From 6 a.m. Sunday over 1,000 faithful gathered at the Chinh Trach Catholic Church in Da Nang City for the first mass of the New Year.
Priest Gabrial Nguyen Ngoc Tuan blesses Bible verses with incense to give members of the parish. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.
Faithful said: “Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.
After receiving bread and wine, the faithful take a printed Bible and a New Year greeting card. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong
Father Grabrial gives his flock li xi, an envelope containing cash, for the New Year. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong
Visitors put up pieces of paper with their wishes on a plant as prayers to the gods, hoping they will be fulfilled. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh
A card reads: “Pray that the family on both sides will be healthy, peaceful, joyful, and happy.” Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh
At Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, people showed up early morning to pray. Many rang a bell, believing their prayers will thus be heard by the gods.
“I let my son ring the bell to give him the experience,” Huu Vi of Binh Thanh District said. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.
People then gathered in the main yard to burn incense and offer prayers. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran
