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Perfume Pagoda (Huong Pagoda)

• No. 31 in the 40 Best things to see & do in Hanoi

Nestled within the captivating Hương Tích mountains, the Perfume Pagoda (Huong Pagoda) or Huong Temple Complex (Chùa Hương in Vietnamese) is a mesmerizing fusion of Buddhist sanctuaries and shrines, creating an enchanting tapestry against the limestone canvas.

Prepare to embark on a spiritual and unique journey like no other!

Time-Tested Tranquility: Origins of Thiên Trù and the 15th Century Legacy 

Delve into the intriguing history of Thiên Trù Temple, where the first whispers of spirituality echoed in a small structure during the reign of Lê Thánh Tông. 

Legend has it that the site’s discovery dates back over 2000 years, thanks to a meditating monk with a keen sense of naming after a Tibetan mountain.

Đền Trình: Where Elephants Kneel and History Unfolds 

As you approach from the Đáy River, encounter the grandeur of Đền Trình. 

This shrine, also known as Đền Quan Lớn, pays homage to one of the Hùng King’s generals, with a gate guarded by majestic elephant statues. 

A captivating tribute to history awaits!

Heavenly Feasts and Masterful Reconstructions at Thiên Trù 

Venture beyond Đền Trình to Thiên Trù Temple, affectionately called the Heaven Kitchen. 

Explore the Viên Công Bảo Stupa, witness the marvel of Thiên Thủy Stupa, and bask in the serenity of a temple last restored in the vibrant 1980s.

Giải Oan Temple: Dispelling Unjust Charges Amidst Nature’s Bounty 

On the path to Hương Tích Cave lies Giải Oan Temple, a haven of justice and serenity. 

Discover the charm of Thiên Nhiên Thanh Trì (Natural Blue Pond) and Giải Oan stream, where nine sources converge to create an oasis of tranquility.

Hương Tích Cave: A Sublime Sanctuary in Stone 

At the heart of Chùa Hương lies Hương Tích Cave, home to the Inner Temple, Chùa Trong. 

Marvel at the dragon-mouth entrance, adorned with ancient Chữ Nho characters, and immerse yourself in a cave adorned with statues, stalactites, and stalagmites.

Temple Extravaganza: A Whirlwind Tour of Chùa Hương Complex 

Explore the diverse tapestry of Chùa Hương with Thiên Sơn Temple, Thuyết Kinh Grotto, Phật Tích Temple, and Cửa Võng Temple. 

Each site adds a unique hue to the spiritual palette, creating an unforgettable experience.

Pilgrimage Unveiled: From Yến Wharf to Hương Tích Blessings 

Embark on a pilgrimage adventure with various routes, including a boat journey from Yến Wharf, stops at Trình Shrine, and a profound journey through Thiên Trù Pagoda, Tiên Temple, Giải Oan Temple, and ultimately reaching the revered Hương Tích Cave. 

Seek blessings and wash away karma along this sacred path.

Ready for an Unforgettable Journey? Discover the Spiritual Tapestry of Hanoi’s Chùa Hương.

Plan Your Trip Now to the Temple and Embrace the Mystique!

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Huong pagoda: a hidden gem of tranquility in vietnam.

Huong Pagoda, a symbol of  Vietnamese culture  and spirituality, is one of the most renowned  tourist attractions  in Vietnam. Located in the  Huong Tich Cave , it is believed to be the oldest pagoda in the country and the birthplace of the nation’s founder, King Ly Thai To.

Visitors to Huong Pagoda are immediately struck by its palpable spiritual essence. The pagoda is filled with hundreds of statues of Buddha, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere that encourages visitors to reflect on the power of faith. The Huong Tich Cave is also home to many  Buddhist shrines  and altars, making it a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the spiritual side of Vietnam.

For many  Vietnamese people , the  Huong Pagoda  is a sacred place of worship. Its historical and  cultural significance , coupled with its natural beauty and  spiritual aura , make it a hidden gem of tranquility in Vietnam.

See more: Top 5 Vietnam festivals will bring you unforgettable memories .

• 1 Unveiling Huong Pagoda: History and Architecture
• 2 The Spiritual Journey: Religious Activities and Festivals
• 3 Experiencing Huong Pagoda: Tips and Recommendations
• 4 Nearby Attractions and Activities
• 5 Conclusion

Unveiling Huong Pagoda: History and Architecture

Huong Pagoda , also known as Perfume Pagoda, is a complex of Buddhist temples and shrines located about 60 kilometers from Hanoi in the Huong Tich mountains. This hidden gem of tranquility is one of Vietnam’s most important religious sites and a popular destination for spiritual pilgrims.

According to legend, Huong Pagoda was first built in the 10th century during the reign of King Ly Thai To and was originally dedicated to the worship of Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy.

Over the centuries, the pagoda has become a symbol of religious and cultural significance in Vietnam and continues to be a place of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhists. Visiting Huong Pagoda allows you to experience the spiritual essence of Vietnam and embrace its religious and cultural heritage.

This ancient temple complex is an architectural marvel with many unique features and structures carefully preserved over the centuries.

The Thien Tru Pagoda, a three-story structure with intricate carvings and designs, is believed to be one of Vietnam’s oldest pagodas and a popular spot for pilgrims.

Celebrating Buddha’s birthday is a tradition in Vietnam pagodas.

The Tuyet Son Cave, located in the heart of the pagoda complex, is a large cave filled with statues and shrines dedicated to the goddess Lieu Hanh and is said to be her birthplace.

If you’re traveling to Vietnam, Huong Pagoda is a must-see. It’s unique architecture and spiritual atmosphere are sure to provide a peaceful and inspiring experience that allows you to connect with the country’s rich religious and cultural heritage.

The Spiritual Journey: Religious Activities and Festivals

Huong Pagoda is a hidden gem of tranquility located in Vietnam that is a popular pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and other spiritual seekers.

Pilgrims embark on a spiritual journey to seek blessings and enlightenment by practicing religious rituals such as burning incense and praying along the pilgrimage route. It is said that the spiritual energy of the pagoda is palpable, making it a place of great power and healing.

As a place of great cultural significance, Huong Pagoda is considered the birthplace of Vietnamese Buddhism and is home to many ancient temples and statues.

A visit to Huong Pagoda provides a unique experience that allows visitors to connect with the spiritual essence of Vietnam. Visitors can explore the pagoda’s rich history and architecture and observe the religious practices and rituals of the pilgrims. It is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to deepen their spiritual connection and explore the beauty of Vietnam.

Huong Pagoda is also known for its vibrant and spiritual festivals, with the Huong Pagoda Festival being one of the most popular. Visitors can immerse themselves in traditional customs and cultural performances during this festival, such as dragon and lion dances.

It is a great opportunity to experience the culture and spirituality of Huong Pagoda. Other festivals celebrated at Huong Pagoda include the Huong Tich Cave Festival and the Trang An Festival, each offering a unique opportunity to learn more about the culture and history of Huong Pagoda.

Find out more about Vietnam ghost festival – an unforgetable spiritual festival.

Experiencing Huong Pagoda: Tips and Recommendations

If you’re planning a trip to Huong Pagoda, there are several things you should keep in mind to make the most of your experience. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you plan your visit to Huong Pagoda:

Firstly, when it comes to getting to Huong Pagoda, you have several transportation options to choose from, including buses, private cars, and motorbikes. If you’re traveling independently, you can take the Phap Van expressway and turn onto Dong Van Road to reach the pagoda by car, or take Nguyen Trai Road towards Ha Dong and turn left at the Ba La intersection to reach the pagoda by motorbike. Alternatively, you can take bus 103 from My Dinh bus station to Huong Son and then hire a motorbike taxi to get to the pagoda. If you’re interested in joining a guided tour, a shuttle will pick you up from the meeting point and take you directly to the site.

Once you arrive at Huong Pagoda, there are several things to see and do. Visitors can explore the temple complex, take a boat ride along the Yen Stream, and participate in religious activities such as burning incense and praying.

