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Huong Pagoda

Located in Ha Tay province, 70 km southwest of Ha Noi, Chùa Hương (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.

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 is the more romantic and scenic alternative to reach Chua Huong. The 45 minute boat ride on the Yen River is for some visitors the highlight of the trip.

The first stop of the boat trip will be Den Trinh (Registration Shrine), Symbolically, in former time, all visitors to Chua Huong should first "trinh" or register at the shrine to announce their intentions. The boat will arrive next at Thien Tru temple (heavenly kitchen), which is kind of “Outer Temple”, built in the 18th century. Thien Tru temple is embedded within hills and mountains. The rock formations in this area is also called “heavenly kitchen” as they – with some imagination - look like cooks working. Thien Tru temple is renowned for the Thuy Tien tower, a monolith of granite. To the right of Thien Tru temple is Tien Son grotto, famous for the five granite statues and the various formations on the walls of the cave. When you struck one of the formations, it sounds like a “khanh”, a Vietnamese percussion; some other sound like bells.

The visit continues to Dong Huong Tich (Huong Tich Cave or Inner Temple). The very scenic path leading to Dong Huong Tich has an endless number of steps, along narrow and bumpy stairs. According to a legend, the Huong Tich grotto was discovered 2000 years ago. The inscription "Nam Thien De Nhat Dong"  at the granite slab at the entrance means "the most beautiful grotto under southern sky". The grotto, which serves also religious events, has several colorful stalagmites and stalactites.