Huong Pagoda – a unique spiritual destination of the north
The annual pilgrimage festival to Huong Pagoda, a great religious site as well as a scenic complex, some 65km to the west of downtown Hanoi, has officially opened after closing due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The annual pilgrimage festival to Huong Pagoda, a greatreligious site as well as a scenic complex, some 65km to the west of downtownHanoi, has officially opened after closing due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Huong (Perfume) Pagoda,located in Huong Son commune, My Duc district, consists of a vast complex of Buddhist templesand shrines built on limestone Huong Tich mountains.
Every year, the site hosts a large number of pilgrims from all over thecountry. The pilgrimage festival starts from the 6th day of the lunar year,while the peak of the festival falls between 15th day of the first lunar monthto 18th day of the second lunar month. Yet the spectacular landscape drawstourists also throughout the year.
Hundreds of pagodas and shrines are scattered along the Yen Stream including Chua Ngoai (Outer Pagoda) and Chua Trong (Inner Pagoda).
The centre of the complex is Huong Pagoda proper deep inside Huong Tich Cave.
Tourists take a boat trip from Duc Dock to Outer Pagoda, which was also namedTro Pagoda.
Kapok flowers at the dock (Photo: VNA)
Huong Pagoda was built at the end of 17th century inside Huong Tich Cave, whichwas then almost totally destroyed during the French invasion in 1947. In 1988,the pagoda was rebuilt by late monk Thich Thanh Chan.
Visitors will find the phrase “Huong Tich Dong Mon” (The Gate of Huong TichCave) carved at the entrance of the cave after taking a stone stairway of 120steps leading to the cave.
There remain traces of Tinh Do Vuong Trinh Sam (1739-1782), the 8th Lord of Trinhroyal reign ruling the north of Vietnam. He ordered to carve on stones five HanChinese characters when visiting the site in 1770.
Together with spiritual values, the site has lured tourists thanks to itsnatural landscape.
The Yen Stream with clear water surrounded with greenery of trees and plants.The site has its own attraction in different periods of the year with variousflowers like red kapok, orchid and plum flowers in spring, and waterlilies in autumn./.
Hanoi’s outlying My Duc district was ordered to suspend the annual Huong Pagoda Festival and stop receiving visitors in an attempt to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung has said.
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The entrance to the site (Photo: VNA) 
Kapok flowers at the dock (Photo: VNA) 