To fully experience Huong Pagoda, follow a one-day itinerary that includes several key sites, starting at the village of Duc and proceeding to Thanh Temple, Hoi Pagoda, Upper Pagoda, and Tien Temple.

If you’re interested in experiencing the cultural and religious traditions of Huong Pagoda, consider visiting during the Huong Pagoda Festival in January or the Perfume Pagoda Festival in March.

These festivals offer a unique and special experience, with cultural activities such as traditional plays, boat racing on the Yen Stream, and music programs performed by the local cultural troupe, such as Cheo Singing and Van Singing.

Finally, don’t forget to try the local cuisine of Huong Pagoda, which includes traditional dishes such as banh cuon, pho xao, and banh chung. These dishes provide a special culinary experience to complement the spiritual and cultural experiences of Huong Pagoda.

In terms of the best time to visit Huong Pagoda, the ideal time to come and pray is from January to February of the lunar calendar, during the Huong Pagoda Festival.

In March of the lunar calendar, the pagoda is still crowded with visitors, not only for praying but also for sightseeing and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers and admiring the blooming rice flowers in the Yen stream.

From September to December, the lunar calendar is also an ideal time for pilgrims to come and enjoy the wonderful moments amidst the fairyland scenery. At the end of the year, the atmosphere at Huong Pagoda is quite lively, creating a relaxed and peaceful feeling for visitors.

Nearby Attractions and Activities

Nestled in the Huong Son mountain range, Huong Pagoda is a hidden gem in Vietnam. The Huong Tich Cave, located in the pagoda complex, is a spiritual and cultural site for locals and visitors alike.

The Huong Son mountain range is home to many natural wonders, including the Nui Bai Dinh Mountain, which provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area. For those looking to explore the area, there are a few hiking trails that will take you through the Huong Son mountain range.

Visitors can also take in the beauty of the Nui Bai Dinh Mountain, which offers a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a spiritual experience or a nature-filled adventure, Huong Pagoda is the perfect destination for you.

In addition to the Huong Pagoda, the nearby Co Am Pagoda offers visitors a unique insight into the local culture. This pagoda is home to many statues of Buddha and is a popular destination for those seeking spiritual enlightenment.

Huong Pagoda is not only a spiritual and cultural site, but it also offers a variety of famous local specialties that visitors can indulge in or buy as gifts for family and friends. If you have the chance to visit Huong Pagoda, be sure to try the following dishes: Chè lam, Chè củ mài, Bánh củ mài ngũ cốc, and Huong Pagoda Peach. From sweet desserts to refreshing drinks, Huong Pagoda has something to satisfy every taste bud.

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In conclusion, Huong Pagoda is a hidden gem of tranquility in Vietnam. It is a place of spiritual significance, with a rich history and beautiful architecture. Visitors can experience the spiritual essence of Vietnam through religious activities and festivals. For those planning a visit, there are a few tips and recommendations to keep in mind.

Additionally, there are plenty of nearby attractions and activities to explore. Huong Pagoda is an unforgettable destination that should not be missed when visiting Vietnam. Whether looking for a spiritual journey or a relaxing getaway, Huong Pagoda is the perfect destination for a unique and unforgettable experience.

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Tay phuong pagoda architectural and artistic relic, son tay ancient citadel, cultural & historical heritage tourism, huong pagoda festival.

Huong Pagoda Festival is considered the biggest and longest festival of the year. Every year, on the sixth day of the lunar January, when apricot flowers are white in forest, Huong Pagoda Festival is opened again. The festival usually lasts until the last week of the lunar March. On the occasion of the festival, millions of Buddhists and tourists from all over the four countries all revel in Huong Pagoda Festival. The journey to a land of Buddha - where Bo Tat Quan The Am practiced.

The main activities of the festival are from the full moon of lunar January to the 18th of the lunar February. This day, which is the Khai Son feast (the forest opening ceremony) of the locality. Up to now the "forest opening ceremony" implying a new meaning - opening the pagoda. Huong Pagoda Festival in the ceremony is very simple. One day before the festival, all temples, pagodas, communal houses and shrines are covered with incense.

In Trong pagoda, there is an incense offering ceremony, which includes incense, flowers, lamps, candles, fruits and vegetarian food. At the time of worship, two monks and nuns wore robes and brought them to the altar, then proceeded to put them on the altar. From the opening of the festival to the end of the festival, only occasionally there are monks from the above temples coming to recite the Buddhist scriptures for about half an hour at the pagodas, shrines and temples. And the incense and smoke never end. As for the ceremony, there is a inclination to meditation. But Ngoai pagoda worships the superior gods with the colors of Taoism. Cua Vong Temple is Chan Long Linh Tu worshiping Mother Goddess Thuong Ngan, who is the ruler of the surrounding mountains and forests of the supreme mountain gods. Bac Dai pagoda, Tuyet Son pagoda, Ca pagoda and Quan communal house worshiping five tigers and god of fish.

Thus, the ceremony at Huong Pagoda festival is the sum of beliefs, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. During the festival, there is ceremony procession and oration procession. The villagers came to the house of the man who composes the oration, receive the oration to the temple to conduct the rituals, read the oration and burn it to offer to the village deities.

Huong Pagoda Festival is a convergence of unique ethnic cultural activities such as boating, climbing and cheo singing, van singing, etc. On the days of the festival, Huong pagoda bustles into hundreds of boats. The unique feature of Huong Pagoda festival is the pleasure of sitting on a boat and sightseeing, straying into the immortal Buddha realm.

Especially, if coming to Huong Pagoda Festival in February, Buddhists will be able to attend the famous birth celebration of Quan The Am.

Quan The Am is a symbol of a Bo Tat who transcended time and space since Thich Ca Buddha manifested in Ta Ba realm until Di Lac Buddha was born and more. That will become the basis for the eternal faith in the minds of Buddhists, so Quan Am means the whole value of wisdom, enlightenment always presenting in every being. In the sufferings and obstacles of life, people often ask for the help and protection of Duc Quan Am, because they feel that she always watches and listens to every beat of their hearts like mothers look after their babies. That's why he became a gentle mother Quan The Am, also known as Phat Ba (female Buddha).

Quan The Am Festival of Huong Pagoda takes place in the period from the afternoon of February 18th to the morning of February 19 of the lunar calendar. On this day, Huong Son cave chief joined the monks and nuns and Buddhists to set up a altar of Mong Son to donate food in the yard of Thien Tru Pagoda in order to worship the spirits with no refuge. This Mong Son altar is usually held on the occasion of the Buddha's Birthday. On the evening of February 18 of the lunar calendar, the birth anniversary of Quan The Am was held at two locations: Thien Tru yard and in the heart of Huong Tich cave (in front of the Buddha worshiping altar). At the yard of Thien Tru pagoda in previous years, there were cheo performances to tell about Legend of Quan The Am, there were five organizations of Buddhist music and dance shows for people and Buddhists to watch. In the Three Refuges of Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave, monks and Buddhists chant Buddhist recitations, colorful flower lamps are throughout the cave and many other temples on Huong Tich route. Buddhists offer vegetarian food and attend the ceremony.

Huong Son is a quintessential land of heaven and earth, with the flow of time, many people have crossed the enchanted land of enlightenment. Bầu trời, cảnh Bụt, thú Hương Sơn ao ước bấy lâu nay. Kìa, non non, nước nước, mây mây. Đệ nhất động hỏi rằng nơi này có phải (The sky, the Buddha landscape, and Huong Son have long been desired. The mountains, the water, the cloud. Is this the most beautiful cave?)… From the noble to the most ordinary people, all are amazed at the "magical" beauty of Huong Son, the scene depends on the mind to "depend on the destiny to be enlightened".

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• Huong Pagoda Festival

Located about 70 km from Hanoi, Huong Pagoda is Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Annually, a vast number of pilgrims have been flocking to Huong Pagoda for the 3 months festival, which passes beautiful limestone karsts, rivers, and rice paddies along the way. Part of the pilgrimage is a walk up 120 stone steps to Thien Tru Pagoda. Central to the festival is the prayer said in Huong Tich, an ancient sacred cave. Devotees make a wish for the year ahead. Travelers can visit Huong Pagoda at any time of year, but the festival is a unique spectacle to witness.

