Hanoi Tour Expert

Hanoi - Huong Pagoda 1 Day Tour

Huong Pagoda or Perfume Pagoda, ocated in Huong son (Perfume Mountain) about 70 km southwest of Hanoi, has a long history in Vietnamese literature. This temple, its name has been a theme of many songs, subject of poetry, used in literary works as well as backdrops for paintings.

Tour Program:

08 am: our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel then transfer to Perfume Pagoda. After about 2hrs traveling by bus, we will arrive Ben Duc boat harbor then we take one hour boat trip - rowed by local people on the stream named Yen. We will deeply enjoy the attractive mountain views mirror-image in the crystal water mirror of the stream en route and the nice rice paddies on sides. We get to the main Pagoda - Cave on the top of the highest mountain in the range by cable car to visit a beautiful cave in Huong pagoda’s complex.

After visiting the cave, we go down to a local restaurant for lunch. Then climb up a little bit to visit the largest and most beautiful pagoda in the complex near by. We get on the boat and go back to the harbor and then drive back to Hanoi. Tour ends.

Tour includes:
• Private transportation and transfers
• English or French speaking tour guide
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Admission fees and permits where applicable
• Services charges and government taxes
• Boat trip

Tour excludes:
• Pre & Post trip accommodation.
• Personal expenses
• Tips and Gratuities
• Travel insurance

Tour Price:

Perfume or Huong Pagoda General Information:

The Perfume Pagoda or "Chua Huong" in Vietnamese is the name of a collection of Buddhist pagodas which are very sacred to Vietnamese people of Buddhist faith, and an annual visit up here in springtime is a must to a lot of believers.

Located on the limestone rocks of Huong Son Mountain in beautiful and mystical surroundings, the pagodas are 70 km or two-hour driving out of Hanoi. Unlike other temples in Vietnam, the only way to reach this sanctuary is floating along a narrow but extremely poetic stream by rowing boats that takes 45 minutes. An iron boat can carry 3-5 people and a large wooden boat – up to 20 locals.

The stream is edged by rice, grass, small paths, and temples here and there. A local pilgrim can spend here traditionally three days to visit entirely the area and pray at all the temples. The first temple they often stop is called Den Trinh (i.e. The Shrine for First Presenting), where Vietnamese burn the first jossticks to inform the local deities about their presence and pray for a good trip and good luck for the year ahead. If you are anxious to reach the main Wharf of Huong Son mountain to start the uphill trip to see the Main Grotto of Huong Tich, you may skip this temple, especially in the peak season between January and early April.

The uphill trip takes an hour climbing on the ancient flat and sometime slippery stones, which have been here thousand years ago. The road is "breathtaking" in all aspects – you will have some exercise, and at the same time have chance to take some stops to contemplate beautiful scenery and daily life of local farmers, who plant cassava and apricots in the valleys, who run quickly on the slippery stone with their burdens of tapioca, apricots or medicinal herbs whilst you are careful with your steps. The main pagoda is set in a huge grotto containing a highly decorative shrine. Each stalactite and stalagmite inside, which are soaked by undercurrent, is combined with a legend about its miracle and good luck. Most of them became small shrines by now. Remember that the stone grotto is huge and very cool, so stop for a while at the entrance to dry your sweat before coming in.
The main festive days of Chua Huong stretches from January to early April, busy and exciting. Sometimes it's drizzling and the Vietnamese all believe that the real good things will reach you if you catch rainwater after praying in a sacred pagoda. And among all the sacred temples and pagodas in Northern Vietnam, Chua Huong is even more attractive and mysterious not only for its spectacular scenery, but for the painstaking road you passed over to reach to the top.