Perfume Pagoda
A Complex Of Buddhist Temples And Shrines Built Into The Limestone Huong Son Mountains, Entered By A Boat Ride Along The Yen Stream. Vietnam'S Biggest Pilgrimage Destination, With A Festival From The First Lunar Month Through Spring That Draws Hundreds Of Thousands Of People. Chua Trong Is The Cave Temple At The Heart Of It · My Duc, Hanoi
The Perfume Pagoda, Chua Huong, is a cluster of Buddhist temples and shrines set into the limestone Huong Son mountains, about 60 km south-west of Hanoi. You do not drive to it. You board a small rowed sampan on the Yen Stream and drift for roughly an hour between paddies and karst, then climb a steep stepped path or ride a cable car to Huong Tich, the cave temple at the heart of the complex, where a stairway drops into a damp cavern lit by incense. It is Vietnam's largest pilgrimage, with a festival that runs from the first lunar month through roughly March, and on the peak days hundreds of thousands arrive, so the queues for boats and the cable car can last hours. Outside the festival the stream is calm and the shrines are nearly empty. The cave itself is small and plainer than the build-up suggests, and the sellers, extra fees and crowds can be tiring. Most visitors come on a day trip from Hanoi by tour or by bus.
Huong Son mountains, My Duc district, about 60 km south-west of Hanoi, reached by river boat from Yen Stream, My Duc, Hanoi, Vietnam
The complex is open daytime hours, with boats starting early in the morning and stopping by late afternoon, so plan to be back at the landing before dusk. The festival season, from about January to March, is the busiest and boats and the cable car may run longer. Outside it, hours are shorter and quieter. There is no night visit. Walking the village paths and watching the stream from the bank is FREE, but the entry ticket, boat and cable car are each paid separately. Nothing is closed on a fixed weekday, though heavy rain can halt boats. Hours and rules change, so confirm them before you travel.