Cai Bau Pagoda - A spiritual tourist destination attracting visitors at the beginning of the new spring

Going to the pagoda on the first day of the new year has long been a beautiful cultural feature of the Vietnamese people. People go to the pagoda not only to pray for luck and peace for themselves and their families in the new year, but also to express their respect to Buddha and their ancestors. This beauty is reflected in the fact that tourists and Buddhists come to the pagoda on the first day of the new year to pray for luck, fortune, national peace, favorable weather, and family happiness.

View of Cai Bau Pagoda in the first days of spring

After New Year's Eve and from early morning on the first day of Tet, many people came to Cai Bau Pagoda, also known as Truc Lam Giac Tam Zen Monastery, to burn incense, visit the scenery, and pray for good luck in the new year of At Ty 2025. In the chilly weather of the spring morning, more and more people came to the pagoda, young and old, men and women, everyone was radiant with the joy of the new spring.

Cai Bau Pagoda, located in Hamlet 1, Ha Long Commune, Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province, is a cultural and spiritual work with unique architecture associated with the glorious feats of heroes in the war to defend the frontier of the Northeast region and the war against the invading Yuan-Mongol army of the Tran Dynasty. This place is considered one of the pagodas with the most beautiful location in Vietnam, with its back leaning against the mountain and its face facing the sea, creating a majestic and majestic scene.

With its peaceful space and poetic scenery, Cai Bau Pagoda attracts a large number of people and tourists to visit during Tet.

Cai Bau Pagoda consists of the Main Hall, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and the Tam Quan Gate. The widest part of the Main Hall houses a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, behind which is a bronze relief depicting the scene of the Bodhi tree where Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment. On both sides are statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva symbolizing wisdom and compassion.

On both sides of the Zen Monastery are the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, with sculptures depicting the pilgrimage of Buddha. On the left side of the Zen Monastery is a bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha weighing 4.8 tons. In addition, Cai Bau Pagoda also has: Ancestor's house, monks' quarters, guest houses for monks and nuns, a hall, and a dining hall.

From a height of nearly 100m on the Zen Monastery grounds, you can gaze out over Bai Tu Long Bay with its thousands of rocky mountains. The beautiful scenery here brings a sense of peace and serenity, as if all the worries and fatigue of worldly life have been removed.

To maintain the solemnity of the Buddha's gate, security and order are maintained very well here. In the temple grounds, no soliciting services are allowed. Visitors who come here to eat vegetarian food or stay here do not have to pay.

After visiting and worshiping, visitors enjoy free vegetarian meals at the temple.

With these great advantages, Cai Bau Pagoda has become a famous tourist destination throughout the country, attracting a large number of people and tourists to visit the pagoda when Tet comes. Here, from adults to children, everyone dresses up neatly and beautifully to burn incense and pray to Buddha for their family to have a healthy and peaceful New Year of At Ty; a smooth life and work, good luck in business; and at the same time, pick lucky branches and pray for good luck at the beginning of the new year.

In the brilliant space of the Buddha's gate, after praying for peace and luck, each local and tourist coming to visit spring does not forget to take pictures with family, relatives and friends to record memorable moments at the beginning of the new year.

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