Rip-off prices and fake bush meats at Pagoda Fest
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Tens of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi to pray for good luck only to enjoy fake wild meats and be charged rip-off prices, sometimes 10 times higher than usual.
Parking cost goes up 10 times, from VND2,000 to VND10,000-20,000 (up to $1) for a motorbike, and VND40,000-60,000 per car.
To arrive at the pagoda where the 3-month festival kicked off yesterday, pilgrims have to take a boat to cross Day River.
The fixed price for a one-way boat trip is VND25,000 (US$1.2 ). However, each tourist needs to tip the boatman VND50,000-100,000 in order to arrive safe and sound.
Along the road, oriental doctors offer free pulse readings but then prescribe pricey medicines, which are just some normal herbs.
To fill up their stomach, visitors may need to think again as a meal could burn a hole in their pocket. A cup of coffee costs at least VND40,000 and a glass of hot tea VND100,000.
While a bowl of Pho (noodles) can cost around VND20,000 in downtown Hanoi, here the price is 10 times higher with poorer quality.
One of the attractions of the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda is the beautiful Huong Tich cave. But to reach there, one needs to walk or take a cable car and this is where troubles start.
Although the ticket booth is located nearby, many people were forced to buy from scalpers at a more expensive price.
Because most pilgrims choose to walk step by step to the cave to demonstrate devotion, the trip lasts long and thus hotels spring up to cater to their needs.
Needless to say, prices are all exorbitant, around 3 times higher than normal.