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Huong Pagoda Festival

Every year, when the spring comes, millions of people from all over Vietnam would travel to Ha Noi to take part in one of the country’s most elaborate festivals to welcome the Lunar New Year. Traditionally celebrated from the 6th day of the first month to the end of the third month in reference to the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, this year’s Huong Pagoda Festival officially opened on February 19, 2010 in the midst of a very favourable weather. A Vietnamese custom, a pilgrimage to Huong Pagoda is said to bring health, prosperity, good luck and happiness. A mix of 600,000 pilgrims and tourists flocked the temple on the first day alone. Known as the longest and largest festival in Vietnam, the main festival days yet will begin on the 15th of the second lunar month and would last on the 20th day of the same month. Consisting of a chain of temples and shrines, Chùa Hương, otherwise called as Perfume Pagoda, holds a long history of Vietnamese literature apart from being the most popular religious site in the country. This sanctuary is located in Ha Tay province, 70 km southwest of Ha Noi, which normally would require travellers about 2 hours of road trip to get to Ben Duc pier alone. Though the foot of the pagoda complex can be reached by road from the pier, using row boats to cross the Yen Vi river (ca 55000 Dong) is a more popular option for many because of the romantic view and breathtaking scenes that will unfold during the course of the 45-minute boat ride. This year, 4,600 boats will serve the monks, Buddhists and visitors at the Huong Pagoda Festival. The organizing board had given priority to foreigners because of the lack of upgraded boats more preferred by the tourists. And for the first time in the festival’s history, added boats will be launched to carry local artists who will be performing love duets (quan ho). As a symbolic tradition, the boat ride makes a quick stop at Den Trinh (Registration Shrine) for visitors to "trinh" or register at the shrine and announce their intentions. And though there are several wonderful sites to visit at the Perfume Pagoda area; Hinh Bồng pagoda, Giải Oan pagoda, Thanh Sơn Pagoda, Long Vân, Cây Khế, Tuyết Sơn and Mẫu Mẹ temple to name a few, the trip highlights the Thiên Trù pagoda and the Hương Tích cave. The Thien Tru temple (heavenly kitchen), which is the boat’s next stop, is considered as the Outer Temple built back in the 18th century and is embedded with rock formations that resemble busy chefs working in the kitchen. The temple is also famous for a granite monolith, called Thuy Tien tower that stands on it. To its right, is another popular site, Tien Son grotto, which is famous for its five granite statues and the various formations on its cave walls. Such formations, when struck, produce percussion-like sounds like that of a popular Vietnamese musical instrument “khanh”, while the others produce bell-like sounds. The visit continues to Dong Huong Tich (Huong Tich Cave or Inner Temple), in which pilgrims have to climb the hundreds of stoned steps, and during occasional stops, gives visitors a chance to contemplate on the beautiful landscape amidst the daily life of local farmers. As the temple lies deep within the grotto, visitors then need to take the 120 steps descending to Huong Tich Grotto, literally meaning "traces of fragrance", passing through a large gate at the cave’s entrance. The gate appears like a dragon’s mouth, in which above it, five Chinese characters are inscribed in the granite slab, reading Nam Thien De Nhat Dong (the most beautiful cave in the South), believed to be written by Vietnam ruler Trinh Sam (1767-1782). As not all visitors can endure the climb, cable car systems were built during the recent years. At 30000 Dongs for a one-way ticket, most visitors opt to go up by cable car and walk down to save energy yet still have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic views. A showcase of Buddhist antiques and oil paintings were also featured on the festival’s opening ceremony. Thich Minh Hien, Huong Pagoda's chief monk, believes this to be the largest exhibition for Vietnamese Buddhism. The festival will run until April 28 and will include various cultural activities, folk games and traditional rituals. On top of that, a launching of 500 lotus-shaped lanterns in Yen Stream will be observed during the Buddhism Week to celebrate Ha Noi's 1,000th anniversary. The week-long celebration is said to begin on April 3. The Huong Pagoda Festival is an amazing combination of romance, appreciation of nature and devotion to Buddha. The boat trip, sightseeing, mountain climbing, cave visit and religious ceremonies incorporated into one memorable celebration sets it apart from other festivals in the country. The Pagoda’s remarkable beauty and extraordinary landscape is a living proof of the Buddhist architecture harmonizing with nature, giving tourists an opportunity to relax and enjoy a moment of sooth and clam amidst all the noise and energy brought along by spring’s festivities. The Huong Pagoda Festival, in fact, is so well-recognized and has now been submitted for designation of UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.

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Huong Pagoda

Huong Pagoda Festival

Situated in Huong Son Site, Hanoi , Huong Pagoda complex is considered as one among centers of Buddhism in Vietnam. The pagoda complex consists of several Buddhist pagodas and temples on Huong Tich lime-stone Mountain. Located at the center of the complex is Huong Pagoda (so-called Trong Pagoda), which was built inside Huong Tich Cave - the most beautiful grotto of the South.

Huong Pagoda Festival is a Buddhist festival held annually and lasts three months, from the 6th day of Lunar New Year to the 6th day of the third lunar month in the year. But, the official days of the festival is only from 15th to 20th day of the second lunar month.

Huong Pagoda Festival is very different from other traditional festivals in Vietnam that recreational activities aren’t central part of the festival. Each year, thousands visitors from all regions in the country and foreign tourists as well go to Huong Pagoda at the time of festival. However, their aim is to visit scenic setting of Huong Pagoda (so-called Huong Son Pagoda) and pray for themselves and their family. On the way to Huong Pagoda, visitors will experience a local sampan boat ride on charming Yen Stream (Swallow Stream) from Duc Pier. Along the stream, one side is a magnificent lime-stone mountain and one side is a vast of green rice paddy. Those all contribute to wonderful picture of nature in spring. Visiting Huong Pagoda, everyone brings a lavish tray of sacrifice to offer Buddha, who is worshipped at Huong Tich Pagoda. After an incense-offering liturgy, each will eat a piece of their sacrifice in order to receive luck from Buddha.

Visiting Huong Pagoda Festival and visiting pagodas in general have become a beautiful custom of Vietnamese people in the beginning of Lunar New Year.

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Huong Pagoda - a gift from Mother Nature to the Northern region - Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism

Huong Pagoda, located  about 70 kilometers from downtown Hanoi in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi, is often host to some of Vietnam’s most renowned Buddhist festivals. However, I was lucky enough to see the pagoda on an ordinary day, giving me the opportunity to appreciate its innate charm and its beautiful natural surroundings.

