1. General introduction to Huong Pagoda

1.1. Strategic geographical location, convergence point between urban and nature

Huong Pagoda is located in [Huong Son commune, My Duc district, Hanoi] , about 60km southwest of the capital center. Thanks to its convenient location, from central Hanoi, visitors can easily travel by car, motorbike, bus, etc., then take boats along Yen Stream to reach Huong Pagoda tourism destinations.

Huong Pagoda is a scenic complex consisting of many temples, pagodas, shrines, mountains, caves, wildlife systems, and vegetation scattered across the villages of Yen Vi, Duc Khe, Hoi Xa, Tien Mai, Phu Yen, and Ha Doan in Huong Son commune.

Most of the relics are situated against mountainsides or deep in valleys with beautiful terrain that creates magnificent monuments. This natural arrangement helps the place maintain its wild, tranquil, and somewhat mysterious beauty.

The Huong Son complex is currently one of Vietnam's 21 National Tourism Areas and was recognized as a Special National Monument according to Decision 2082/QD-TTg in 2017.

1.2. Rich cultural and spiritual significance

1 - A major pilgrimage center associated with Buddhist beliefs

Huong Pagoda was once known as "Biet chiem nhat Nam thien" - the most beautiful scenic spot in the southern sky, famous for its complex of temples and caves spread across the Huong Son mountain range (My Duc, Hanoi). Huong Pagoda tourism also represents a typical spiritual pilgrimage center, closely connected to the cultural and religious life of Vietnamese people.

The complex includes dozens of pagodas, temples, and caves such as Thien Tru Pagoda, Giai Oan Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave, Trinh Temple, etc., representing the harmony of three major belief systems: Buddhism with the center of Quan The Am Bodhisattva worship, Taoism through the Mountain God temple, and folk beliefs with Mother Goddess worship. Each year, Huong Pagoda welcomes about 1.5 million visitors for worship, sightseeing, and festival participation.

2 - Features the Huong Pagoda Festival: Vietnam's longest festival

The Huong Pagoda Festival, held from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the third lunar month, is Vietnam's longest festival. The festival commemorates Quan The Am Bodhisattva and prays for national peace and prosperity, serving as an occasion to honor the distinctive folk cultural values of the Huong Son region.

The ceremonial part includes the official opening ceremony along with spiritual rituals such as incense offering, processions, meditation, etc., at sacred sites like Thien Tru Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave, and Giai Oan Stream. The festive part is vibrant with folk cultural activities such as cheo singing, chau van singing, water puppet shows, and traditional games like tug of war, pot breaking, wrestling, etc.

1.3. Huong Pagoda entrance fees

From January 1, 2025, Huong Pagoda tourism ticket prices have some changes:

• Sightseeing ticket prices remain unchanged.
• Boat ticket prices for various routes increased.
• Cable car ticket prices increased.
• Cable car tickets are not sold at shops below. Purchase entirely at the counter on the cable car station platform.

Specifically:

2. 4 things to note before visiting Huong Pagoda tourism

2.1. Best time to visit

Depending on your purpose of pilgrimage, sightseeing, or festival experience, you can consider the following time periods:

• First to second lunar month: The biggest festival season, crowded, vibrant, and sacred atmosphere.
  
• Third lunar month: Red cotton flowers bloom along Yen Stream, poetic scenery, cool weather, ideal for nature and sightseeing lovers.
  
• Ninth to twelfth lunar month: Huong Pagoda is peaceful, suitable for quiet pilgrimage.

2.2. Transportation from Hanoi

From central Hanoi city, visitors can choose various transportation means to reach Huong Pagoda tourism destinations such as:

• Motorbike: Suitable for visitors who like freedom of movement and exploration. Travel time about 2 hours 30 minutes.
  
• Car: Suitable for families, travel time about 1 hour 30 minutes.
  
• Bus: Route 211 from My Dinh to Te Tieu, then take a motorbike taxi to Duc dock.
  
• Tour package: Suitable if you want a complete package including entrance tickets, boat tickets, and tour guides.

Especially for visitors from Central or Southern Vietnam, airplane is the fastest choice to reach Hanoi, then continue the journey to Huong Pagoda. Visit [Vietnam Airlines] immediately to book flight tickets and choose flights suitable for your itinerary.

