On the morning of March 2, the 14th day of the first lunar month of Tet Binh Ngo, thousands of visitors and local residents flocked to Hon Ba Temple to pay respects and pray for good fortune and peace in the new year.

The temple stands on a small islet of about 5,000 square meters in the middle of the sea. Built in 1781 to worship Thuy Long Than Nu, the sea goddess believed to shelter fishermen and bestow blessings, the shrine lies around 200 meters offshore. It becomes accessible on foot when the tide recedes, revealing a rocky path that allows visitors to cross without boats.

According to VietNamNet reporters, once the tide ebbed, the stone pathway leading to the temple emerged clearly from the sea. From around 4 to 5am, streams of people began following this natural route to perform rituals. The timing depends entirely on tidal movements, as seawater may recede in the early morning, afternoon or even at night.

Many brought incense, flowers, fruit, cakes, betel and areca, along with traditional offerings, praying for their families’ health, smooth business and safe voyages with favorable winds and calm seas.

Visitors carefully arranged offerings onto trays before presenting them at the altar inside the main hall.

Hon Ba Temple consists of two main sections: the entrance gate and the central worship hall. Inside are altars bearing spirit tablets and five statues of the Five Elements Goddesses.

Within the temple, the atmosphere was solemn yet lively. Worshippers queued patiently to light incense and offer prayers. Some families prepared elaborate trays, lighting incense with reverence before receiving blessed tokens to bring home for good luck at the start of the year.

Local residents say visiting Hon Ba Temple during the Lunar January full moon has become a familiar spiritual practice over many years. Beyond seeking prosperity, many pray for safety for their children, successful fishing trips and protection from natural disasters. Visitors from Mekong Delta provinces and nearby localities such as Dong Nai and Lam Dong also combine early spring outings with pilgrimage.

Nguyen Thi Hien, 42, from An Giang Province, said her family makes the pilgrimage every year. “We arrived in Vung Tau yesterday morning and came to the temple at dawn. Each year I simply pray for my family’s health and for work to go smoothly in the new year,” she said.

Tran Minh Tuan, visiting from Dong Nai for the first time, shared: “Inside the temple it is crowded but orderly. Everyone is very conscious, there is no pushing. Like many others, I came to pray for peace at the start of the year and also to enjoy the sea in Vung Tau.”

By late morning, as the tide began to rise again, people gradually made their way back to shore, concluding the ceremony in a calm and reflective mood. The Lunar January full moon pilgrimage to Hon Ba Temple not only carries spiritual meaning but also contributes to the distinctive cultural character of Vung Tau’s coastal community each spring.

Quang Hung