Perfume Pagoda – The Best Place For A Spring Pilgrimage In Vietnam

Perfume Pagoda (Huong Pagoda) in the outskirt of Hanoi has long acclaimed its reputation as a top sacred destination in Vietnam. Numerous flocks of both domestic and international travelers from different parts of the world come here each year to take a pilgrimage to the Buddhist world as well as to revel in the picture-book landscapes of this land. 

Down below is the detailed guideline for a Vietnam culture tour to the Perfume Pagoda. This blog post contains everything you need to know about this place, so don’t miss it out!

1. Where is Perfume Pagoda Vietnam? 

The Perfume Pagoda is a large complex of pagodas, temples, and shrines on Huong Son Mountain. It is located on the right bank of Day River in the area of Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi.
How far is Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi? It is roughly 70 km from the city center, and it takes more than 1-hour driving to get there. 

Thanks to its location that is quite close to Hanoi, the peaceful Perfume Pagoda is a favorite place where the Hanoians and people of other northern provinces come for a weekend getaway from the bustling life. 

2. Best time to visit the Perfume Pagoda.

When to take a private tour to Huong Pagoda? Well…it depends.
For people who want to feel the ecstatic vibe of the biggest religious event in the North, spring is the best time to travel. You can go there in the first 3 months of the Vietnamese New Year (often from mid January to April) when the pagoda is on its festive season. However, kindly notice that because spring is the time for pilgrimage in Vietnam, it would be crowded with flocks of people for sure. 

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

In contrast, if you look for the tranquil atmosphere and the main aim of traveling is for sightseeing, then come there in October and November. At that time, the gem-blue Yen Stream is dotted with the purple of the lily flowers, creating an exceptionally poetic scenery to immerse yourself in. Furthermore, it is less crowded, thus you could feel the sacred vibe of the pagoda in the most authentic way. 

3. How to get there from Hanoi?

How to take a Perfume Pagoda tour from Hanoi?

There are different ways to travel to Perfume Pagoda. If you get there from Hanoi, you could choose either to take a public bus, ride a motorbike, or take a private car there. 

Public bus to Perfume Pagoda

There is a public bus No. 103 that drive from My Dinh Bus Station to Perfume Pagoda and back. The bus operates from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day with a frequency of 15 minutes/trip. Regarding the cost, it can’t be a cheaper choice with only a 9.000 VND/one-way ticket/person. This is a very economical choice; however, it entails several inconveniences. You will have to share spaces with strangers and in a worse case, when it’s too crowded, you will have no seat to sit down during the 1-hour-long trip. 

Source: Wiki

Motorbike

Riding the scooters and motorbike is a favorable choice of local youngsters and intrepid travelers. We do not recommend taking this option because the air pollution in Hanoi these days is too severe and the route is not easy to find, also. And we bet you can’t bear the awful traffic in Hanoi, also.  

Private car

The safest, quickest, and most comfortable way to get from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda is to have a private car. If you are taking a tour, either a 1-day trip or an overnight excursion, with a luxury tour operator, you will transit on their luxury private car. That’s the best choice to opt for. 

How to travel within the heritage?

Still, a 10hour driving won’t take you to the pagoda directly. After this journey, you’ve reached the entrance of the heritage only. From the entrance where you buy the tickets, you will then board a rowboat at Duc Wharf and glide along Yen Stream to get to the main sites. This waterway is approximately 4 km long, and it will take from 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to the wharf that opens the way to the pagoda.
Along the voyage on Yen Stream, tourists will glide across the Trinh Temple and several mountains of different shapes. Listen to the boat riders carefully as they will tell you about the origin and legends of these sites. 

Yen Stream | Source: Danviet

Different routes to discover Perfume Pagoda

– Huong Tich: Trinh Temple – Thien Tru Pagoda – Tien Son Cave – Giai Oan Pagoda – Tran Song Temple – Huong Tich Cave – Hinh Bong Pagoda
– Thanh Son: Thanh Son Pagoda – Huong Dai Cave
– Long Van: Long Van Pagoda – Long Van Cave – Sung Sam Grotto
– Tuyet Son: Bao Dai Pagoda – Chua Ca Cave – Tuyen Son Cave

Among them, the route to Huong Tich Cave is the main and most-picked one. It includes the top famous and important sites of the whole complex. If you are on a 1-day tour, then you should opt for this route. If you have more time to stay there overnight, you can explore other routes in the next days.
The boat trip cost is just 35,000 – 50,000 VND/person/round trip, depending on the route you’ll choose. However, as riding the boat with 5 adults on it is an exhausting job, it is a “should” to tip the ferry women when you finish the trip. 

Perfume Pagoda Cable Car

Once you get to the pier, you will then hike up the mountain to reach the temples and pagodas. The farthest and highest destination is Huong Tich Cave on the top of the mountain. You can choose either to take a cable car or to hike there.
Regarding the cable car to the cave, it takes only a few minutes to get there, which is far more comfortable than spending 30 minutes to an hour climbing up the steep steps leading to the mountain peak. It will offer a bird’s eye view of the whole complex and its surrounding mountains, also. 

The cable car price is 180,000 VND/adult/round trip and 120,000 VND/one-way. For kids, the prices are 120,000 VND and 90,000 VND respectively.
If you love to explore the pagodas and temples in a closer approach, then choose a hiking tour instead. This way is also a good way to behold the beautiful natural scenery on Huong Son Mountain. 

DISCOVER NOW!

4. History of the Perfume Pagoda.

Perfume Pagoda’s history dates back to the late 17th century. According to the pagoda’s history book, it was established during the reign of Emperor Le Huy Tong (1680 – 1704). During the Independence War in the 20th century, it was severely damaged. It was later on reconstructed by Venerable Thich Vien Thanh in 1988. 

