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Chua Huong is one of the sacred temple complexes in the North, encompassing numerous revered temples and pagodas. It's not just a spiritual site known to many but also one of the country's captivating landmarks. If you're planning a trip to Chua Huong 2020, don't miss out on the detailed tips for independent exploration below.
Where is Chua Huong Located?
Chua Huong, also known as Huong Son, is situated in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi city. It's one of the renowned cultural and religious complexes in Vietnam, featuring many temples, shrines, and places of worship.
There is some confusion between Chua Huong, My Duc, Hanoi, and Chua Huong in Ha Tinh. However, these are two completely different temples. Chua Huong Ha Tinh, also known as Chua Huong Tich, is located in Can Loc district, Ha Tinh, where the landscape is majestic with mountains and water. It is divided into three main areas: Am Thanh Mau, Den Thien Vuong, and Thuong Dien. Meanwhile, Chua Huong Hanoi is a complex consisting of many temples and shrines such as Hương Tích Cave, Thiên Trù Pagoda, Den Trinh Temple, Giải Oan Pagoda, and more.
Most often when asked “which province is Chua Huong located in?” people will immediately think of the sacred temple in My Duc district, formerly Ha Tay province and now My Duc district, Hanoi city.
Chua Huong, My Duc district, Hanoi
What is the best month to visit Chua Huong?
Chua Huong is one of the famous destinations visited by many pilgrims and sightseers from far and wide. It boasts a serene natural landscape, a harmonious blend of towering mountains and crystal-clear water, ensuring a cool climate throughout the year. You can visit Chua Huong at any time of the year.
During the spring months from January to the end of March in the lunar calendar, this place is usually much more crowded. In particular, the period from the first lunar month to the middle of the second lunar month is the peak time of the early pilgrimage season. Therefore, if you want to visit Chua Huong for sightseeing, it is not advisable to choose this time.
Towards the end of March in the lunar calendar is the season of vibrant red rice flowers on both sides of the Yen stream. You can choose this time for your Chua Huong 2020 tour. Additionally, the last months of the year such as September, October, November, and December are also ideal times for pilgrimage and experiencing the peaceful scenery here.
The third lunar month is the ideal time for your travel and Buddhist pilgrimage to Chua Huong
When does the Chua Huong Festival take place?
The 6th day of the first lunar month marks the opening day of the Chua Huong Festival 2020. The Chua Huong Festival 2020 lasts from the 6th day to the middle of the third lunar month. This is the time when many Buddhists from near and far return for pilgrimage and Buddhist rituals to pray for a prosperous year for themselves and their families. During the festival at Chua Huong, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy cultural performances such as ceremonial singing, traditional opera, as well as participate in boat racing, mountain climbing, and more. The traditional significance of the Chua Huong Festival used to be about opening mountains and forests. However, nowadays, it also signifies the opening of the temple.
The Chua Huong Festival begins on the 6th day of the lunar new year and lasts until the middle of the third lunar month
How far is Chua Huong from Hanoi? How to get there?
Chua Huong is approximately 55km away from the center of Hanoi city. Traveling to Chua Huong from Hanoi offers various transportation options such as motorbike, car, bus, etc. Depending on your preferences and the purpose of your Chua Huong 2020 trip, you can choose the most suitable type of transportation.
Check out the map of Chua Huong Hanoi on Google Maps.
Traveling by motorbike
If you're traveling to Chua Huong by motorbike, you can take the following route:
Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan -> Ha Dong -> Ba La intersection -> Van Dinh -> Chua Huong
Note: When traveling by motorbike, you can use Google Maps for directions or you can also ask the locals living nearby to find your way to Chua Huong more easily. Additionally, make sure to bring all necessary vehicle documents, wear a helmet for safety throughout the journey.
Traveling by car
For families with private cars or those renting cars, you can take the highway route Phap Van, Cau Re -> Dong Van -> National Highway 38 -> Dau Market -> Chua Huong.
Traveling by bus
Currently, there are several bus routes to Chua Huong that are very convenient for tourists such as:
Route 211 bus (from Yen Nghia bus station to Te Tieu)
Route 78 bus (from My Dinh bus station to Te Tieu)
Route 75 bus (from Yen Nghia bus station to Te Tieu)
How much is the ticket price for Chua Huong 2020?
Cable car at Chua Huong
In 2020, the ticket price for Chua Huong remains unchanged compared to 2019. The ticket price is maintained as follows:
- Chua Huong sightseeing ticket (Chua Huong visiting ticket) is 80,000 VND per person (including entrance ticket to Chua Huong applicable to 21 scenic spots at Chua Huong).
- Chua Huong ferry ticket is 50,000 VND per person for both entry and exit. This is the ticket price for the visiting route: Den Trinh - Chua Thien Tru - Huong Tich cave. For the Tuyet Son and Long Van routes, the ferry ticket price is 35,000 VND per person.
- Chua Huong cable car ticket for round trip is 180,000 VND per adult and 120,000 VND per child. The one-way ticket price for adults is 120,000 VND per ticket. The one-way ticket price for children is 90,000 VND per ticket.