Of Huong Pagoda’s many attractions, including its surrounding mountains, hills and streams, Huong Tich Cave is perhaps the best tourist attraction. During festivals, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to the pagoda in numerous boats – a breathtaking scene. To get to the pagoda, my 14 fellow travelers, and me went to the Ben Duc dock in the Yen Stream where we took a small boat, which fits about 15 people. Drifting along the stream that curls through paddy fields, forest and mountains is an absolute treat – it is as if Mother Nature has created her own painting. “Look, guys, those four stones are in the shapes of four characters in a Chinese literature work named Xi You Ji on their way to India for the book of prayers,” Thach, our humorous tour guide, shouts as he points to the peak of an unknown mountain on the right side of the stream. We talk animatedly about the stones. Some argue that this is not the case, while others are busy taking photos. From time to time, some boats heading back to the dock glide by our boat with the people inside smiling and teasing us, bringing an element of animation to the stream. On the stream’s edge, some men are busy setting traps to catch shrimp and some women hurry to sail goods to Huong Pagoda. There is a flock of ducks swimming on the water. At that moment, I thought, “How peaceful is this?” “You know, legend has it that this region had 100 mountains in elephant shapes with 99 elephants towards Huong Tich Cave to show their respect while the only one left pointed his bottom to the cave. That’s why he lost his tail,” Thach’s voice suddenly interrupts. It is true - there is a mountain in an elephant shape without a tail in front of my eyes. This mountain lies next to the bustling boat dock leading to Huong Pagoda. Leaving the boat, we are ready to conquer the mountain with pagodas and caves. On both sides there are many stores selling fresh bread and hot dogs. Keeping on, we come to an area with various booths selling Huong Pagoda specialties – candies and cakes made from yam with cheap prices from VND10,000 to VND25,000 per packet and an area selling votive paper and offerings. While we are standing still to look around, Thach, the tour guide calls us to follow him to Thien Tru Pagoda – a beautiful and sacred pagoda with the mountain in the background. People flock to the pagoda, their hands full with votive paper and offerings and long petition papers to ask the Buddha for health, wealth and luckiness. After worshipping the Buddha and donating money to the pagoda, our group continues to the place we are all eager to discover, Huong Tich Cave, not by foot but by cable car. It takes only seven minutes to get to Huong Tich Cave by this convenient means of transport instead of two hours walking. Each cable car holds five to six adults at a reasonable price of VND70,000 per adult for a return ticket or VND40,000 for a one-way ticket while children under 1.2 meters in height are VND40,000 for a return ticket and half price for a one-way ticket.  “Hurry up, we are almost at Huong Tich Cave,” my fellow traveler pulls my hand, as I still have not recovered from the cable car trip. To get to the cave we have to pass many long and high stone steps up and down. Our shirts are soaked with sweat and our faces are sunburned. “There it is, the gate heading to Huong Tich Cave,” Thach shouts excitedly to wake us up from our breathlessness. The way to Huong Tich Cave is wet and slippery, with 120 stone steps. Legend says that the Goddess of Mercy used to live here at Huong Tich Cave prior to the day she became the Buddha. Huong Pagoda, which is inside the Huong Tich Cave, was built at the end of the 17th century. Standing imposingly in front of the cave is Dun Gao, or a rice dune. Ancient people said that Huong Tich Cave was the mouth of a dragon with a rice dune as its tongue. On the left side of the cave’s front is a four-hundred-year-old bell. Inside the cave, the air is cold, while amazing and beautiful stalactites in different shapes hang from the cave’s vault. It is like a wonderland. At that moment, I thought the Goddess of Mercy could hear my prayers – a girl who had traveled a long distance to come here – and would turn them into reality. I left Huong Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave and Yen Stream nearly two weeks ago but these landscapes are still in my mind. They are not simply a place for worshipping Buddha but a place for human beings to communicate with nature and to find peace. It was a valuable journey to set me free from the stresses of everyday life. I think that all of us deserve a trip like this, so pack your luggage and take the time to travel to this very special destination.  

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Explore Huong Pagoda and you may be surprised

Huong Pagoda is one of the most well-known historical and spiritual tourist sites, attracting visitors from all over the world, particularly during the yearly festival. In this post, our organization will share some information you may learn more about.

1. Where is Huong Pagoda? 

Huong Pagoda (also known as Huong Son Pagoda and Huong Tich Pagoda) is a Buddhist temple on the banks of the Day River in Hanoi’s Huong Son commune, My Duc district.

Huong Pagoda is the popular name for a cultural and religious complex that includes hundreds of Buddhist temples and other important temples such as Thien Tru, Giai Oan, Trinh Temple,… The Huong Pagoda, located in Huong Tich Cave, also known as the Trong Pagoda, serves as the population’s hub.

2. The history of Huong Pagoda

2.1. huong pagoda’s story.

The Huong Pagoda is related to the traditional concept of worshiping the Third Queen. According to mythology, in this region of “Lingshan bliss,” there is princess Dieu Thien, also known as The Third Lord, who is the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Quan Yin, who has been training for 9 years. On the 19th lunar month of the Buddha, she became a Buddha who traveled to help sentient beings.

Lord Jingding Wang Zhengyuan visited Son Nam Town and Huong Tich Cave in March 1770 to burn incense and admire the beauty. 

The five words “Southern Heavenly First Cave” were also carved into the cliff outside the cave entryway by God. Lord Trinh Tram is credited with transforming Huong Tich Cave into a renowned landmark and laying the groundwork for the eventual creation of the Huong Pagoda Festival. Every spring since Lord Trinh Tram first stepped foot in Huong Tich Cave, tourists from the surrounding countryside have come to give incense, visit, appreciate the poetry beauty and love.

Previously, the Huong Pagoda Festival was held on January 6th, following the Yen Vi village painting festival. Every year on January 6, the Huong Pagoda Festival is still celebrated.

2.2. The history of Huong Pagoda 

The temple was erected on a grand scale at the end of the 17th century before being destroyed during the French resistance in 1947. Venerable Thich Vien Thanh, under the supervision of the late Venerable Thich Thanh Chan, renovated the temple in 1988.

2.3. Who does the temple worship? 

Who is the Huong Pagoda dedicated to? This is a common question among visitors to the picturesque place.

At Year 2, a green stone figure of Guan Yin was erected in Huong Tich cave (1793).

Trinh Huong Temple, dedicated to the God general Sima Hung Lang, who was vital in defeating the adversary of the 6th Hung King.

Cua Vong Temple (or Van Song Temple) honors the woodland goddess Thuong Ngan Van Huong, also known as Princess Le Mai or the Holy Mother. 

The Thien Tru Pagoda (or Tro Pagoda), also known as Ngoai Pagoda, is a massive monastery where Buddhist monks store Buddhist sutras, laws, and treatises. 

The five tigers and the deity fish are worshiped in the Bac Dai Pagoda, Tuyet Son Pagoda, Ca Pagoda, and Quan Temple.

3. What does the population of the Temple of Huong consist of?

Visitors who wish to visit Huong Pagoda can do so via a variety of routes. The major route departs at Duc Wharf on the banks of the Day River. It serves as the entrance to the gorgeous region of Huong Pagoda. You may stop along the route at the Trinh temple on Ngu Nhac hill. It is the mountain god’s temple.

Walking from Tro wharf to Tro pagoda (or Thien Tru, Ngoai), you will notice that the temple’s driveway and courtyard have just been renovated. In the center of Thien Tru’s Buddhist temple is a stone figure of Nam Hai Guan Yin, sculpted after the model in Huong Tich Pagoda but expanded 2.5 times and 2.8m high.

Co Tien Mountain is located near Thien Tru Pagoda, and Tien Pagoda is located within the cave. The shrine has five stone sculptures based on the tale of the Three Noble Ladies. The Third Lady statue stands in the center, flanked by the statues of the eldest sister, Dieu Thanh, riding the blue lion, and the sister of the two Magic Yin, riding the white elephant. The statues of the mother, queen of the third woman, and the father, king, may be seen in the background.

Giai Oan is located between Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave. Long Tuyen is the name of a clear well. The ripe stream is directly in front of the temple. The Giai Oan Stream is its name.

Follow the twisting mountain route for roughly 2 kilometers from Thien Tru Pagoda to Huong Tich Cave (Trong Pagoda). In addition, there is a path that leads from Thien Tru Pagoda through the dream forest to Hinh Bong Pagoda.

4. Take notes while you explore Huong Pagoda

4.1. travel time .

• Visitors to Huong Pagoda frequently pick the lunar calendar months of January to March, since the maximum height is between January 15th to February 15th.
• Visitors can come to the pagoda all year round to observe the rice flowers bloom from March to April, or downstream in the water lily season at Yen Stream bloom from October to November, in addition to the spring celebrations.

4.2. How to go 

Visitors may go to Huong Pagoda from Hanoi in a variety of methods, including passenger vehicles, motorbikes, personal automobiles, limos, passenger cars, and so on. If riding my motorcycle, use the Nguyen Trai-Ha Dong road, passing via Ba La, Van Dinh, and Jin Xiao and asking for the way to Huong Pagoda from Chisel wharf. If you’re driving, take National Highway 1A Phap Van–Gie Bridge to the Dong Van crossing, then turn right onto National Highway 38 and go 15 kilometers to Dau Market.

