Nearly 1,000 Buddhist monks, nuns, devotees and Japanese visitors gathered at the Tam Chuc tourism complex on October 24‑25 for a Buddhist cultural exchange festival. The event offers a clear example of how a short‑term celebration can benefit both locals and tourists.

The biennial festival is jointly hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the provincial Buddhist Sangha and Tam Chuc Pagoda, and it returned to Vietnam for the third time. It brings together traditional religious rituals and cultural performances from both countries.

Participants performed a large outdoor Goma fire ceremony, a Shugendo ritual that prayed for world peace and well‑being. Venerable Sekiguchi, head of the Japanese delegation from the Saitama Buddhist society, noted the fire ceremony was a main attraction and remains rare in Japan and abroad.

Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of Tam Chuc Tourism and Services Company Limited, said the festival offers Ninh Binh residents and visitors a chance to explore Japanese culture. He added that it introduces Japanese customs and promotes Tam Chuc and other spiritual destinations among Japanese people living in Vietnam.

In short, the festival helps raise tourism, deepen cultural understanding and create community pride in Ninh Binh. Visitors leave with new insights into Buddhist traditions, while locals gain exposure to international cultural exchange.