Source: Wiki

Papers also reveal that this Perfume Pagoda is a copy of Huong Tich Pagoda in Central Vietnam. Huong Tich Pagoda (also means Perfume Pagoda) is an ancient pagoda high on Huong Tich Peak of Hong Linh Mountain Range, Ha Tinh Province. This place is closely tied to the legend of Princess Dieu Thien, who later enlightened and became Avalokiteśvara – a Buddhist deity. Legend has it that the sacred tiger protected Princess Dieu Thien on her way to Hong Linh Mountain Range, where she settled down in a cave and practiced Buddhism. The pagoda in Ha Tinh Province is believed to date back to the 13th century, which means it appeared much sooner than the one in Hanoi. 

Source: Wiki

So, why is there another “Perfume Pagoda” in the North? Under the Le – Trinh reign, most kings and lords and their concubines are from Hoan Chau Region (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh Provinces today). Every year, when the spring comes, they often took a pilgrimage to Huong Tich Pagoda to attend its festival as well as to enjoy the beauty of Hoan Chau landscapes. As this pagoda is located too far from the Forbidden City, to travel there would be both dangerous and time-wasting. Therefore, Trinh Lords had a monk to survey the mountains of Ha Son Binh and built the second Perfume Pagoda there to make it easier for the concubines to travel. And that’s how the pagoda in Hanoi was born.

5. Perfume Pagoda Festival – a must-attend for Vietnam culture tours.

It would be a huge regret to miss the Huong Pagoda Festival when taking culture tours in Vietnam in the spring. The festival is considered one of the biggest religious events that occur after the Lunar New Year in the north in particular and in Vietnam in general. 

When is the Perfume Pagoda Festival?

Annually, the Perfume Pagoda Festival takes place from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the 6th day of the third lunar month. The main festival occurs from the 15th to the 20th of the second lunar month. The pagoda welcomes millions of Buddhist pilgrims and visitors during this period of each year. 

Source: Baodulich.net

Who is the festival dedicated to?

The Festival is celebrated to worship a princess named Dieu Thien, who practiced Buddhism, incarnated, and reached enlightenment in Huong Tich Cave, which is a grotto on Huong Son Mountain. She is said to have not only protected her parents and sisters from the devils but also protected the country from war. She was canonized as Avalokitesvara – one of the Buddhist deities.

Besides the main Buddhist activities, the festival is also a chance to show respect to the ancestors as well as to Mother Nature. Along the way to the pagoda, there are several shrines and temples where the locals worship the Goddess of the Mountains, the Sacred Animals, and so on. The pilgrims would then stop by these places to show their respect and to pray. 

What to do during the festival?

Unlike many of Vietnamese festivals which see traditional activities as the center, Huong Pagoda Festival is more about a combination of sightseeing tour and pilgrimage. On the 6th day of the 1st lunar month, the bell rings to mark the beginning of the festival. Several spiritual events take place during the festival, namely the incense offering ceremony, the procession, and the Zen ceremony. People lead their ways to the pagodas and shrines to worship the Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and other Buddhist deities and ask for favors from them. Vietnamese people come to pray for a healthy, happy, and wealthy year. Moreover, the Perfume Pagoda is also believed to be a sacred place where people who are less fortunate in giving birth come to pray for their fertility. 

Source: Ereka

On the whole, this festival is not only dedicated to Buddhism but the whole Three Teachings that most Vietnamese people follow. It is an aggregate of 03 different religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. These religions have deep-rooted in the spiritual mind of the Vietnamese.
Therefore, although the hundreds of steps upward the mountain seem to be a tough route and hard to carry, pilgrims and visitors think it all worthwhile. They believe the bigger their determination is, the more luck they would get.

The festival also offers travelers a chance to conquer the spectacular landscapes of the surrounding area. A boat cruise along Yen Stream will provide you a wonderful view over the area, where you can feel the tranquility and peace of the Vietnamese countryside, which is 100% opposite to the hustle and bustle of the city life.

DISCOVER NOW!

6. Top destinations to visit in Perfume Pagoda.

After times, the Perfume Pagoda nowadays is not just a small pagoda and a cave. It is a large complex of different Buddhist pagodas, temples, and shrines. The followings are the top places that you shouldn’t forget to visit. 

Den Trinh

Den Trinh, which is about 300 meters from Duc Wharf, is the very first stop for the Perfume Pagoda. The shrine is located at the foot of Ngu Nhac Mountain, worshipping General Tu Ma who helped a Hung King protect the nation from outside invaders. The temple was severely destroyed during the war against the French colonizers in the 20th century and was rebuilt in 1992. 

Source: Mapio.net

Thien Tru Pagoda

The first destination that you will visit after getting out of the boat is Thien Tru Pagoda (Heaven Kitchen), which is also known as Chua Ngoai (the Outer Pagoda). It is one of the main sites of the whole complex and is where the festival opening ceremony takes place. Additional to the special architecture and religious value, Thien Tru Pagoda also houses Vien Cong Bao Stupa – where Zen Master Vien Quang – the one that established the pagoda is buried. 

Source: Wiki

Giai Oan Pagoda

En route to Huong Tich Grotto, you will come across Giai Oan Pagoda, whose name means “the pagoda for exculpation”. The highlighted spot of this pagoda is the Thien Nhien Thanh Tri Pond (literally “the pond with natural blue water”) and Giai Oan Stream that comes from 9 sources. Close to the pagoda are Tuyet Kinh Cave and Phat Tich Cave, where locates the footprint of the Avalokitesvara. 

Huong Tich Cave

This is the heart of the whole heritage. It is home to Chua Trong (the Inner Pagoda) that houses the statues of Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and other Buddhist deities. This grotto possesses several stalactites and stalagmites that resemble different things in life. People believe these things are sacred so they tend to rub it and pray when visiting there. 

7. Must-try activities in Perfume Pagoda

Take a pilgrimage to the sacred temples and pagodas during the festival

If you are planning to take a North Vietnam culture tour to the Perfume Pagoda, remember to attend its festival. That big event lasts for 3 months and is among the biggest ritual events in Vietnam in spring. Not only is it a time to look at the tradition and culture of the northern people but it is also an opportunity to participate in several fascinating traditional games and activities like the rice-cooking contest, the tug of war, and so on.  