2.3. Attire, health, and necessary items

Visitors should prepare:

• Modest, proper clothing, sports shoes for convenient mountain climbing.
  
• Good physical condition, especially when choosing to walk as the journey will have many slopes, stone steps, and long travel time.
  
• Drinking water, light snacks, hat/cap, sunscreen, sufficient cash, fully charged camera or phone. As a day exploring Huong Pagoda can last from early morning to late afternoon, with many travel segments and unpredictable weather changes.

2.4. Offering items

Below are some offering trays commonly presented by people:

• Vegetarian offerings: Including incense, fresh flowers, lamps, tea, ripe fruits, sticky rice, sweet soup, offered at Buddha, Bodhisattva, or Holy Mother altars.
  
• Raw offerings: Including 5 duck eggs placed on a plate of salt rice, 2 chicken eggs in 2 small cups, 1 piece of raw pork scored into 5 parts but not cut apart, offered at the lower Cong Dong altar, where deities like Ngu Ho, Bach Xa, Thanh Xa are worshipped.
  
• Cooked offerings: Including boiled chicken, pig trotters, Vietnamese ham, cha (Vietnamese pork roll), sticky rice, wine, etc., offered at Cong Dong altar or Ngu Vi Ton Ong altar.
  
• Son Trang cooked feast: Including crab, snails, eel, chili, lime, sticky rice wine, sticky rice sweet soup (15 of each item symbolizing the 15 deities worshipped), offered at Son Trang altar, where female mountain and forest deities are worshipped.
  
• Thanh Hoang deity offerings: Pig trotters, sticky rice, gold paper money offered at village communal houses or local Thanh Hoang temples.
  
• Co, Cau altar offerings: Fruits, mirrors, combs, items symbolizing children.

3. Journey of worship and sightseeing at notable destinations

3.1. Duc dock

To explore Huong Pagoda tourism, visitors will buy tickets at Duc dock and begin their journey by boat along Yen Vi Stream. The romantic beauty of the winding stream amidst mountains and forests has become an endless source of inspiration, motivating countless poets and writers to create romantic and soaring verses about this Buddhist land.

3.2. Yen Stream

The stream stretches about 4km, winding through mountains, forests, and vast fields. The scenery on both banks changes with the seasons, creating spectacular scenes. Spring is brilliant with the red color of cotton flowers blooming everywhere, summer becomes green with new rice and grass.

The journey on Yen Stream takes visitors through cool green fields, winding around the foot of Huong Mountain. The peaceful space opens before your eyes, with Phoenix Mountain and Doi Cheo Mountain on the left with undulating shapes like a giant python. On the right is Ngu Nhac Mountain, Trinh Temple, where visitors light incense and send New Year prayers.

3.3. Trinh Temple

Located about 500m from Duc dock, Trinh Temple sits at the foot of Ngu Nhac Mountain. Trinh Temple worships General Tu Ma, a national guardian deity who greatly contributed to helping the Hung Kings protect the territory. Through historical upheavals, Trinh Temple was once destroyed by war. In 1992, the temple was reconstructed, maintaining its ancient and solemn appearance.

According to folk beliefs, before going deeper into the relic complex, visitors need to "present themselves" here. This ritual expresses reverence and is a request for peace and luck throughout the worship journey.

3.4. Thien Tru Pagoda

Thien Tru Pagoda is the first stop in the Huong Pagoda tourism journey and also where the annual Huong Pagoda festival opening ceremony takes place. The pagoda was built in the late 15th century under King Le Thanh Tong's reign and still maintains its ancient, solemn appearance amidst magnificent nature.

The pagoda architecture is designed in "Ngu mon tam cap" style, meaning five gates and three consecutive courtyards. From the Tam Quan gate, visitors enter the first spacious courtyard, paved with neat bricks. Here stands a bronze cauldron nearly 3m high, where pilgrims offer incense during major festivals. On both sides of Tam Quan are symmetrical bell and drum towers, creating classical symmetry in Eastern Buddhist architectural style.

Passing the first terrace leads to the second courtyard, one step higher, then to the third terrace at the highest level. The three courtyards are like three steps leading you into the pure space of Buddha land.

Behind Tam Bao is the Ancestral worship area, Holy Mother hall, and library pavilion. Each structure is connected by stone-paved walkways, convenient for visitors. The interior space is divided into multiple worship sections, surrounded by structures like monks' quarters, scripture halls, guest houses, storage houses, etc.

