VietNamNet Bridge – The first month of the new lunar year is often a time for Vietnamese to visit places of worship in order to wish for good fortune and prosperity.

VietNamNet Bridge – Larger than usual numbers of devotees have swarmed the Bai Dinh Pagoda and Cultural Centre in the northern province of Ninh Binh to pray for a blessed year and good things to happen in the new year,

 VietNamNet Bridge – A new building has been constructed without authorisation on a protected area of the Huong Pagoda Complex, according to officials from the Ha Noi Department of Culture.

 Saudi authorities said the total number of pilgrims killed in the stampede Thursday in Mecca has risen to 717.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A cai luong (renovated theatre) play dedicated to the King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong – founder of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism – is expected to debut in the 11th lunar month, December, this year.

Christians from across the world have gathered in the West Bank town of Bethlehem to mark Christmas Eve in the place they believe Jesus was born. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Those who want to dispel tetchiness and annoyance of daily stress of urban life, Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh Province is a good recommendation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – On the first day of the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival, the largest festival in northern Vietnam, thousands of tourists flocked to the pagoda on the outskirts of Hanoi from 1-2am.

 VietNamNet Bridge - To pray for a good new year, you should go to the Ngoc Hoang temple on Mai Thi Luu Street, District 1. To enjoy a view and pray for peace, you should visit the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

Going to Buddhist temples to wish for peace and prosperity in the early lunar new year has been traditional custom in Vietnam. This custom was once eroded somewhat. In recent years, it has strongly recovered, especially among the young people.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A Pa Chai hamlet is well-known to travellers as the westpoint of Viet Nam and a junction between it, Laos and China.