Witness the beauty of lily flowers on Yen Stream in late Fall

When the very first cold breezes blow, Yen Stream puts on its best dress to turn everyone’s head from the very first look. Between October and November, the lily flowers start to bloom, covering the stream with the gorgeous purple color. 

Different from the hustle and bustle of the festival season in the spring, it’s quieter and more tranquil in late autumn, making it perfect for a sightseeing tour. Coming here, you can easily catch the image of the Vietnamese girls in their traditional “Ao Dai” shooting photos with the romantic purple flowers. 

The lilies blossom early in the morning when the mist is still covering the stream and will fade when the sun hangs high. Hence, if you want to have the quintessential photos, wake up early and get to the stream at around 7 – 9 AM. 

8. Suggested Tour To Perfume Pagoda Hanoi. 

If you love to explore the beauty and cultural value of this pagoda but don’t know where to start, don’t worry as LuxuryTravel is here. We organize several tours to the Perfume Pagoda and other interesting destinations in North Vietnam, either a day trip or a long-day tour. Let’s take a look at some of our best tours.

And in case you want to have a specially-designed travel program, contact us directly. We will support in making the best itinerary ever for your vacation. 

Why hesitate? Drop us a line NOW! 

Contact Us:

Address: No.456, Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
Email: sales@luxurytravelvietnam.com
Hotline: (+84) 1234 68 69 96
Website: https://luxurytravelvietnam.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

 

The post Perfume Pagoda – The Best Place For A Spring Pilgrimage In Vietnam appeared first on Luxury Travel's Blog.

Perfume Pagoda – The Best Place For A Spring Pilgrimage In Vietnam

Perfume Pagoda (Huong Pagoda) in the outskirt of Hanoi has long acclaimed its reputation as a top sacred destination in Vietnam. Numerous flocks of both domestic and international travelers from different parts of the world come here each year to take a pilgrimage to the Buddhist world as well as to revel in the picture-book landscapes of this land. 

Down below is the detailed guideline for a Vietnam culture tour to the Perfume Pagoda. This blog post contains everything you need to know about this place, so don’t miss it out!

1. Where is Perfume Pagoda Vietnam? 

The Perfume Pagoda is a large complex of pagodas, temples, and shrines on Huong Son Mountain. It is located on the right bank of Day River in the area of Huong Son Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi.
How far is Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi? It is roughly 70 km from the city center, and it takes more than 1-hour driving to get there. 

Thanks to its location that is quite close to Hanoi, the peaceful Perfume Pagoda is a favorite place where the Hanoians and people of other northern provinces come for a weekend getaway from the bustling life. 

2. Best time to visit the Perfume Pagoda.

When to take a private tour to Huong Pagoda? Well…it depends.
For people who want to feel the ecstatic vibe of the biggest religious event in the North, spring is the best time to travel. You can go there in the first 3 months of the Vietnamese New Year (often from mid January to April) when the pagoda is on its festive season. However, kindly notice that because spring is the time for pilgrimage in Vietnam, it would be crowded with flocks of people for sure. 

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

In contrast, if you look for the tranquil atmosphere and the main aim of traveling is for sightseeing, then come there in October and November. At that time, the gem-blue Yen Stream is dotted with the purple of the lily flowers, creating an exceptionally poetic scenery to immerse yourself in. Furthermore, it is less crowded, thus you could feel the sacred vibe of the pagoda in the most authentic way. 

3. How to get there from Hanoi?

How to take a Perfume Pagoda tour from Hanoi?

There are different ways to travel to Perfume Pagoda. If you get there from Hanoi, you could choose either to take a public bus, ride a motorbike, or take a private car there. 

Public bus to Perfume Pagoda

There is a public bus No. 103 that drive from My Dinh Bus Station to Perfume Pagoda and back. The bus operates from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day with a frequency of 15 minutes/trip. Regarding the cost, it can’t be a cheaper choice with only a 9.000 VND/one-way ticket/person. This is a very economical choice; however, it entails several inconveniences. You will have to share spaces with strangers and in a worse case, when it’s too crowded, you will have no seat to sit down during the 1-hour-long trip. 

Source: Wiki

Motorbike

Riding the scooters and motorbike is a favorable choice of local youngsters and intrepid travelers. We do not recommend taking this option because the air pollution in Hanoi these days is too severe and the route is not easy to find, also. And we bet you can’t bear the awful traffic in Hanoi, also.  

Private car

The safest, quickest, and most comfortable way to get from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda is to have a private car. If you are taking a tour, either a 1-day trip or an overnight excursion, with a luxury tour operator, you will transit on their luxury private car. That’s the best choice to opt for. 

How to travel within the heritage?

Still, a 10hour driving won’t take you to the pagoda directly. After this journey, you’ve reached the entrance of the heritage only. From the entrance where you buy the tickets, you will then board a rowboat at Duc Wharf and glide along Yen Stream to get to the main sites. This waterway is approximately 4 km long, and it will take from 45 minutes to 1 hour to get to the wharf that opens the way to the pagoda.
Along the voyage on Yen Stream, tourists will glide across the Trinh Temple and several mountains of different shapes. Listen to the boat riders carefully as they will tell you about the origin and legends of these sites. 

Yen Stream | Source: Danviet

Different routes to discover Perfume Pagoda

– Huong Tich: Trinh Temple – Thien Tru Pagoda – Tien Son Cave – Giai Oan Pagoda – Tran Song Temple – Huong Tich Cave – Hinh Bong Pagoda
– Thanh Son: Thanh Son Pagoda – Huong Dai Cave
– Long Van: Long Van Pagoda – Long Van Cave – Sung Sam Grotto
– Tuyet Son: Bao Dai Pagoda – Chua Ca Cave – Tuyen Son Cave

Among them, the route to Huong Tich Cave is the main and most-picked one. It includes the top famous and important sites of the whole complex. If you are on a 1-day tour, then you should opt for this route. If you have more time to stay there overnight, you can explore other routes in the next days.
The boat trip cost is just 35,000 – 50,000 VND/person/round trip, depending on the route you’ll choose. However, as riding the boat with 5 adults on it is an exhausting job, it is a “should” to tip the ferry women when you finish the trip. 

