HÀ NỘI  — The opening ceremony of the Hương (Perfume) Pagoda Festival has been cancelled due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in some places in Hà Nội and neighbouring provinces.

The city's Mỹ Đức District authorities recently made the decision to scrap the event slated for February 17, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

However, Mỹ Đức District will continue to welcome visitors to Hương Sơn (Perfume Mountain) -- Hương Pagoda Special National Heritage Complex. Visitors are requested to wear masks and adhere to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Yến Vỹ Stream is peaceful at the moment, unlike the typical crowded height of the festival region. 

The Perfume Pagoda Festival is the country's oldest and biggest pilgrimage and usually draws more than a million visitors each year. It is held between the sixth day of lunar January and the end of lunar March. 

This is the second year the festival has been affected by COVID-19. Last year, ferry drivers were told to close all their ride services on the first day of Lunar New Year. Without Chinese tourists, income from tourism dropped dramatically. 

Located in Hương Sơn Commune, Hương Sơn Landscape Complex, including Hương Pagoda, is both a famous religious site and beautiful sightseeing destination.

The complex has many beautiful natural sites such as the Yến Stream and Hương Tích and Tiên Sơn caves. It has various shrines and temples on Hương Sơn Mountain. 

When arriving at the famous landscape of the Perfume Pagoda, visitors can take a boat along the Yến Stream to reach "the realm of the Buddha". VNS