4.3. Clothing 

• Sacrifices should wear polite outfits and dress nicely while visiting worship facilities such as temples, temples, communes, monuments, cultural treasures, and so on, especially when going to the temple to present incense. Check the weather forecast as well to ensure that you are dressed adequately.
• The sights and ceremonies of Huong Pagoda need a lot of walking, so a pair of sneakers or shoes will keep your feet comfy.
• Visitors to busy venues in Hanoi, where the incidence of diseases continues to rise daily, should bring masks, drop shields, and hand sanitizer.

4.4. Pilgrimage sites at Huong Pagoda

• The major path is Huong Tich pagoda: Trinh Temple-Thien Tru Pagoda-Tien Son Cave-Giai Oan Pagoda-Tran Song Temple-Huong Tich Cave-Hinh Bong Pagoda.

4.5.Ticket price 

The main route costs 50,000 VND per person, the secondary route 35,000 VND per person, and scenic tickets cost 80,000 VND per person. You may rent a large boat for 15-20 people to sit together if you travel in a large company, which is more convenient. Furthermore, to prevent crowded circumstances, you may phone ahead to book the boat before the day and time.

For this year’s Huong Pagoda Festival, the price of cable car tickets remains constant. Adults pay VND 180,000 and children to pay VND 120,000 for a round-trip ticket. The adult cost is VND 120,000, while the kid fare is VND 90,000.

4.6.Considerations when buying specialties and souvenirs

Inside the Huong Son Vestige, businesses are offering unusual cuisine and gifts on both sides of the road leading to the temple, the temple, the cave… Especially during festivals, it is vital to inquire about costs and verify the expiration dates of packaged and canned goods before purchasing. 

By attending ceremonies, you may avoid buying wild animal goods, prohibiting animals, and limiting the killing or eating of wild animals.

5. Why should we visit Huong Pagoda in Ha Noi City?

Huong Pagoda is the well-known name of a huge religious and cultural complex in our country’s northwestern region. Essentially, this site is more than a pagoda; it is a vast complex with several temples and shrines, as well as secret holy caves.

It is a meeting area for people, erected in the 17th century in Huong Son town, My Duc district, Hanoi. The trees provide shade, and the water runs all year.

Huong Pagoda is well known for its annual Huong Pagoda Festival, which takes place every year in Hanoi. Thousands of people traveled from all over the world to rejoice, worship, celebrate, offer incense, arrange sports festivals, and engage in extraordinarily lively arts during this time. Even now, a fascinating culture exists.

6. Conclusion

Hopefully, everything we’ve shared thus far has helped you learn more about Huong Pagoda, as well as where Perfume Pagoda is located and what else this temple has to offer. Thank you for your interest in our Huong Pagoda post.

More: Tay Nguyen’s Cong Chieng cultural space: The intangible beauty of Tay Nguyen’s mountains and forests

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The Huong Pagoda Festival – A Beautiful Culture of Vietnamese People

Recently updated on November 30th, 2020 at 08:46 am

The Huong Pagoda Festival is one of the largest festivals in Vietnam held at the beginning of the year in My Duc district, Hanoi with bold cultural and spiritual values of the Vietnamese people. The majestic nature has attracted thousands of tourists from near and far, domestic and international visitors to the Buddha ceremony, and admire the scenery here.

The festival is divided into two parts including the ceremonies and the entertaining activities. The ceremony rituals consist of incense offering procession and Zen ceremony in which Monks and Buddhists offer incense, flowers, candles and fruits. This is considered the main part of the festival. Besides it, visitors can take part in other activities and taste delicacies on the festival. Some interesting activities such as: Boat cruise along Yen Stream for watching, exploring holy caves. Some delicious dishes you should not miss to taste such as: bamboo shot, Sang vegetables and grinding roots.

Some information about Huong pagoda

Huong pagoda was built in the late 17th century, then due to war, the French colonial period, the temple was destroyed. However, not long after that, the pagoda was rebuilt in 1988. This scenic area is a cultural and religious complex of Vietnam , including dozens of Buddhist temples, some temples to worship God, and other Temple of the cult of agriculture. This pagoda is located in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi , on the right bank of Day river.

The right time to join the Huong pagoda festival

You can travel to Huong pagoda from January to the end of the third lunar month, this is the time when the number of tourists coming here is extremely large. However, when you come here on this occasion, you will be able to participate in the festival’s cultural activities such as boating, climbing, singing….

If you do not like the crowded scene of the festival, then outside of the time mentioned above, you can go to this place all year round.

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Home » Vietnam Travel » Activities In Vietnam » Huong Pagoda Festival In Hanoi, Vietnam: Activities To Do

Huong Pagoda Festival In Hanoi, Vietnam: Activities To Do

Source: baodansinh

Updated: 11/15/2019

Huong Pagoda Festival (Lễ Hội Chùa Hương or Trẩy Hội Chùa Hương) or Perfume Pagoda Festival is a famous festival in Vietnam. It is located in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi . In Huong Son, visitors will admire a vast complex of Buddhist Temples where the Bodhisattva Guan Yin appears to lead a religious life. It is considered one of the largest and most famous festivals in the North of Vietnam , which attracts thousands of Buddhists all over Vietnam.

Huong Pagoda is a famous scenic spot, not only because of the beautiful scenery but also the beauty of the Buddhist religious beliefs of Vietnamese people. Unlike any other place, Huong Pagoda is a complex of many temples, pagodas, and caves surrounded by mountains and forests, and it becomes a complex of large landscapes with a harmonious architecture between nature and man-made. The Creator has bestowed here mountains and peaceful rivers, and then people have blown the soul into the miracles so that it becomes sparkling, lively, and colorful. That has created a unique culture of the nation – the culture of Buddhist religious beliefs. Although it has existed for many centuries, the culture has imprinted in the mind of every Vietnamese person when coming to Huong Pagoda. Therefore, visitors want to come back every year with the desire to incense and pray for a lucky and happy new year. The Kings of Vietnam and famous poets have repeatedly praised the beauty of the mountains and forests here. In 1770 when Trinh Sam Lord came to Huong Son, he carved five words on the door of Huong Tich cave “Nam Thien De Nhat Dong” (The Most Beautiful Cave of Vietnam), “Ky Son Tu Thuy” (strange and beautiful mountain). Many famous Vietnamese poets came here to write poems; such as Chu Manh Trinh, Cao Ba Quat and Xuan Dieu. Che Lan Vien, Ho Xuan Huong.

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I. What Is The Best Time To Visit The Huong Pagoda Festival?

Huong Pagoda Festival is held every year, and it for three months from January 6 until the end of March of the lunar calendar. But the official days of the festival is from January full moon to February 18.

II. What Are Activities For Tourists To Do?

Every year, Huong pagoda festival attracts millions of domestic and international tourists. At the time of the festival, there are many cultural and sports activities  taking place including:

1. Incense And Pray At The Beginning Of The Year

Huong Pagoda festival takes place within about 3 lunar months of the year. Especially in the period from January full moon to the February 18 lunar calendar. Most tourists who come to Huong pagoda on the beginning of spring have a common purpose to worship Buddhism, pilgrimage, spirituality. When coming here, tourists often pray for a full life and a successful trading year. Farmers wish for a good harvest while merchants hope that a year of many fortunes would come with them. According to the old concept of Vietnamese people, if anyone wants to have a son, rub the head of Cau Mountain (núi Cậu), and if anyone wishes for a daughter, rub the head of Co Mountain (núi Cô). The patients believe that drinking drops of the breast milk of fairy (vú mẹ) will improve their health quickly.

2. Join Leisure Activities At Huong Pagoda

When visiting Huong Pagoda, tourists can immerse themselves in cultural activities and festivals here. Huong Pagoda Festival is a place to gather unique ethnic cultural activities such as boating, mountain climbing, Chau van Singing (Hát Chầu Văn), and Cheo Singing (Hát Chèo).