Perfume Pagoda Cable Car

Once you get to the pier, you will then hike up the mountain to reach the temples and pagodas. The farthest and highest destination is Huong Tich Cave on the top of the mountain. You can choose either to take a cable car or to hike there.
Regarding the cable car to the cave, it takes only a few minutes to get there, which is far more comfortable than spending 30 minutes to an hour climbing up the steep steps leading to the mountain peak. It will offer a bird’s eye view of the whole complex and its surrounding mountains, also. 

The cable car price is 180,000 VND/adult/round trip and 120,000 VND/one-way. For kids, the prices are 120,000 VND and 90,000 VND respectively.
If you love to explore the pagodas and temples in a closer approach, then choose a hiking tour instead. This way is also a good way to behold the beautiful natural scenery on Huong Son Mountain. 

DISCOVER NOW!

4. History of the Perfume Pagoda.

Perfume Pagoda’s history dates back to the late 17th century. According to the pagoda’s history book, it was established during the reign of Emperor Le Huy Tong (1680 – 1704). During the Independence War in the 20th century, it was severely damaged. It was later on reconstructed by Venerable Thich Vien Thanh in 1988. 

Source: Wiki

Papers also reveal that this Perfume Pagoda is a copy of Huong Tich Pagoda in Central Vietnam. Huong Tich Pagoda (also means Perfume Pagoda) is an ancient pagoda high on Huong Tich Peak of Hong Linh Mountain Range, Ha Tinh Province. This place is closely tied to the legend of Princess Dieu Thien, who later enlightened and became Avalokiteśvara – a Buddhist deity. Legend has it that the sacred tiger protected Princess Dieu Thien on her way to Hong Linh Mountain Range, where she settled down in a cave and practiced Buddhism. The pagoda in Ha Tinh Province is believed to date back to the 13th century, which means it appeared much sooner than the one in Hanoi. 

Source: Wiki

So, why is there another “Perfume Pagoda” in the North? Under the Le – Trinh reign, most kings and lords and their concubines are from Hoan Chau Region (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh Provinces today). Every year, when the spring comes, they often took a pilgrimage to Huong Tich Pagoda to attend its festival as well as to enjoy the beauty of Hoan Chau landscapes. As this pagoda is located too far from the Forbidden City, to travel there would be both dangerous and time-wasting. Therefore, Trinh Lords had a monk to survey the mountains of Ha Son Binh and built the second Perfume Pagoda there to make it easier for the concubines to travel. And that’s how the pagoda in Hanoi was born.

5. Perfume Pagoda Festival – a must-attend for Vietnam culture tours.

It would be a huge regret to miss the Huong Pagoda Festival when taking culture tours in Vietnam in the spring. The festival is considered one of the biggest religious events that occur after the Lunar New Year in the north in particular and in Vietnam in general. 

When is the Perfume Pagoda Festival?

Annually, the Perfume Pagoda Festival takes place from the 6th day of the first lunar month to the 6th day of the third lunar month. The main festival occurs from the 15th to the 20th of the second lunar month. The pagoda welcomes millions of Buddhist pilgrims and visitors during this period of each year. 

Source: Baodulich.net

Who is the festival dedicated to?

The Festival is celebrated to worship a princess named Dieu Thien, who practiced Buddhism, incarnated, and reached enlightenment in Huong Tich Cave, which is a grotto on Huong Son Mountain. She is said to have not only protected her parents and sisters from the devils but also protected the country from war. She was canonized as Avalokitesvara – one of the Buddhist deities.

Besides the main Buddhist activities, the festival is also a chance to show respect to the ancestors as well as to Mother Nature. Along the way to the pagoda, there are several shrines and temples where the locals worship the Goddess of the Mountains, the Sacred Animals, and so on. The pilgrims would then stop by these places to show their respect and to pray. 

What to do during the festival?

Unlike many of Vietnamese festivals which see traditional activities as the center, Huong Pagoda Festival is more about a combination of sightseeing tour and pilgrimage. On the 6th day of the 1st lunar month, the bell rings to mark the beginning of the festival. Several spiritual events take place during the festival, namely the incense offering ceremony, the procession, and the Zen ceremony. People lead their ways to the pagodas and shrines to worship the Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and other Buddhist deities and ask for favors from them. Vietnamese people come to pray for a healthy, happy, and wealthy year. Moreover, the Perfume Pagoda is also believed to be a sacred place where people who are less fortunate in giving birth come to pray for their fertility. 

Source: Ereka

On the whole, this festival is not only dedicated to Buddhism but the whole Three Teachings that most Vietnamese people follow. It is an aggregate of 03 different religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. These religions have deep-rooted in the spiritual mind of the Vietnamese.
Therefore, although the hundreds of steps upward the mountain seem to be a tough route and hard to carry, pilgrims and visitors think it all worthwhile. They believe the bigger their determination is, the more luck they would get.

The festival also offers travelers a chance to conquer the spectacular landscapes of the surrounding area. A boat cruise along Yen Stream will provide you a wonderful view over the area, where you can feel the tranquility and peace of the Vietnamese countryside, which is 100% opposite to the hustle and bustle of the city life.

DISCOVER NOW!

6. Top destinations to visit in Perfume Pagoda.

After times, the Perfume Pagoda nowadays is not just a small pagoda and a cave. It is a large complex of different Buddhist pagodas, temples, and shrines. The followings are the top places that you shouldn’t forget to visit. 

Den Trinh

Den Trinh, which is about 300 meters from Duc Wharf, is the very first stop for the Perfume Pagoda. The shrine is located at the foot of Ngu Nhac Mountain, worshipping General Tu Ma who helped a Hung King protect the nation from outside invaders. The temple was severely destroyed during the war against the French colonizers in the 20th century and was rebuilt in 1992. 

