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In Hue, there are over 300 temples and Buddhist pagodas of various sizes. Many ancient temples and pagodas have been renowned for ages, such as Thien Mu Pagoda, Tu Dam Pagoda, Bao Quoc Pagoda, Tu Hieu Pagoda, and more. Each temple in Hue is not only a unique architectural masterpiece blending harmoniously with nature but also a remarkable historical, cultural, and spiritual landmark. Let's explore the most architecturally stunning temples in Hue with Vntrip below!
1. Thien Mu Pagoda
This temple symbolizes the gentle beauty of the ancient capital of Hue, making it a must-visit destination for any traveler exploring this sacred yet romantic place. If you haven't admired Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, you haven't truly experienced Hue.
Thien Mu Pagoda. Image: Tường Vy Trần
Built since the early 1600s and preserved through many renovations, Thien Mu Pagoda captivates with its grandeur yet tranquil and poetic ambiance. Although called a pagoda, Thien Mu Pagoda does not feature many Buddha statues like other temples. It mainly serves as a repository for precious historical and artistic artifacts, such as the Hộ Pháp statue, the Thập Vương statue, couplets, bronze bells, or the car that transported the monk Thích Quảng Đức to his self-immolation site.
The lush green courtyard at Thien Mu Pagoda. Image: Tường Vy Trần
Admiring the sunset at the foot of Thien Mu Pagoda is an experience not to be missed. Here, at dusk, the air becomes serene and quiet, making us feel so peaceful that we can almost hold it completely in our arms.
Sunset view from Thien Mu Pagoda. Image: @meoluoicuon
The floating markets below Thien Mu Pagoda. Image: @cuongkhii
2. Upper Huyen Khong Son Thượng Pagoda
Not far from the city center, following the western direction along the Perfume River, past the Xước Dũ Bridge about a mile to Đồng Chầm Hamlet, Hương Hồ Commune, Huong Tra Town, lies the Upper Huyen Khong Son Thượng Pagoda nestled amidst a serene and pristine forest, hidden deep in the valley amidst 50 hectares of lush greenery all year round. The first impression is the surreal tranquility and cool, airy space surrounding. The fresh atmosphere and the echoes of nature here seem to beckon us back to our souls.
Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda. Image: Phan Ba Loc
Built since the late 1980s on an area of over 10,000 square meters, amidst pine and bamboo forests grown by the monastery itself. The temple complex includes main structures: Main Hall, Nghinh Luong Pavilion, Am May Tia Pavilion, Sangha Hall, Meditation Hall, monk cells... Each building is constructed in the traditional Hue style, imbued with Vietnamese soul, without elaborate painting or intricate dragon-phoenix motifs. Each structure leaves room for nature to blend harmoniously, maintaining lush greenery and a pure atmosphere, fostering goodness.
Pristine atmosphere at Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda. Image: Nguyen Anh Tuan
Retreat to the serene meditation scene at Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda, immerse yourself in the green space, the scent of grass, forests, streams, mingled with incense, relax, take a deep breath, and return to the present, surely you will find your peace here.
Serenity captured in an image. Photo by Nguyen Anh Tuan
3. Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery
Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is nestled amidst Truoi Lake in Loc Hoa commune, Phu Loc district. To reach the monastery, at Truoi Lake dam, you will need to take a 15-minute boat ride.
Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery. Photo by Nguyen Phong
Visiting Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, you will marvel at the artistic masterpieces of Buddhism, the ancient-colored decorative motifs, and the gracefully curved temple roofs. You will feel as if immersed in the faint fragrance of incense in the serene, elegant atmosphere, with the sound of meditation bells echoing rhythmically into the void, floating above the water amidst the picturesque landscape.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery is an artistic masterpiece of Buddhism. Photo by Nguyen Phong
To reach the triple gate of Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery, you must ascend 172 stone steps, and the towering triple gate of the monastery emerges majestically against the blue sky. You can stroll around to admire the scenery and the Buddhist architectural structures inside the monastery. All are enveloped by pristine mountains, lush greenery, meticulously tended flower gardens embellishing the grounds. People seem to lose themselves in this place of serene tranquility, their souls lighter and more peaceful than ever.
A place of serene tranquility. Photo by Nguyen Phong
4. Tu Hieu Pagoda
Tu Hieu Pagoda is a hidden gem nestled deep in the vast pine forest of Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City. It is a temple intertwined with the story of filial piety towards an elderly mother, and uniquely serves as the resting place for court mandarins under the Nguyen dynasty.
