Binh Duong province has become one of the places for visitors during a longer Tet holiday in 2010. They came to visit pagodas and entertained at Dai Nam cultural theme park.
Right on the first day of lunar year, tourists from Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and other places flocked to pagodas in Binh Duong including Ba (Tian Hou) pagoda, Tay Tang, Hoi Khanh, Chau Thoi mountain, Long Hung, etc.
Not only Buddhist but also visitors participate in offering incense to the Buddha and Three Refuges for peace and health of family members. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam – a tourist I met at Hoi Khanh pagoda – said that he goes to pagoda with his family every Tet holiday. He said that the activity is not only his belief but also his peace of mind.
Many others also attend pray to the stars and fortune telling of which many monks have cautioned of being too superstitious.
Meanwhile, Dai Nam cultural theme park was overcrowded with tourists on Tet holiday causing troubles to management and transportation. Electric cars were always overloaded with people jostling for a place.
Mr. Minh – a tourist from Binh Phuoc province – was frustrated for being unable to get on an electric car with his wife and two children. Only after being helped by a security guard could he and his family get on the car to enter the theme park.
People also flocked to the zoo within Dai Nam theme park to take photographs of tigers which represent this lunar New Year.
Eating and drinking while in the theme park was another problem. Most of the tourists brought food with them and event spare container to keep the trash. However, waste was still scattered at the place. Such behavior was not a good image to foreigner tourists. I myself witnessed a British tourist being unpleasant near a group of young people over-reaction during the feast. At the other corner, people had to queue for their turn to water closet.
Cutpurses also mingled themselves to steal. Tet and other holiday are moments for relax after hard working days. However, people should be cautious in crowded place while tourism service should be enhanced.
Reported by Quynh Nhu – Translated by Vi Bao