Source: Mapio.net

Thien Tru Pagoda

The first destination that you will visit after getting out of the boat is Thien Tru Pagoda (Heaven Kitchen), which is also known as Chua Ngoai (the Outer Pagoda). It is one of the main sites of the whole complex and is where the festival opening ceremony takes place. Additional to the special architecture and religious value, Thien Tru Pagoda also houses Vien Cong Bao Stupa – where Zen Master Vien Quang – the one that established the pagoda is buried. 

Source: Wiki

Giai Oan Pagoda

En route to Huong Tich Grotto, you will come across Giai Oan Pagoda, whose name means “the pagoda for exculpation”. The highlighted spot of this pagoda is the Thien Nhien Thanh Tri Pond (literally “the pond with natural blue water”) and Giai Oan Stream that comes from 9 sources. Close to the pagoda are Tuyet Kinh Cave and Phat Tich Cave, where locates the footprint of the Avalokitesvara. 

Huong Tich Cave

This is the heart of the whole heritage. It is home to Chua Trong (the Inner Pagoda) that houses the statues of Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and other Buddhist deities. This grotto possesses several stalactites and stalagmites that resemble different things in life. People believe these things are sacred so they tend to rub it and pray when visiting there. 

7. Must-try activities in Perfume Pagoda

Take a pilgrimage to the sacred temples and pagodas during the festival

If you are planning to take a North Vietnam culture tour to the Perfume Pagoda, remember to attend its festival. That big event lasts for 3 months and is among the biggest ritual events in Vietnam in spring. Not only is it a time to look at the tradition and culture of the northern people but it is also an opportunity to participate in several fascinating traditional games and activities like the rice-cooking contest, the tug of war, and so on.  

Witness the beauty of lily flowers on Yen Stream in late Fall

When the very first cold breezes blow, Yen Stream puts on its best dress to turn everyone’s head from the very first look. Between October and November, the lily flowers start to bloom, covering the stream with the gorgeous purple color. 

Different from the hustle and bustle of the festival season in the spring, it’s quieter and more tranquil in late autumn, making it perfect for a sightseeing tour. Coming here, you can easily catch the image of the Vietnamese girls in their traditional “Ao Dai” shooting photos with the romantic purple flowers. 

The lilies blossom early in the morning when the mist is still covering the stream and will fade when the sun hangs high. Hence, if you want to have the quintessential photos, wake up early and get to the stream at around 7 – 9 AM. 

8. Suggested Tour To Perfume Pagoda Hanoi. 

If you love to explore the beauty and cultural value of this pagoda but don’t know where to start, don’t worry as LuxuryTravel is here. We organize several tours to the Perfume Pagoda and other interesting destinations in North Vietnam, either a day trip or a long-day tour. Let’s take a look at some of our best tours.

And in case you want to have a specially-designed travel program, contact us directly. We will support in making the best itinerary ever for your vacation. 

Why hesitate? Drop us a line NOW! 

Contact Us:

Address: No.456, Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
Email: sales@luxurytravelvietnam.com
Hotline: (+84) 1234 68 69 96
Website: https://luxurytravelvietnam.com

Plan Your Trip Here!

 

The post Perfume Pagoda – The Best Place For A Spring Pilgrimage In Vietnam appeared first on Luxury Travel's Blog.

Binh Tay market – How to not being scammed in one of the biggest market in Ho Chi Minh city?

1. About Binh Tay market

a. General information

Address: 57A Thap Muoi, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City

Open hours: 6 am – 7 pm daily for the main market, but for the outdoor wet market street – about 5 am – 9 am.

What people say about Binh Tay market:

•  A nice place to visit and wander
•  Bargainers paradise
•  The world of wholesalers
•  Ideal for a cultural experience

b. History

Source: Manh Hai (Flickr)

Binh Tay Market (Cholon Chinatown Market means “big market”), one of the biggest markets in Saigon is established by the French since the 1880s. It is located in the centre of Vietnam’s largest Chinatown area as the major business hub and attraction in Saigon’s Chinatown.

Unlike Ben Thanh Market in District 1 for foreigners, Binh Tay market is the gathering place of the local population with its diversity of fresh fruits, vegetables, food, seafood and specialties from different regions across Vietnam, especially from Mekong Delta.

Tourists can also find an assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, and textiles sold in bulk. Along with the interesting culture of Cholon Chinatown, Binh Tay is also an amazing place for experiencing the Southern local lifestyle and especially the unique Vietnamese-Chinese delicacies. Despite being designed by a French architect, Binh Tay features a gorgeous mix of Chinese and French style with its lotus-flower shaped roofs, its belfry and its clocks.

In the late 18th century, Cho Lon Market was growing bigger and bigger as many retailers and wholesalers from different places of the South, and even from Cambodia came to do business. Cho Lon became cramped and could not develop anymore so the government planned to establish a new one. However, there was no place for this plan. At that time, Quach Dam bought a large marshy land of 25,000 m2, flattened and built a new market on its ground as a gift for Saigon Government. Quach Dam didn’t require anything from the market, but he asked to build some blocks of floor surrounding the market and erected the statue in the middle of the market after his death. Unfortunately, Binh Tay Market was not active till 1930 due to the Quach Dam’s death in 1927.

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

When traveling to Binh Tay, you can admire the Chinese architecture in the shape of bagua (a Chinese religious motif incorporating the eight trigrams of the I Ching, typically arranged octagonally around a symbol denoting the balance of yin and yang, or around a mirror) with 12 different gates in four directions. Sophisticated patterns of Cho Lon have still existed for nearly 100 years. The main gate covered by yin-yang tiles with overlapping style to create ventilation is opposite to Cho Lon bus station. Binh Tay market is on the gateway to the Southwestern provinces, which is convenient for transportation of goods from this area to Ho Chi Minh. There is a spacious ground for guests to rest overlooking the four dragons spraying water into the lake and 4 unicorns at the door. The roofs at the corners of the market are decorated with winding dragons and phoenixes in accordance with the typical architecture of Oriental pagodas.

