Thousands flock to Sapa for Spring Festival Rituals
The Spring Festival of Opening the Heavenly Gate
2026 at Sun World Fansipan Legend (Sapa, Lao Cai)
attracted thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all
over to the Thanh Van Dac Lo area to participate in
meaningful spiritual rituals.
LIn a solemn atmosphere, visitors respectfully perform
the rituals of offering flowers, bathing the Buddha
statue, and chanting prayers for national peace and
prosperity, and for a new year filled with good fortune
and success.
All visitors and Buddhists attending the opening
ceremony received bags of lucky salt from the monks and
nuns as a gift for good fortune at the beginning of the
new year.
Numerous Buddhists and tourists participated in the
ceremony praying for national peace and prosperity to
express their wishes for well-being and good fortune for
themselves, their families, and the country in the new
year.
The main attraction for tourists at the "Opening the
Heavenly Gate 2026" Spring Festival is May village,
where visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant
culture of Northwest Vietnam with a series of
elaborately recreated traditional festivals.
The Gau Tao Festival of the H'Mong people (from the 3rd
to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year) kicks off a series
of festivities with the unique ritual of erecting a
ceremonial pole and solemn prayers for a bountiful
harvest.
The festival's appeal also lies in its folk games filled
with laughter, such as blindfolded duck catching, stilt
walking, or climbing a greasy pole, allowing visitors to
enjoy refreshing moments of relaxation amidst the
majestic nature.
Despite the early morning drizzle and fog, the festive
atmosphere remained vibrant, attracting a large number
of visitors from all over. The radiant smiles and lively
atmosphere at Ban May created an energetic and exciting
start to the Year of the Horse at Sun World Fansipan
Legend.
A tourist from Hanoi, said: "This is the third time my
family has chosen Fansipan to start the new year. Not
only do we come to worship and pray for peace amidst the
magnificent spiritual space, but we also really enjoy
immersing ourselves in the local festivals at Ban May.
The feeling of touching the highland culture and
participating in folk games is truly very emotional and
exciting."
In particular, during this Lunar New Year of the Horse,
visitors will have the opportunity to witness the Flag
Raising Ceremony, marking the proud and sacred moment of
the new year on the "Roof of Indochina".
It is known that, following the Gau Tao Festival, the
Xen Ban Xen Muong Festival of the Thai people will take
place from February 28th to March 1st 2026, opening up a
colorful festive atmosphere with a ceremony reenacting
the ritual of the shaman offering gifts to respectfully
thank the river and mountain gods and praying for
favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.
Sapa Tours - Sapa is famous for breathtaking rice
terraces, misty mountains, and views of Fansipan
(Vietnam’s highest peak). Sapa is home to diverse ethnic
minority groups (Hmong, Dao, Tay), offering rich
traditions, handicrafts, and homestay experiences.
Visiting Sapa tourist can go trekking, village visits,
and cable car rides to Fansipan summit are highlights.
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