Within the pagoda grounds is also Vien Cong Precious Pagoda, a special structure made of ancient terracotta, built to commemorate Venerable Vien Cong, the first person credited with establishing the temple.

3.5. Huong Tich Cave

Huong Tich Cave is located over 2,000m from Thien Tru Pagoda and sits at about 390m above sea level. To reach the cave, visitors must traverse a quite long and steep mountain climbing route.

Upon arrival, you'll see the four words "Huong Tich dong mon" appearing on the stone arch at the entrance, along with a stone-paved path of 120 steps leading deep into the cave. Inside the cave, a green stone statue of Quan Am is solemnly placed in the central position. Going deeper, visitors feel like entering a world of stalactites in myriad shapes, some resembling "golden and silver trees," others swelling round like "mother's milk drops" that have dripped through years. Many visitors believe that touching these stalactite formations will bring luck and peace.

Particularly, the cave also has a "path to heaven" and "way to the underworld." These two symbolic images not only enrich visitors' experiences but also evoke multiple layers of meaning in Vietnamese spiritual life.

3.6. Long Van Cave

From Long Van dock, visitors walk about 150m to reach Long Van Pagoda. Following the path behind the pagoda, you'll reach Long Van Cave. Above the cave entrance are carved three Chinese characters "Long Van Dong." Inside, there's a small Tam Bao shrine worshipping Buddha.

In the cave is a deep cavern called Am Cave, where there are many strangely shaped rock formations, creating a mysterious and attractive space for exploration enthusiasts.

3.7. Tuyet Son Cave

Tuyet Son Cave is located on the mountainside, with rice fields and winding streams below, creating a rustic, peaceful scenery. The path leading to the cave is somewhat rough, with many ups and downs along the mountainside, but the scenery on both sides is very poetic, especially in spring when apricot gardens bloom white along the entire path.

Inside the cave is a naturally formed stalactite system, with stones curled together in patches, looking like the shape of a mysterious dragon's nest. The cave is divided into 2 main branches:

• Tam Bao: The Buddha worship area, notable for the large stalactite formation shaped like a Truong Tuyet tree. On the rock wall is carved the image of Princess Ngoc Huong, with soft facial features expressing gentleness.
  
• Mother Goddess Hall: With stone statues of co and cau (spiritual children), simple yet dignified.

3.8. Giai Oan Pagoda

Giai Oan Pagoda is located on the slope of Long Tuyen Mountain, about 2.5km from Huong Tich Cave. The pagoda grounds include the main hall, Tu Van Hermitage, Tam Bao hall on the right, and Phat Tich Hermitage on the left. In the hermitage area are Buddha's footprints imprinted on a large stone, beside a long stone strip extending down to the water, looking like a small waterfall in the mountain forest.

At the foot of the pagoda mountain is Giai Oan Stream, divided into nine small water channels. During rainy season, water flowing over stones creates gentle trickling sounds, like a harmony concert amidst wild nature.

5. Suggested 1-day itinerary for visiting Huong Pagoda

6. Enjoying distinctive cuisine at Huong Pagoda

Besides the sightseeing and worship journey, Huong Pagoda tourism in Hanoi is also an opportunity to discover the rustic, familiar yet very characteristic flavors of the Huong Son region.

• Huong Pagoda che lam: Made from glutinous rice flour, malt, ginger, and roasted peanuts, creating a sweet, lightly fragrant, soft taste that's not cloying.
  
• Arrowroot five-grain cake: Has a natural light brown color, with a crispy, buttery taste from various grains blended with arrowroot.
  
• Huong Pagoda apricots: Have thin skin, thick flesh, mildly sour taste, and natural pleasant aroma. Not only eaten fresh, apricots are also used for wine infusion, syrup making, or salted apricots.

Huong Pagoda tourism is not only a spiritual journey but also an opportunity to discover the harmonious beauty between culture, beliefs, and nature. With its poetic landscape, ancient architectural features, and sacred atmosphere, Huong Pagoda tourism remains a special destination in the hearts of both Vietnamese and international visitors.

If you're from afar and want to explore this sacred land, don't forget to book flight tickets with Vietnam Airlines for more convenient and secure departure for your upcoming trip.