Along with the market, there are plentiful food stalls selling a variety of Southern Vietnamese dishes at very reasonable prices to serve the visitors and small traders. The market is also vibrant and romantic under the red lanterns swinging in front of the wind at night. It is not only an important trading place but also one of the amazing attractions for locals and foreigners.

Binh Tay was officially recognized by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City as architectural relic in 2015. Although supermarkets and shopping malls are densely increasing, Binh Tay Market remains one of the largest wholesale markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Binh Tay market has been still with time and always the pride of the Chinese community in Saigon over the past 100 years.

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c. How to get Saigon’s Binh Tay market

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

The best time for wandering Binh Tay market is in the morning when the locals come to have breakfast and buy fresh food as well as household supplies.

By Motorcycle taxi: 15-minute xe om ride from Saigon center.

By Taxi: 110,000 VND from Ben Thanh Market – about 15 minutes.

By Bus:

• Take Bus No.01 on Tran Hung Dao street, District 1
• Go with bus No. 01 to Cho Lon station (Bến xe Chợ Lớn)
• Get off bus at Cho Lon Station Walk to Binh Tay Market.

2. What to buy in Binh Tay market?

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

As one of the biggest and cheapest markets in Saigon, it is the gathering place of wholesalers in Southern Vietnam so many retailers come to buy their wholesale goods and sell them on at other markets around the city. You can choose Binh Tay to cut out the middleman and shop here yourself, but learn to make bargain.

Over 2,300 stalls have created an electrifying atmosphere in Binh Tay, and plied with various wares such as dried shrimp, fragrant rice, handmade soaps, discount woks and papaws in Chinatown’s masses.

3. What to eat in Binh Tay market?

Binh Tay market has long been a favorite breakfast spot of the locals with hundreds of food stalls selling Vietnamese staples ranging from the North to the South in the market including Pho, Bun Bo Hue (with rice noodles, beef, pork sausage, herbs and spices, and a broth with a salty, sour, and spicy), Goi Cuon (Spring rolls), Banh Beo, Com Ga (Chicken rice) or Com Tam (Broken rice) and Chinese-influenced delicacies like Man Thau (steamed buns with pork or chicken, onions, eggs, mushrooms, and vegetables).

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

Significantly influenced by Chinese culture, popular dishes here include Chinese-style roast duck, Pha Lau (pig’s organs), black chicken braised with Chinese medicine, and fish curry. The unique taste and sophisticated cooking will definitely satisfy even the pickiest customers.

A courtyard is in the middle of the marketplace with a stone altar commemorating Guangdong-born philanthropist Quach Dam, the founder of Binh Tay market.

The market is laid out in sections and there is a map at the front of the market to help navigate. There are many stalls selling a large array of foods such as nuts, sweets, rice, noodles, and dried mushrooms, as well as pre-prepared salads and pickled vegetables.

So we can visit Binh Tay market for breakfast, for wholesaling and for bargain making skills of Vietnam locals.

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

4. Tips & tricks for not being scammed in Binh Tay market

a. Pickpockets

Be careful with pickpockets – Pay attention to your belongings when you are wandering around both Binh Tay Market and any other parts of Saigon.

b. Bargaining

As Binh Tay is the place for wholesalers and retailers so when you buy something as souvenirs, bear in mind to make bargain as foreigners are used to be overcharged.

5. Nearby attractions

a. Cha Tam Church

Cha Tam Church (Church of St. Francisco Javier) is an old Chinese temples’ style church since 1902. Cha Tam remains active till these days. Cha Tam Church has Gothique design, but it still has featured the horizontal lacquered boards of Chinese culture style in the interiors.

The church reflects the European churches like Roman Catholic Parish Church in Ho Chi Minh City with a distinctive colonial façade in pastel yellow and white.

The tower holds the statue of Tam Assou, a Chinese born vicar apostolate or representative of the Pope. He took care of the Chinese Catholics affairs in the Cho Lon neighborhood of Ho Chi Minh city. A daily mass is held and the congregation consists of 3000 Vietnamese and 2000 ethnic Chinese parishioners.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7am – 12pm / 2pm – 6pm / 7pm – 9pm

b. Phuoc An Hoi Quan

Another must-see destination around Binh Tay market is Phuoc An Hoi Quan, one of the most beautiful ornamental temples in Cholon dedicated to Chinese general Quan Cong since 1902.

When travelling to Phuoc An Hoi Quan, you will feel relaxing as it is surrounded by abundant greenery and exquisite wood carvings on all altars, walls and columns.

After over a century, you find the colours just as bright and gorgeous. With the usual red and gold of a pagoda and its typical incense filled aroma, the temple is also spotted with blues, greens and an unexpected purple of Quan Cong’s face.

Address: 184D Hung Vuong, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: 7.00 am – 5.00 pm

c. Thien Hau Temple

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

Built in 1760, Thien Hau Temple near Binh Tay market is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu the ‘Lady of the Sea’, who is believed to protect and rescue ships and people on the sea by flying around on a mat or cloud. Mazuism is connected with beliefs and values from both Taoism and Buddhism, thus it is the harmony of different aspects and traditions which have merged to form a new belief.

When traveling to Thien Hau Temple, you will pass the iron gate filled with massive stone incense burners in front of the entrance of Mazu’s altar. You will be amazed by the stunning traditional curvy roof with small porcelain figures are standing symbol for themes from Chinese religion and legends in the exterior and the colourful dioramas decorating the roof by representing scenes from the nineteenth century in a Chinese city in the interior. The three prominent statues of the “Lady of the Sea” dominating the main altar is amazing as well. Every single small corner in this temple as well as many sculptures, statues and artworks are great to discover too.

Location: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 8.00am – 4.30pm.

6. About Luxury Travel Ltd

Being the first luxury tour operator in Vietnam with 15+ years of experience in the travel industry, Luxury Travel offers tailor-made private holiday packages to explore Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Tay market in particular. Our company is a full-service travel agency with licensed and accredited and inbound and outbound luxury tour operators. The company has won many national and international awards. Our company excels on business trips and leisure trips.