Tu Hieu Pagoda. Photo by The Hue of Huế
Tu Hieu Pagoda stands out for its harmonious blend of architecture and picturesque natural scenery, giving anyone who sets foot here the feeling of wandering into the surreal world of lush green pine forests. Following the shady paths, Tu Hieu Pagoda gradually reveals itself with spacious, tranquil surroundings, embodying both simplicity and the dignified style of Hue imperial architecture. The delicate carvings, ceramic decorations on the reliefs adorned with intricate dragon and phoenix motifs.
The temple intertwined with filial piety. Photo by The Hue of Huế
The temple comprises 3 main halls with traditional double-tiered roofs forming a harmonious ensemble. The main hall is where the Ancestor is worshipped. A distinctive feature of Tu Hieu Pagoda compared to other temples is the presence of not only statues of the Three Jewels Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha, but also the worship of paintings instead of statues, adding a special touch that makes the worship area more intimate.
Lush green space at Tu Hieu Pagoda. Photo by @lindsiepham
5. Thien Lam Meditation Temple
Thien Lam Meditation Temple sits atop Quang Te Hill, Thuy Xuan Ward, Huế City, a highly privileged location with incredibly beautiful and cool natural landscapes. Also known as the Standing-Sitting Buddha Temple, Thien Lam Meditation Temple belongs to the Southern Zen Buddhist sect founded by Master Ho Nhan. The temple was built in 1966 and underwent major renovations in 2014.
Thien Lam Meditation Temple. Photo by Cường Quốc Phạm
Thien Lam Meditation Temple features a gently styled entrance gate in the Southern Zen Buddhist tradition, with impressive details and a dominant yellow color, representing the spiritual essence of the temple. However, the meditative essence is still evident in the architectural structures and spaces of the temple. Architecturally, Thien Lam Meditation Temple resembles traditional gilded temples in Thailand with spiral-shaped towers. Yet, stepping into the temple's courtyard, one might feel transported to Myanmar with its golden temple land or back to India with its exquisite architectures on tombstones.
Prominent spire amidst Thien Lam Meditation Temple. Photo by Cường Quốc Phạm
Especially, the cool green space surrounded by countless trees is also a plus point of Thien Lam Meditation Temple, making the overall temple more gentle and peaceful. Coming here, it seems like all worries and busyness of life outside have disappeared at some point.
Thien Lam Meditation Temple features unique architecture. Photo by Collected
6. Huyen Khong 1 Temple
Huyen Khong 1 Temple is a religious structure harmoniously combining the beauty of Japanese and Indian architecture. Not only is it a place for worship and blessings for many Buddhists and visitors from afar, but the temple also possesses a unique beauty amidst the picturesque scenery of dreamy Hue.
Huyen Khong 1 Temple. Photo by Le Phuong Tung
From a distance, Huyen Khong 1 Temple appears solid, situated amidst a fairly spacious area with a total area of up to 6,000 m2. This religious structure is planned as a scene filled with greenery, tranquility, and serenity in the midst of the charming river and mountainous region of the Land of Perfume. Most notably, there is a Great Stupa modeled after the original Mahā Bodhi Gāya stupa in India but on a smaller scale. Perhaps that's why the temple bears a distinctive Indian resemblance.
Great Stupa. Photo by Collected
Temple grounds. Photo by Collected
7. Giac Luong Pagoda
Giac Luong Pagoda is the first village pagoda of Thua Thien - Hue province to be classified as a national historical and cultural relic in 1992. The pagoda is built facing south, with a rectangular shape measuring 14.60m long and 11.48m wide, with wooden sides and tiled roof, consisting of 2 bays and 4 pillars. Adjacent to the pagoda is the Monks' House. The pagoda's precinct is surrounded by a rectangular wall, 79m long, 1.20m high, and 0.50m thick. The front wall has a prominent pillar. The triple gate is grand, with a pavilion above and three doors below, much larger in scale than many other pagodas in Hue. Inside the pagoda, there are 7 Buddha statues, statues of Saint Quan Cong, Quan Binh, and Chau Xuong. The pagoda also has 12 ancestral altars of various clans who contributed to the establishment of the village.
Giac Luong Pagoda. Photo by The Hue of Hue
Inside Giac Luong Pagoda. Photo by The Hue of Hue
Giac Luong Pagoda contributes to the study of the history of architectural styles in Hue's temples over the long history of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture.
The pagoda showcases exquisite carvings. Photo by The Hue of Hue
If you're already familiar with Hue through images of tombs and citadels, try stepping into the temples here to experience a different side of Hue. The beautiful temples in Hue not only provide a sense of peace and fresh air but also offer an opportunity for you to learn more about Hue's unique Buddhist cultural heritage.
