Northern Vietnam (2008) - Chua Huong AKA Perfume Pagoda

Asked any Hanoian which temple attraction they would recommend to a foreigner, the answer is likely to be Chua Huong.  Just why?  Perhaps the renowned religious complex is located nearest to Hanoi, sited in My Duc district in the former Ha Tay province, about 70km south from the capital.  Chua Huong, or Perfume Pagoda in English, can be assessed through My Duc town by small boats.  If travelling by road, there is an alternative land route to the temple.  Generally, all tour would use the river route.  The riverside temple complex in the Huong Tich mountains is located upstream on the Yen stream (Suoi Yen).  This is a tributary feeding into the Red River (Song Hong).

Metal sheet boat at My Duc



First Stop - Den Trinh (Trinh Temple)

Sights along the stream on the way to the main complex of Chua Huong.

Chua Huong is a popular pilgrimage destinations for Vietnamese during the Lunar New Year period and is usually flooded with many visitors.  This period generally lasts from the middle of January to the middle of March.  The temple complex is consisted of a series of main structures namely Den Trinh, Thien Tru Pagado, Giai Oan Pagoda and finally the centre of the complex, Chua Trong (literally Inner Temple) at the summit.  Chua Trong is actually located in a limestone grotto, Huong Tich Cave.  The climb up is about 4km but it could also be assessed by cable car. 

First stop at base of complex - Thien Tru Pagoda




Hopping on to the cable car for the main pagoda of Chua Huong at the summit











Staircase down to the grotto where Chua Trong is sited

From the summit, we decided to walk down to the pier for our journey back to My Duc. Along the way, we came across other structures scattered along the mountain side.