Yen Stream where boats typically dock to carry pilgrims to Huong Pagoda is completely deserted, February 2021. (Photo: VnExpress)

Huong (Perfume) Pagoda, a collection of temples and shrines built amid mountains and forest in the outlying district of My Duc, will welcome tourists back from Saturday but must comply with pandemic prevention measures.

One of the country’s biggest spring celebrations, Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival commences on the sixth day of the first lunar month, which fell on Feb. 17 this year. However, due to the country's latest Covid-19 outbreak which began on Jan. 28, local authorities had earlier canceled all related events.

From Monday morning, the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoa Lo Prison and other historic sites in Hanoi welcomed tourists back after nearly a month of closure as a Covid-19 containment move.

Body temperature checks, hand sanitizers, along with information boards on Covid-19 prevention in Vietnamese, English and French have been present in many areas. All visitors are required to wear face masks and gather in groups of no more than 30.