Chua Huong

Located in Ha Noi province, 70 km southwest of Ha Noi, Chua Huong (Perfume Pagoda) is one of the most popular religious sites in Vietnam. Chua Huong is the name of a cluster of temple sites in the mountain area of Huong Son in the province of Ha Tay. Chua Huong is famous for the annual pilgrim site of Buddhists. Yearly, between the first and the third lunar month of the year (February to March), just after the Tet festival (Lunar New Year), the Perfume Pagoda Festival(Hoi Chua Huong) attracts from all over the country.

The festival is also a well-known site in the Vietnamese literature attracting poets and painters and a meeting place for young couples. The festival period is the busiest time. At the other time of the year, most of visitors are foreign and local tourists.

There are several sites to visit at the Perfume Pagoda's area: Thiên Tru pagoda, Hinh Bong pagoda, Giai Oan pagoda, Huong Tich cave, Trinh temple, Thanh Son Pagoda, Long Van, Cay Khe, Tuyet Son... Most of the tours take exemplary the Trình temple, the Thiên Tru pagoda and the Huong Tich cave in Perfume pagoda Hanoi.

The visit of Chua Huong it is normally a day trip from Ha Noi. First it takes an approximately 2 hour drive from Ha Noi to Ben Duc pier. Although there is a road from the pier to the base of pagoda complex, using row boats on Yen Vi river which (ca 55000 Dong) is the more romantic and scenic alternative to reach Chua Huong map. The 45 minute boat ride on the Yen River is for some visitors the highlight of the trip.