VietNamNet Bridge – Pilgrims are pickpocketed at Ba Chua Kho temple in Bac Ninh province. At the Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi, pilgrims are extremely crowded and they have to pay highly for services.

Thousands of people go to the Vieng Market, Nam Dinh Province - Photo: Lam Khe.

Once a year, the bad side of traditional festivals in the early year repeats again and again.

"I'm from HCM City. I come here (Ba Chua Kho temple) to ask for new-year good fortune. I have not found any fortune but I lost my wallet and my cell phone. I was not pickpocketed but rather was robbed in daylight," said a man from HCM City.

To reach the Ba Chua Kho temple, this man had to walk for 5km because of traffic jam on the road to the temple. He had to struggle to escape from dozens of vendors. This has become popular at the Ba Chua Kho Temple festival for several years. Some pilgrims are “robbed” by drug addicts.

Throwing small changes all over temples, even in censers and Buddha statues is also a big problem. But to change this situation it would require a revolution in the sense of people.

Coming to the Huong (Perfume) pagoda on the morning of February 16, visitors were once again disappointed because the local authorities failed to keep the promise.

Before Tet, Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, head of the Management Board of Huong Son relics confirmed to enhance the rescue system, allocate life jackets for boats and fresh meat would be put in the glass boxes.

But when the Perfume Pagoda festival just began, visitors were crammed on small and simple boats and nobody wear life jackets because in the last few years, there was no accident.

Pilgrims discharge a lot of rubbish in the relic and throw small changes everywhere.

Festivals of the new year are probably opportunities for people who live around temples and relics to earn money from vehicle keeping service, selling souvenirs and worshiping items as well as for gambling.

However, according to the inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, from the beginning of the year no one has been sanctioned. Since the beginning of the festive season, inspection teams went to check the situation of the festival in the northern provinces. "Our policy is not to ignore any key festivals. Our inspectors have been to the provinces of Quang Ninh, Ha Nam Ninh Binh, Hai Duong, Yen Bai, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh...

“According to my own idea, festivals this year have positive change, especially the awareness of local authorities. Of course, to solve all problems associated with festivals, it would require a revolution in the sense of people," said Vu Xuan Thanh, chief inspector of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Compiled by Le Ha