in Hạ Long City. The festivities of the pagoda are not reserved
solely for Buddhist faithful, but hold a spiritual meaning for
every local. Some locals say that
every day is a festive day at Long Tiên Pagoda. Foreign and
domestic tourists arrive for sightseeing, while faithful burn
incense and recite prayers to Buddha. But it is on the 1st
and 15th days of each lunar month that they arrive in
greater numbers, and particularly over Têt. When spring arrives, it
is the festive season for the whole region. People call Long Tiên
Pagoda Tŕnh (submit) Pagoda. They arrive to burn joss-sticks here
first, afterwards to continue on a pilgrimage to Yên Tu Mountain
and finally to participate in the festivities at Cua Ông Temple. Locals organized a
procession carrying palanquin pass by Trần Quốc Nghiễn Temple (Đức
Ông Temple) to An Dương Vương Temple in Vung Đâng via Lồng Tồng
then back to the pagoda. It was told that in the carrying
palanquin race of the processions many people carrying palanquins
run fast seem to fly past the canal like in the tale.
