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Perfume Pagoda is located approximately 65km from the center of Hanoi, forming a complex of pagodas in Huong Son commune, My Duc district. This is a place where many tourists seek out on every festive occasion to pray for peace for their families.
Visiting the pagoda at the beginning of spring to pray for peace has become one of the typical traditional cultural features of the Vietnamese people. Every Lunar New Year, people across the country have the opportunity to pilgrimage back to the land of Buddha, back to Perfume Pagoda, both to celebrate the beginning of the Buddhist year and to purify their souls amidst the beauty of mountains, rivers, and streams.
Perfume Pagoda nestled amidst majestic mountains (Photo: collected)
1. History of Perfume Pagoda Formation
Commonly known as 'Perfume Pagoda,' this place is officially named Huong Son, constituting a vast cultural complex with numerous temples and shrines. Huong Son is precisely situated on the right bank of the Day River, in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi.
Perfume Pagoda, also commonly referred to as Huong Pagoda, is located in the heart of Huong Son and was built from the late 17th century. However, during the resistance against the French (1947), Perfume Pagoda was nearly completely destroyed and was only rebuilt later under the guidance of the late Venerable Thich Thanh Chan (1988).
Aerial view of Perfume Pagoda (Photo: collected)
Ben Tro viewed from above (Photo: collected)
2. Architectural Design of the Pagoda
The entire architectural ensemble of Perfume Pagoda is scattered throughout the Yen stream valley, including the Outer Pagoda and the Inner Pagoda.
From Duc Pier upstream to Yen stream, tourists will reach the Outer Pagoda, also commonly known as Tro Pagoda. The Outer Pagoda has a triple gate located on three extremely spacious courtyards entirely paved with bricks, along with a three-tiered bell tower erected in the third courtyard. The most distinctive feature of this architectural complex lies in the two triangular gables protruding from the highest floor, representing the typical ancient architectural style.
Alongside its spiritual beauty, Hương Pagoda also captivates visitors with its picturesque surroundings. Yến Stream flows on both sides with crystal-clear water, accompanied by lush greenery throughout the four seasons, making this place a beloved scenic spot for many. The boat ticket price is incredibly affordable, only 50,000 VND per person for the Hương Tích ferry ride.
Sailing on a small wooden boat along the stream, you can admire the beauty of different flowers each season. The vibrant red color of rice flowers in summer, the dreamy light purple of bullet flowers in late autumn, or the pure white blossoms of Bauhinia and plum flowers in spring. Consequently, the dock by the small stream is always bustling with visitors.
Yến Stream (Photo: Collected)
Hội Bridge over Yến Stream (Photo: Collected)
Vibrant red hue of rice flowers (Photo: Collected)
Late autumn bullet flowers (Photo: Collected)
Plum blossoms bloom every spring (Photo: Collected)
3. Hương Pagoda Festival
Visitors from near and far come to Hương Pagoda, some merely for sightseeing, but once here, everyone lights a joss stick, offering prayers for peace to friends, loved ones, and family. However, the liveliest event is the Hương Pagoda Festival. People flock from all directions, small boats trailing each other along Yến Stream. The festival is considered the longest of the year, lasting for 3 months, from the 6th day of the lunar new year to the end of March.
The festival features incense offerings, worshipping ceremonies, as well as cultural performances to entertain visitors. Every year, around 1.5 million tourists gather at Hương Pagoda to join the festivities. The current ticket price for exploring the entire historical site is 78,000 VND per person (excluding a 2,000 VND/person insurance fee). The main routes to choose from include Thiên Trù – Hương Tích, Long Vân, Tuyết Sơn, Thanh Sơn...
Crowds heading towards Hương Pagoda (Photo: Collected)
Hương Pagoda Festival (Photo: Collected)
Main shrine of Hương Pagoda (Photo: Collected)
Hương Pagoda is imbued with incense smoke all year round, serving as not only a tourist attraction but also a spiritual destination for many, those who seek solace in the land of Buddha. If you happen to visit this place, remember to share your feelings with VNTRIP.VN.
