For Vietnamese people, visiting pagodas at the beginning of the year is not only about praying for the best but also about immersing themselves in the spiritual realm, leaving behind the hardships of daily life, and praying for peace and health for themselves and their families.

Vietnamese people in Laos visit Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane, Laos on the first day of the Lunar New Year. (Photo: VNA)

Born and raised in Laos, 56-year-old Phan Thi Nga shared that every Tet, she and her family visit the pagoda to pray for health and peace, and to teach her children and grandchildren about the beautiful traditional culture of the Vietnamese people.

Huynh Thi Diem Trang, another Vietnamese in Vientiane, she usually go to the pagoda with her family members to pray for health, good luck, and peace for a new year.

According to Trang, visiting pagodas at the beginning of the year is a beautiful cultural practice of the Vietnamese people that has existed for generations and needs to be preserved, especially among younger generations.