On the evening of August 14, the annual La Vang pilgrimage opened at the La Vang Pilgrimage Center, also known as La Vang Holy Land, in Hai Lang District, Quang Tri Province. The two-day event ran on August 14 and 15.

Archbishop of Hue Archdiocese Joseph Dang Duc Ngan said about 50,000 people attended this year’s pilgrimage to offer prayers for good fortune.

Thanks to careful preparation and strong local support, order and security were maintained despite the large crowds arriving from across the country.

Nguyen Thi Khoa, a parishioner from Ha Tinh, traveled with 80 others from My Hoa Parish by bus to La Vang. She said she never misses the pilgrimage: “Every year, I come here to pray for health, peace, and happiness for my family, and for world peace.”

From Ho Chi Minh City, more than 1,000 kilometers away, Duong Quang Tuan Anh, a Catholic follower, also joined. “This year is a Jubilee Year, a particularly meaningful event for the Catholic Church. I could not miss it,” he said.

Though crowded, he expressed joy at being able to pray where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared.

The La Vang Pilgrimage Center, also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, is located in the area historically called Dinh Cat. The name dates back to the 16th century, when Lord Nguyen Hoang built a fortress on sandy terrain, hence the name “Dinh Cat” or “Sand Citadel.”

La Vang is recognized as the national Marian shrine of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, attracting thousands to millions of faithful each year.

The annual pilgrimage in 2025 carried special meaning, coinciding with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.

For generations, local people have shared the story of the Virgin Mary’s apparition in La Vang’s forests, offering protection and comfort. For Catholics, coming to La Vang is seen as reaching a place of peace, easing life’s burdens through prayer.

Huong Lai