Thousands of people flocked to pagodas across Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, the second day of the Year of the Snake, to pray for peace, prosperity, and happiness in the new year.

At Van Phat Pagoda in District 5, visitors were awe-struck by the five-story temple, which houses over 10,000 Buddha statues, making it one of the largest Buddhist statue collections in Vietnam. 

Many worshippers dressed in ao dai (Vietnamese traditional costume), carrying incense, flowers, and offerings to present at the altar. Rituals such as lighting incense, chanting prayers, and drawing fortune sticks were performed in a solemn atmosphere.

Bringing children along to teach them the values of respect and spirituality has become a cherished tradition for many families.

Le Thu Hien, a resident of Thu Duc City, shared her annual practice of visiting Van Phat Pagoda on this special day: "I visit many pagodas throughout the year, but at the start of the lunar new year, I always come here to pay my respects and seek divine guidance through the automatic fortune-telling machine."

Other well-known pagodas in the southern metropolis, such as Xa Loi (Sarira) Pagoda in District 3 and Ngoc Hoang (Jade Emperor) Pagoda in District 1, also saw large crowds of worshippers, all hoping for a blessed and peaceful year ahead.

Van Nguyen, a Vietnamese expatriate from the U.S., made it a priority to visit Ngoc Hoang Pagoda upon returning home for Tet.

"When we were kids, our parents always took us to pagodas for Tet prayers. Now, it has become a family tradition," Van recalled.

"Aside from praying for peace of mind and reflecting on past mistakes, we mainly wish for the health and well-being of our family—that’s all that truly matters!” she added.

In addition to pagodas, shrines and ancestral halls in the city also saw large crowds praying for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.

Below are some photos of people praying for a prosperous and peaceful 2025 at pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City on the second day of the Year of the Snake (January 30, 2025):

Visitors line up at the automatic fortune-telling booth at Van Phat Pagoda in District 5. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The Quang Minh Main Hall, home to three large Buddha statues and thousands of smaller ones, serves as the heart of Van Phat Pagoda in District 5. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Worshippers pay respects to the Guanyin statue at Xa Loi (Sarira) Pagoda in District 3. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

People visit Lang Ong Ba Chieu Temple, where the tombs of Marshal Le Van Duyet and his wife are. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Devotees pay homage at Tran Hung Dao Temple. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A group of French tourists join a tour offered by leading Vietnamese tour operator Saigontourist to explore Ngoc Hoang (Jade Emperor) Pagoda in District 1. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

A group of French tourists join a tour offered by leading Vietnamese tour operator Saigontourist to explore Ngoc Hoang (Jade Emperor) Pagoda in District 1. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

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