When coming to Huong Pagoda, visitors will be able to take a boat trip, which is the main means of transportation in the festival. Tourists can sit on a boat and admire the beauty of mountains and rivers, which gives you a feeling of peace. On the main days of the festival, a series of boat race on the Yen stream (suối Yến), which becomes an indispensable entertainment activity in the festival.

Climbing Mountain

After leaving the pier, visitors come to the unique climbing activities of the area. Visitors can climb the stairs to the Huong Tich Cave (động Hương Tích) and Trong Pagoda (Chùa Trong). The feeling is great if you conquer each step into the Huong Tich cave. You can also choose to take a cable car instead of walking to Huong Pagoda. But we recommend walking, which is good for your health.

Cheo Singing And Singing Folk Songs

When going along the boat wharf or setting foot on this spiritual land, you will encounter Vietnamese folk tunes such as Cheo singing (Hát Chèo) or Sam singing (Hát Sẩm) on each cottage. The folk songs are deep in the hearts of first-time visitors. Please give yourself the best moments when immersing in those traditional folk songs.

III. What To Eat?

When traveling to Huong Pagoda, tourists can enjoy a lot of specialties. You can eat Sang Vegetable cake (Bánh Rau Sắng), or dishes made from Sang Vegetable. This vegetable is grown only in Huong Son area. In addition, there are also quite crispy and sweet apricot fruits in the summer.

Besides, you can eat vegetarian food when you come to the pagoda. But you can also enjoy dishes prepared from goats, cows, and horses. Although there are many restaurants along the road, you should ask the price first to avoid high prices. At the foot of Thien Tru Mountain (núi Thiên Trụ,) there is Mai Lam restaurant with good service quality and affordable price.

IV. Where To Stay?

There are some hotels located near Huong Pagoda. Some suggestions include:

• Lotus Legend Hotel: 197, Tran Phu Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi. The price of a room begins at $43/night.
• Perfect Hotel: 1, Thanh Binh Street, Ha Dong District, Hanoi. The price of a room begins at $21/night.
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Do you find this information useful about Huong Pagoda Festival? Please share your interesting experiences when participating in the festival activities with us! To learn more about Vietnam tourism , visit our homepage .

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Perfume Pagoda – 5 highlights when visiting

A short drive from Hanoi you will find one of Vietnam’s most important religious Buddhist sites. The Perfume Pagoda (Huong) is a cultural and religious site, with dozens of Buddhist temples, pagodas, hidden among the mountains and forests of Huong Son.

• About the Pagoda

How to get there

• Best time to visit

About the Perfume Pagoda

The Perfume Pagoda is actually a group of temples and caves in the rocks of the limestone mountain Huong Tich Son (Mount of Fragrances). The pagoda is located in Hoa Binh province, in My Duc district, 60 km southwest of Hanoi . Most of the cave temples were built in the 17th century. It is considered as one of the most important complexes of temples in Vietnam .

The first temple is believed to have been built here in the 15th century, although legend states that the site was actually discovered more than 2,000 years ago by a Buddhist monk who meditated nearby. The foothills of the mountains are an area of ​​great natural and spiritual beauty filled with streams, tropical plants and temples.

There are many pagodas to visit, each with a different shrine, most of which are Buddhist, although one or two are animist. The perfume pagoda attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking happiness from the stalagmites and stalactites in the cave who are named based on the individual blessing they can bestow.

Perfume Pagoda highlights

1. the boat trip on the yen river.

The pagoda can be reached by road or river. The nicest way to get there is by a one hour boat trip from Ben Duc village. It takes around two hours to get from Hanoi to the Pier Duc. Two women row the boats on the Yen-Vi (Swallowtail River), past jagged rocks and green rice fields. For a lot of travelers a boat trip over the Yen River (or Yen Stream) is the actual highlight of a visit to the Perfume Pagoda.

The boat travels through a narrow flowing stream surrounded by paddy fields, temples and grass and you have the option to stop and visit some of these temples and caves. However, if you’re short on time, it’s best to head straight to Huong Tich Cave.

2. Thien Chua pagoda

After about one hour the boat will dock at the walled Thien Chua (Pagoda leading to Heaven). A steep mountain path leads from this pagoda to the top of Huong Tich Son.

The Thien Tru Pagoda was built in the 18th century during the King Le Thanh Tong dynasty. The name “Thien Tru” means heaven kitchen, which is named after the rock formations in this area that look like chefs that are busy with working in the kitchen. The pagoda also has a tower and there is a cave with five granite statues and various rock formations on the walls of the cave.

3. Cable car

Huong Tich Son, the main temple of the Perfume Pagoda complex, can be found in a cave all the way on the top of the mountain. There are two ways to get there, either by a fairly tough one hour climb or by cable car. The cable car brings you to the top in just a few minutes and the views over the top of the trees with mountains on the background are very nice. You can also buy a one-way ticket up the mountain so you have just a less tiring walk down the mountain.

4. The walk up (or down)

The uphill walk to the perfume pagoda can get slippery, so remember to bring walking shoes. Along the way you will pass several cave pagodas. The Ten Son Pagoda has some stone carvings. The Giai Oan Chua (Pagoda of Purification) attracts pilgrims who come here to purify their souls or seek healing from their illnesses. Childless couples pray for posterity.

It’s worth taking the time to stop and enjoy the view on the way to the temple as the landscape is very interesting, dotted with fruit trees including apricots and medicinal herbs grown by local farmers. Other temples within the complex include Vong Temple, Thuyet Kinh Cave, and Thien Son Pagoda.

5. Huong-Tich Cave

The Huong-Tich Cave at the top is beautifully situated. The entrance to the huge and mysterious perfume pagoda and Huong Tich cave resembles that of an open dragon’s mouth and is decorated with ancient Chinese letters. In this dripstone cave lies the Chua Huong Tich or Perfume Pagoda. Construction started in 1575. In the sanctuary are statues of bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and his female counterpart Quan Am, the goddess of mercy. The bronze statue of the goddess placed in the temple in 1767 was looted shortly later by the Tay-Son rebels and melted down into weapons. The stone statue that stands today dates from 1793.

Most travelers who visit the pagoda do so by organized tour. Reaching the pagoda independently is difficult (unless you rent a motorbike in Hanoi) and probably not worth it. There are both private and group tours, including transport, guide, lunch, boat ride and access to the pagodas (cable car is often extra – about 70,000 VDN each way).

Go to Perfume Pagoda with Local Vietnam

If you are interested in taking a boat trip over the Yen stream and visit the temples at the Perfume Pagoda, then you could take this one day Perfume Pagoda tour from Hanoi. You can go by small group or private tour.

Best time to visit the Perfume Pagoda

The best time to visit Perfume Pagoda is from October to December. It is less touristy and quieter. It’s a lovely for a slow pace rowing on the river to enjoy the amazing scenery with beautiful water lilies blooming all over.

Perfume Pagoda Festival

As one of the most important religious sites in Buddhist Vietnam, every spring after the Vietnamese New Year , thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims come here to pray for all the happiness and prosperity. This stream of pilgrims culminates at the Perfume Pagoda Festival. The festival starts on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month of the lunar month and leads to heavy crowds until mid-March.

Date of Perfume Pagoda Festival:

• 2021: February 17
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Huong pagoda festival.

Traditional Festivals

Approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Ha Noi, Huong Son boasts quite a few pagodas built in the Posterior Le Dynasty. Until the beginning of the 20th century, there have over 100 pagodas. Visitors can go to Huong Son via the Ha Dong – Van Dinh route. Vietnamese or foreigners alike wish to come to Huong Son in springtime. Heading there tourists come to a magnificent land, a famous beauty spot in Vietnam.

Going boating in Yen Stream, visitors get a stunning view of the landscape in springtime. Here lies Ngu Nhac Mountain, there stand Hoi Bridge, Dun and Voi Phuc (Prostrating Elephant) mountains. Then come Thuyen Rong (Dragon Boat) and Con Phuong (Phoenix) mountains, not to mention various other mountains named after their shape like Ong Su (Buddhist Monk), Ba Vai (Buddhist nun), Mam Xoi (Tray of Sticky Rice), Trong (Drum), or Chieng (Gong).

