Delegates offer incense at Thien Tru pagoda, one of the most prominent architectural structures within the Huong Son scenic area in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)
The 2026 friendship spring excursion programme organised by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations on March 21 brought more than 400 domestic and international delegates to the Huong Son scenic area, a special national relic site and one of Viet Nam’s most renowned spiritual tourism destinations.
Participants included 15 ambassadors and chargés d’affaires together with their spouses, more than 200 diplomatic staff from embassies, representatives of international organisations and foreign non-governmental organisations in Viet Nam, as well as leaders from ministries, agencies and the municipal administration.
Speaking at the event, Saadi Salama, Palestinian Ambassador to Viet Nam and head of the diplomatic corps, said the annual programme not only introduced and promoted Viet Nam’s distinctive historical and cultural heritage, but also served as an important bridge fostering understanding, solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese people, particularly those of the capital, and international friends.
Nguyen Ngoc Ky, Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations, shared that authorities in Huong Son commune are preparing a dossier to seek UNESCO recognition of the Huong Son complex as a world cultural and natural heritage site by 2030.
As part of the programme, delegates experienced the capital’s unique cultural and spiritual atmosphere during the festival season. Highlights included a boat trip along the Yen stream to Thien Tru pagoda, one of the most prominent architectural structures within the complex. There, participants toured the site, learned about its historical and cultural significance, and joined exchange activities, tree planting and the making of traditional craft products.
Participants of the 2026 friendship spring excursion programme in a group photo. (Photo: VNA)
Comprising a network of around 20 temples, pagodas and caves, the special national relic site welcomes millions of pilgrims and visitors each year, particularly during the festival season from the first to the third lunar months./.
Source: VNA
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