If you are planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh city, contact us and share your demands with the traveling experts of Luxury Travel Vietnam, we will suggest where to go and what to do to make your trip full of memorable experiences.

Nous contacter

Adresse: 456, rue Lac Long Quan, Dist Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
Email: sales@luxurytravelvietnam.com
Hotline: (+84) 936880183

Website: https://luxurytravelvietnam.com (Anglais)
https://fr.luxurytravelvietnam.com (Français)

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Vinh Long Vietnam – An Unspoiled Place That Awaits Your Exploration

Are you seeking a quieter and less-known place for your Mekong Delta tour? Consider Vinh Long Province. This place holds significant historical values as it was the battlefield of several important fights from the late 18th century to the 20th century. Nowadays, Vinh Long is better known for the fishing industry, being one of the largest fish-exporting provinces in Vietnam. Besides, Vinh Long Vietnam is home to several appealing destinations that could easily capture tourists’ hearts from the very first meet. 

In the following blog, Luxury Travel would take you on a tour to see the attractions of this city. This could be a useful guideline if you are about to take a trip to Vinh Long Vietnam. 

1. Best time to travel to Vinh Long Vietnam?

Vinh Long lies between the Tien River and Hau River of the beautiful Mekong Delta, thus sharing the same weather condition with other provinces in this area. Generally, the temperatures remain relatively high (above 30 Celsius Degree) all year round.  

To be specific, the weather in Vinh Long can be divided into 2 distinctive seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The dry season begins in December and lasts till the end of April of the next year. This period features clear blue skies and little to no rainfall. The weather is perfect for outdoor activities like biking and experiencing the local life. However, as the humidity would be exceptionally low, it might be a little bit unpleasant to spend too much time outside.

The rest of the year is when the wet (or rainy) season rules the world. From May to the end of November, Vinh Long experiences lots of rain, with the heaviest volume falling between June and July. These are also the hottest months of the year with high humidity. During that period, Vinh Long in particular and the Mekong Delta in general step into the fruit seasons, with plenty of fresh tropical fruits in their orchards get ripe and are ready to be harvested. 

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

From September to November, the whole region turns into the floating season. It is the ideal time for a rowboat trip along the canals and rivers of the Southwest.

To sum up, what is the best time to visit Vinh Long? It must be the later months of the rainy season, which is between September and November. The rainfall starts to decrease, while the rivers and canals are full of water, making it ideal for boat travel. 

2. How to get to Vinh Long?

Where is Vinh Long Vietnam? This province is situated just about 135 km from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It takes more than 2 hours to transfer from Saigon to Vinh Long City via the National Road 1A and My Thuan Bridge. 

Regarding the means of transportation, you can catch a bus from the city’s station to reach there. However, the buses are always crowded, thus it is not a very wise option to opt for. Another way to travel to Vinh Long is to catch a van or shuttle bus from a travel agency. You will have your seat and the driver will be more careful when driving. 

The most luxury and convenient vehicle to go with is the private car. If you book a private tour at a luxury tour operator, they will pick you up with their luxury private car. In this way, visitors don’t have to share spaces with strangers or worry about the carefulness of the driver. 

What’s more, many travelers prefer renting a motorbike and ride it themselves. It is a great way to behold the beautiful scenery along the way, but it’s quite dangerous an option if you are not familiar with driving a motorbike as well as the weird transportation “rules” of Vietnamese people.

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3. Things to do in Vinh Long Vietnam.

Vinh Long might not be a familiar name to foreigners as other Mekong Delta provinces do. Its charming beauty still awaits people’s exploration. So, what to do during a Vinh Long Vietnam tour?

Often, Vinh Long is included in the day trip itinerary to the Mekong Delta from Saigon such as the 2-day Cai Be – Vinh Long discovery and the like. The followings are the must-try activities that you shouldn’t forget to experience while in Vinh Long. 

a. Wander the fruit orchards on Cu Lao An Binh (An Binh Island)

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

Cu Lao An Binh covers an area of roughly 60 km2, consisting of 4 communes: An Binh, Hoa Ninh, Dong Phu, and Binh Hoa Phuoc. Surrounded by the Co Chien River and Ham Luong River, it is an attractive destination for Mekong Delta tours. 

An Binh Island appeals tourists with its evergreen fruit orchards that grow and cultivate several kinds of tropical fruits like rambutan, grapefruit, mango, durian, and so on. There are small canals that connect the gardens, where you can go aboard the local boats to reach different parts of the orchards to get lost in its awe-inspiring greenery.  

Traveling to An Binh island, tourists are also able to experience the life of the Southwestern people in the most “authentic” ways: try their farm works. You can go picking the fruits, fertilize the plants, catch fish at the canals, and so on. Moreover, tourists can join in their traditional games like wooden clog racing, monkey bridge crossing, bag jumping, etc. If you love thrilling games, try crocodile-fishing or ride the ostrich. It is of much fun, so don’t miss it out!

b. Take a boat tour through the narrow canals of Mekong Delta

A rowboat trip is an iconic activity that appears in all Mekong Delta tours. With a dense network of canals and ditches that are still less known to mass tourism, Vinh Long cannot be a better place for this activity. 

Here, you will board on the wooden rowboat to glide along the small irrigation canals amidst the bushy rows of willow trees to reach different corners of the southwestern gardens. You can also visit the bonsai garden and the fishing farm to see how the locals’ daily life goes on. 

After finishing the boat tour in Vinh Long Vietnam, tourists can walk or ride along the narrow roads across the orchards and stop by a leaf-roofed hut for a short break and listen to the “Don Ca Tai Tu” – the traditional folk music invented by Mekong Delta farmers. Just leave all the stress and sorrow of the life outside and immerse yourself in the tranquility and peace that this place offers. 

c. Visit Tra On Floating Market

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

You city dwellers buy foods only at supermarkets or convenience stores, right? If so, the floating market is where you should head your Vinh Long tour towards.