At Trinh Temple visitors stop to burn incense and present to the Mountain Deity before going on their journey to Ba Cave. In front of the cave spreads a land with magnificent beauty. Leaving Ba Cave, tourists go to Tro Wharf, the starting point for the trekking up the mountain. Thien Tru Pagoda is the first destination. Known as the Kitchen of Heaven, it boasts Thien Thuy – a tower-like natural rock, and Vien Cong Tower an exquisite terracotta architectural structure dated back to the 17th century. On the right of the pagoda stands Tien Son Grotto, housing five statues carved out of stone and many stalactites and stalagmites which can be used as musical instruments.

To reach Huong Tich Grotto one go past a winding path paved with slabs of stone nature has smoothed. Alongside the path visitors has a chance to feast their eyes on stunning landscapes. In the 18th century, upon coming here Lord Trinh Sam had the words “The most beautiful grotto under the Southern sky” chiseled above the mouth of the grotto. Pushing into its belly, visitors get a spectacular view. Many stalactites and stalagmites are named after their shape: Rice Pile, Money Pile, Gold Tree, Silver Tree to name but a few. Inside there are statues of King’s Father, Queen, Avalokitesvara, and so on. Noteworthy is the Cuu Long structure with nine dragons flanking from above.

There are many interesting pagodas, caves and grottoes in Huong Son. Among them include Long Van, Tuyet Son, Hinh Bong, and so forth. The Ong Bay (Sung Sam) Cave, 2km from Long Van Pagoda, still retains traces of ancient people some tens of thousands of years ago.

Unlike any other places, Huong Pagoda harmonizes the characters of a Buddhist architectural complex with the impressive natural beauty. Coming here, tourists have chances to live in a boisterous atmosphere of a spring festival amidst beautiful landscape. They seem to be free from all tiredness and sorrow and come to pay respect to the compassionate Buddha.

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Let’s pay a visit to Huong Pagoda. Why don’t-----------------------------------------------.----------------

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Exploring the history, architecture, and tourism of Perfume pagoda Hanoi

• By lilystravel
• Blog , Home Page , Must Read , Travel Insight

Huong Pagoda, commonly known as the Perfume Pagoda, is in the My Duc neighborhood of Hanoi’s Huong Son commune. Perfume Pagoda Hanoi is a complex of ancient and spiritual relics with many typical cultural features of the Vietnamese nation, especially spiritual culture.  Coming to Perfume Pagoda, you can see and burn incense at Buddhist temples, temples of gods, and ancient and dignified communal houses. If you want details about this temple, follow the information about Hanoi Huong Pagoda that Lily’s Travel has compiled below!

Huong Pagoda’s architecture (Perfume Pagoda)

The whole complex of Huong Pagoda architecture is scattered in Yen Stream Valley, including Ngoai Pagoda and Trong Pagoda. Visitors will come from the Duc Wharf upstream to the Yen Stream to the Ngoai Pagoda, still commonly known as the Tro Pagoda. The triple-view Ngoai Pagoda is constructed on three sizable courtyards that are entirely tiled, with a 3-story bell tower added to the third courtyard. The two uncovered triangular gables on the top floor, which are typical of old architecture, are the architectural block’s most striking feature.

Unlike the architecture of Ngoai Pagoda, built by humans, Trong Pagoda originated from a natural ancient cave. When you visit this pagoda, you’ll see a lengthy stone stairway with a total of 120 steps and four words inscribed with the phrase Huong Tich Dong Mon directly at the entrance to the cave. Through the five Chinese letters “Nam Thien De Nhat Dong” that were created in 1770, the remnants and historical artifacts are still preserved here. Visitors are drawn to Huong Pagoda by its surroundings in addition to its spiritual attractiveness. The Yen stream is an attractive tourist destination because it has pure water year-round and is surrounded by rich vegetation in all four seasons. If you go sightseeing, you must have to buy a boat ticket.

Sitting on a small poison boat drifting along the stream, you can see the beauty of a different flower each season. It is the bright and brilliant red color of rice flowers every summer, the dreamy light purple of water lilies every late autumn, or the pure white color filled with the sky of banana and plum flowers every spring. Because of that, the ferry station by the small stream is always crowded with people visiting.

Read more: Da Lat places to visit: 10++ places for backpacking trips or self-sufficient travel

Huong Pagoda Festivals

Every spring festival, people all over the country enthusiastically make pilgrimages to the land of Buddha and participate in the Huong Pagoda festival. The opening day is the sixth day of the first lunar month. On the occasion of the holiday, millions of Buddhists and tourists from all over the world enthusiastically attend the Perfume Pagoda festival. The Perfume Pagoda Festival’s ceremony is straightforward. One day before the festival’s opening, all temples, pagodas, communal houses and shrines were filled with incense smoke. Huong Pagoda Festival combines unique ethnic and cultural activities such as boating, mountain climbing, Cheo and Van singing. On the festival days, Huong Pagoda is bustling with hundreds of boats.

Huong Pagoda Festival combines unique ethnic cultural activities such as boating, mountain climbing and Cheo–Van singing. On festival days, Huong Pagoda bustles in and out of hundreds of boats. The unique feature of Huong Pagoda is sitting on a boat to enjoy the scenery like lost in the nascent Buddha realm. To accommodate attendees from near and far, the celebration will feature incense offerings, worship rituals, and cultural events. When traveling here, the primary routes are Thien Tru – Huong Tich, Long Van, Tuyet Son, and Thanh Son.

Read more: Let’s find out the unique beauty of Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang

Places to visit when going to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi

Ben Duc’s Duc Wharf serves as the pilgrimage’s initial beginning point. Normally, the trip from Hanoi to Ben Duc takes more than two hours. Ben Duc has thousands of rowing boats to shuttle visitors during the annual festival months. This one-hour boat ride on the Yen Vi Stream from Ben Duc is the highlight of the trip for many guests and has served as an inspiration for several well-known poets.

Temple Trinh

Trinh Temple, also known as Thuong Quan Temple, about 300m from Ben Duc, is the first stop of Huong Pagoda. The temple honors General Sima, who assisted King Hung in defending the country from foreign invaders, and is located at the base of Ngu Nhac mountain. The temple was extensively damaged during the 20th-century conflict with French colonialists, and it was reconstructed in 1992.

Yen stream flows between two mountains, 3km long. However, when sitting on the boat leisurely enjoying the scenery, you can feel the endless stream. Yen Vi Stream (or Yen Stream), a much more romantic and picturesque route to Huong Pagoda, is where most people take a boat despite the fact that there is a handy trail from Ben Duc to Huong Mountain.

When streaming along Suoi Yen, visitors will admire the beautiful scenery of green rice fields and jagged limestone mountains at the foot of Huong Mountain. The left half of Phoenix Mountain and Doi Cheo Mountain, which resembles an Indian serpent, are also visible from the boat. Visitors stop at Trinh Temple, which is located on Ngu Nhac Mountain to the right, to light incense for Than Nui Mountain.

Thien Tru Pagoda

After disembarking the boat, your first stop will be Thien Tru Pagoda, also referred to as Ngoai Pagoda. It is one of the main venues of the entire complex and the site of the festival’s opening ceremony.

Huong Tich Cave

There are two ways to get to Huong Tich Cave: it takes about 1 hour to climb the mountain or travel by cable car. In just a few minutes, the cable car will carry you to the mountain’s summit, where you can enjoy the amazing views. You can also buy a one-way ticket to the mountain for a less grueling hike down the mountain. The cable car trip toHuong Tich Cave only takes 10-15 minutes to reach the cave entrance. While inside the cabin, you may take in the beautiful splendor of the surroundings, which include mountains, forests, and pagodas.