In addition, for special cases such as special-grade disabled veterans, children under 1.1m tall under 10 years old will be completely exempt from tickets.
Passengers traveling to Chua Huong on Buddha's birthday, heritage day (November 23), days 30, 1st and 2nd day of Lunar New Year, April 15 (Buddha's birthday) will be 100% exempt from tickets.
Suggested itinerary for a self-guided 1-day trip to Chua Huong
Chua Huong is an architectural complex with many temples, pagodas, shrines, and palaces. Therefore, to fully explore Chua Huong, you will need to book a hotel in My Duc, Hanoi to explore over a period of 3 - 4 days. If you're traveling to Chua Huong 2020 in one day, you can consider some itinerary suggestions below.
Duc Wharf – Trinh Shrine – Thien Tru Pagoda – Huong Tich Cave – Giac Oan Pagoda
This is one of the most popular tour routes chosen by many tourists. With this itinerary, you can visit all the main and sacred temples in Huong Pagoda.
Duc Wharf (Yen Stream) is the first destination after riding a motorbike or car. You will pass through Yen Stream to reach the shrines and pagodas within the Huong Son relic site.
Trinh Shrine is the first shrine you will visit after getting off the boat. True to its name, Trinh Shrine is where you must present yourself to the deities when visiting Huong Pagoda on Buddhist holidays.
Thien Tru Pagoda is a spacious and stunning temple in Huong Pagoda. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from the wharf to Thien Tru Pagoda.
Huong Tich Cave is dubbed as the “Southern First Supreme Cave”. Located at an altitude of 390m, you can hike or take the cable car to reach Huong Tich Cave.
Giac Oan Pagoda is about 2.5km away from Huong Tich Cave, situated on Long Tuyen Mountain. So, who does Giac Oan Pagoda worship at Huong Pagoda? Giac Oan Pagoda venerates Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Inside the pagoda, there is a clear water well.
With this itinerary, besides the main attractions mentioned above, if you have time, you can also visit other temples such as Hinh Bong Pagoda, Dai Binh Cave, Tien Son Pagoda, and Tran Song Temple, which are all very convenient.
Huong Tich Cave
Duc Wharf – Trinh Temple – Long Van Pagoda – Long Van Cave – Sung Sam Cave
Similar to the itinerary above, after visiting Trinh Temple, you return to the wharf to continue. If you turn right, you'll visit Huong Tich Cave, while turning left takes you to Long Van Pagoda and Long Van Cave. These sites are nestled on the mountainside amidst lush greenery. After exploring Long Van Cave, tourists proceed to Sung Sam Cave for sightseeing and worship.
Some tips for self-guided trips to Huong Pagoda
When visiting Huong Pagoda in 2020, you need to pay attention to the following:
Choose appropriate attire when entering the pagoda
When going to the temple or sightseeing, you should wear formal and modest clothing. Avoid wearing revealing outfits when offering incense at the pagoda. Choose dark-colored clothes with collars and pants instead of skirts. Additionally, since you'll need to walk and climb stairs a lot when visiting Huong Pagoda, it's advisable to wear sneakers or flat shoes for comfortable movement.
Prepare offerings at home
Some pilgrims visiting the pagoda often wonder how many offerings to prepare before coming, leading them to not prepare in advance at home and wait until they arrive. Along the pagoda's entrance, there are many stalls offering various types of offerings, incense, cakes, and fruits. However, it's advisable to prepare at home to avoid being overcharged and to ensure you have all the necessary offerings. The number of offerings and the purpose of visiting Huong Pagoda depend on your faith. With sincerity, the Buddha will guide you.
Considerations when buying specialties and souvenirs as gifts
At Huong Son relic site, there are many specialties and souvenirs available for purchase as gifts. However, you should negotiate prices beforehand to avoid being overcharged, especially during festival days.
For certain packaged foods such as preserved cakes and dried fruit cakes, you should check the expiration date to ensure the products are not expired.
At Huong Pagoda, there are many herbal medicine shops along the roadsides claiming to cure various illnesses. You need to be particularly cautious when buying these medicines as their origins are often unclear.
Keep personal belongings safe when traveling in crowded areas
Traveling to Huong Pagoda in 2020 requires special attention to safeguarding your belongings when moving in crowded places. It's advisable to carry your wallet and phone in front to prevent pickpocketing.
Prepare food and drinks at home
When visiting Huong Pagoda for Buddhist ceremonies or sightseeing, it's advisable to prepare some food from home to enjoy along the way. There are many food stalls along the road to the pagoda, but the quality is often not guaranteed, and prices are usually high. Therefore, preparing food from home beforehand will make you more proactive during your journey. Some foods to prepare include: bottled water, bread, sticky rice, sausages, fruits, etc.
Check the weather forecast in advance
To have the most convenient trip to Huong Pagoda, you should check the 10-day weather forecast for Huong Pagoda in advance to prepare accordingly. If rain is forecasted, remember to bring a raincoat or umbrella.
Above are all the experiences of independent Huong Pagoda travel in 2020 that Vntrip has compiled. Wishing you a fulfilling trip.
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