Very soon in the morning, hundreds of boats and sampans from different areas gather there to trade goods. The market is full of noisy sounds and the laughter of both the sellers and buyers. The sale happens quite quickly because the price is very reasonable and the customers do not need to bargain. It is the typical cultural identities of the southwestern people. 

Another appeal of this market is the way people advertise their products. Due to the distinctive feature of the floating market that the boats stay extremely close to each other, it is really hard for the buyers to approach the boat. Additionally, the goods are put in the cabin, making it difficult to find the items they are looking for. Therefore, the sellers hang the samples of their goods on tall bamboo poles so that the customers can easily see even from a far distance. If the items are sold out, the samples will be taken down. That method is called “bẹo hàng” in Vietnamese. 

Coming there, not only can tourists feel the ecstatic vibe of a local market but you also have the opportunity to sample the rustic delicacies that are sold directly on the boat. Drinks, snacks, fruits, and the like are abundant to shop, too. 

A visit to Tra On Floating Market will offer you a close glimpse at the life of the lovely people who survive their lives on the waters. The more you know about them, the more you will be impressed. 

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4. What to eat in Vinh Long?

Vinh Long Vietnam is not just land with exquisite landscapes. Its culinary culture is exceptionally rich, also. If you are spending some days in this land, there are dishes that you shouldn’t miss sampling. 

a. “Cá tai tượng chiên xù” (Deep-Fried Giant Gourami)

When it comes to fish dishes, Mekong Delta is second to none. And “cá tai tượng chiên xù”, or deep-fried elephant-ear fish) is among the most iconic delicacies of this land.  

To make this dish, a whole gourami fish is deep-fried at a high temperature in a big pan. As its scales and fins are not removed, the well-cooked fish turns out to be exceptionally crispy outside. In contrast, the meat inside is tender, sweet, and fragrant. To give out such a great result, the chef needs to be skillful and meticulous when frying the fish. 

The authentic way to enjoy that dish is to wrap the fish meat in a rice paper together with different kinds of herbs. Then dip it into the bowl of “mắm nêm” (fish sauce) – the traditional dipping sauce of the locals. The taste might be a little bit sharp at first, but it turns out to be heavenly tasty afterward. Once you have tried 1 roll, then you’ll definitely want more. 

b. “Lẩu cua đồng” (Field Crab Hotpot)

The field crab hotpot is the iconic dish of Vinh Long Vietnam. As its name states, the main ingredient of this hotpot is the tiny field crabs that can be easily found in the rice paddies all over Vietnam. Small as it might seem, this crab composes rich nutrients, especially calcium. Furthermore, its meat is said to be a great detox thing that could dissolve blood and strengthen the tendons, and aid digestion. 

The crabs used in “lẩu cua đồng” must be fresh and have firm meat and lots of roe. The locals will remove the roe before crushing the crabs and cook it in a hot pot. You can then add toppings into the pot to make a complete “lẩu”. Apart from meat, shrimp, fish, and crab, Mekong Delta people love to add their fresh veggies into the hotpot, namely the “hoa bí” (zucchini blossoms), “rau trai” (Asiatic dayflower), and “bông điên điển” (sesbania sesban flowers). No matter what you add, this hotpot can still easily whet your appetite thanks to the strong aroma of the crab, the sweetness of the broth, and the varied taste of different herbs and veggies. 

This dish is the highlighted summer food, but it tastes amazing if you try it in winter, also. 

c. Bánh xèo hến, Vũng Liêm, Vĩnh Long

Source: Luxury Travel Vietnam

“Bánh xèo” (Vietnamese crepe) is a reputable street food of this S-shaped country. It often contains meat and shrimp; however, the “bánh xèo” version in Vung Liem, Vinh Long is different. In this place, people make that pancake with mussels. 

Freshwater mussels appear in several dishes of the southwestern people such as mussel rice, mussel soup, and of course, “bánh xèo”. Vung Liem people use it as the main ingredient for their special crepe, altogether with the fresh naturally-grown herbs and veggies that they collect from their gardens. These things bring along different flavors to the cake: sour, spicy, and acrid. Combining with the sweetness of the mussel, the fat of the pancake, and the sweetness and sourness of the dipping sauce, they have made up an excellent cake that could steal every eater’s heart. 

5. Where to stay in Vinh Long?

As mentioned above, Vinh Long tends to be included in the day trip itinerary, travelers often choose to stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Here there are first-class hotels with high-end amenities and top-notch services, ensuring you will have a comfortable stay. For those wanting to get served with the luxurious service, this can’t be a better choice to opt for. 

Still, many people who are eager to get exposed to the local life choose to have a farm stay with the host family in Vinh Long Vietnam. There are several homestays in An Binh Island and other tourist attractions, allowing travelers to stay there overnight. There’s no big hotel there, just the normal traditional southwestern house with a lovely host family. Not only can you sleep over there but you can also join their meals or follow them to do the farm works. It’s a kind of eco-tourism, so if you love to harmonize with nature as well as get closer to the villagers, go for this option. 

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6. The bottom lines. 

With the beauty remaining unspoiled by mass tourism, Vinh Long is a wonderful destination for your private Mekong Delta tour. If you want to stay away from the crowd and feel the most authentic vibe of the Southwest, do not hesitate to go there. The experiences you will get will never dissatisfy you. 

Don’t know where to start your trip? Let Luxury Travel help you. We have well-organized tours to Vinh Long Vietnam that could suit you. 

Let’s see some of our best Mekong Delta tours:

Mekong Delta Discovery in Style 3 days

Mysteries of Mekong Waterways 5 days

Best of Mekong Delta 4 days

Scenic South Vietnam 6 days

We also customize private South Vietnam tours to make it unique for you and your group only. Feel free to drop us a line at any time to get consulted. It’s always our honor to be of service!

Contact Us:

Address: No.456, Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
Email: sales@luxurytravelvietnam.com
Hotline: (+84) 1234 68 69 96
Website: https://luxurytravelvietnam.com

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