Huong Tich cave is considered the leading destination for pilgrims coming to the Huong Pagoda complex because it has Huong Pagoda, also known as “Trong Pagoda”. The massive entrance of the cave and the pagoda amazes visitors because the cave looks like a dragon’s mouth is opening. On the wall at the mouth of the cave, there is an ancient Vietnamese sentence: “Nam Thien De Nhat Dong” from 1770. Visitors to Trong Pagoda will be astounded by the abundance of Buddha and Buddha God statues inside. The Quan Yin Buddha Statue is the most striking statue in this location. Additionally, the stalagmites inside the cave contain a large number of natural stalactites. Over the years, some of them have become smooth because it is believed that miracles and good fortune will come into their lives if touched and rubbed.

There are 2 options to go to Huong Tich Cave: hiking or taking the cable car. The climbing journey lasts for an hour with thousands of stone steps with high slopes, requiring excellent physical strength of the climber. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes or sandals because there are occasionally some slick stone steps. However, it was a memorable experience, with spectacular scenery. You can feel the towering greenery around you and sometimes catch a glimpse of the daily life of the local farmer.

Giai Oan Pagoda

Giai Oan Pagoda is located in the middle of the route between Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave. Meaning “Temple of Appearances”, this temple is a place where people believe that the gods can purify the soul, cure suffering and bless childless families. Suoi Lau Oan, which comes from nine flowing springs, and Long Tuyen Well, which has naturally blue water, are the pagoda’s highlights.

Transportation 

There are many different ways to get to Huong Pagoda from the center of Hanoi. You can choose to take a public bus, rent a motorbike or a car there.

There is a public bus line No. 103 running from My Dinh Bus Station to Huong Pagoda and vice versa. The bus operates from 5:00 to 8:00 daily with a frequency of every 15 minutes. In terms of cost, there is no cheaper option because the ticket is only 9,000 VND/one-way ticket/person. This is a very economical choice, but there are also some inconveniences such as: It takes a long time to travel, has to be crowded at rush hour and worse, cannot find a seat.

Motorcycles

Riding a motorbike is extremely convenient because you can freely take the initiative in your journey without having to wait. After visiting Huong Pagoda relic, you can visit other nearby destinations to save time for the schedule.

A private car

The safest, fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Hanoi to Huong Pagoda is to rent a private car. If you travel with a group of friends or family, choose to rent a car with a private driver.

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Perfume Pagoda (Chùa Hương) - "The First Ranking Southern Grotto"

Perfume Mount is an ever wish/ With mountains, water, and clouds/ People always ask if this is the top-ranking cavern…”  (extracted from “Perfume Mount passion” written by Chu Manh Trinh)

Overall View of Perfume Pagoda

Around 60 kilometers southwest of Hanoi, Perfume Pagoda is one among the largest and unique religious sites in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, old Ha Tay (or enlarged Hanoi), right banks of Day River, northern Việt Nam. This pagoda is also one of the most famous pagodas and temples in Vietnam .

It comprises a complex of pagodas and Buddhist shrines built into the limestone cliffs of Perfume Mount (Hương Sơn), scattering alongside the mountain up to the peak. The complex’s center is right inside Huong Tich cavern (or in other words, Inside Pagoda). Huge numbers of pilgrims flock to the site during Perfume Pagoda festival , which begins in the middle of the first lunar month and lasts until the middle of the third one (or from February till March) in order to pray for happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Also, it is a very popular opportunity for young couples to meet and for numerous budding romances to be formed. On this special occasion, a wide range of traditional cultural activities is incorporated. Perfume pagoda is not only a religious site, but a great sight-seeing spot in Vietnam as well.

Coming to Huong Pagoda, what should not be left home is a good camera, since you will regret unless you catch all the snapshots of this fascinating nature drawings!

What to Do at Perfume Pagoda?

1. duc pier (bến đục).

The very first starting point of the pilgrimage is Ben Duc (Pier Duc). Normally, it takes more than 2 hours to go from Hanoi to Ben Duc. During the annual festival months, Ben Duc is packed with thousands of row boats used for shuttling visitors. For many visitors, this one-hour boat ride on the Yen Vi Stream from Pier Duc is actually the highlight of the trip, and inspiration sources of quite a few famous poets.

2. Yen Stream (Suối Yến)

Yen stream flows between two mountains for 3 kilometers. Nevertheless, sitting on the boat, leisurely enjoying the surrounding landscape, you may feel that the stream is endless. Despite a facilitated road from Pier Duc to Perfume mountain, most people choose to use row boats on Yen Vi Stream (or Yen Stream), which is by far a much more romantic and scenic route to Huong Pagoda.

While traveling along Yen Stream, tourists pass by stunning landscape of blazing green rice paddles studded with jagged limestone mounts to the base of Huong Mountain. If you are on a boat there, you can easily see on your left the Phoenix Mountain, and Doi Cheo Mountain, which looks like an Indian python (Tran). Also on the left are Bung and Voi, the two mountains associated with interesting legends. On your right is Ngu Nhac mountain with the Trinh Temple where visitors stop and burn incense for the God of the Mountain. Before reaching Tro Wharf where the tour begins, the boat also passes by the Deo and Phong Su Mountains, Son Thuy Huu Tinh Cave, Trau Cave, Hoi Bridge, and Dau Valley.

3. Thien Tru Pagoda (Chùa Thiên Trù)

Stepping inland, there comes an interesting informal protocol for tourists! The first stop before climbing up to Huong Mount must always be a visit to Den Trinh, which means “registration shrine”. The next point of interest would be a visit to Thien Tru Pagoda (chuà Ngoài – Outer Pagoda), which was built in the 18 th  century under King Le Thanh Tong dynasty.

“Thien Tru” means a heaven kitchen, derived from the imagination of the locals in this region, of which the rock formations in this area look like chefs busily working in the kitchen. Thien Tru Pagoda is famous for Thuy Tien tower, a granite monolith. On the right is Tien Son grotto, popular for five granite statues and various formations on the walls of the cave. Coming here, pilgrims have chances to admire the pagoda’s beauty and wonderful local landscapes.

4. Huong Tich Grotto (Động Hương Tích)

After more than one hour along the stream and visiting the initial ancient pagodas from the riverbank, now pilgrims would climb up hundreds of stone steps, and then down 120 stone steps to Huong Tich Grotto, literally meaning “traces of fragrance”.

The path to Huong Tich winds its way through magnificently luxuriant landscapes. The moss-grown Huong Tich Grotto came to life thanks to the most venerable Van Thuy Thien Tran Dao Vien Quang Chan Nhan, the Chief monk of Thien Tru Pagoda.

In front of the cave lie  stone stairs. Stepping down the 120-step stairs, tourists will find the inscription “The first-ranking grotto under the Southern Sky” in  Han scripts, which are traces of Lord Tinh Do Vuong Trinh Sam’s calligraphy in the 3 rd  lunar month of the year of the Tiger (Canh Dan -1770).

Getting into the grotto, you will find a purely cool atmosphere in a dim light before figuring out naturally architectural works such as Dun Gao (Rice) rock, gold and silver trees, Girl and Boy Mountains (in the shapes of a girl and a boy), and so forth. Yet, what is noteworthy is the statue of Avalokitesvara carved out of emerald stone on a rocky lotus, constructed in 1793, under the Tay Son dynasty, and a 1.24m bronze bell, moulded in the 3 rd  Thinh Duc Year (1655). The unique carving art together with the extremely magnificient works of Nature makes the Huong Pagoda complex the top-revenued tourism destination among others in Ha Tay, and the foremost destination of Buddhists in particular and tourists in general.

Saying goodbye to Perfume Grotto, now tourists may choose to further go up to the top Mount by climbing up hundreds of stone steps, all worn smooth by passage of countless feet, or take a short rest and complete the pilgrimage.

These days, the Vietnamese believe that Huong Son is Buddha’s Heaven due to its sacredness and 100% natural works of beauty. Quite a few tourists would like to come back this mysterious and sacred mountain annually for religious reasons on the one hand, and on the other hand, for the enchanting natural landscapes.

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