At 07:45 in the morning depart for the 2-hour journey to the Perfume Pagoda. Enjoy the scenic drive through the rich farming land of the Red River Delta, to one of northern Vietnam’s holiest sites. On arrival, board a private rowing boat for the relaxing hours’ cruise down the Yen River, along the way stop at Den Trinh (pagoda of representation).
The Perfume Pagoda is not just one pagoda but many shrines and temples built into a limestone hillside. The first of these is at the foot of Huong Tich Mountain, which means ‘Mountain of Fragrant Traces’. From here, disembark and follow a stone flagged path walk uphill to Huong Tich Cave and Pagoda (Pagoda of the Perfumed Vestige). The pagoda is one of the most important to the Mahayana Buddhists of Vietnam. Choose an optional Cable car ticket is in optional request and pay extra on arrival.
At 13.00 have lunch at local restaurant, then after lunch, continue to visit Thien Tru, ‘Pagoda Leading to Heaven’. This pagoda was built in the seventeenth century and dedicated to the goddess Quan Am, symbolically marking the start of the journey to ‘heaven’. At 14.00 return by rowing boat to the vehicle for transfer back to Hanoi, arriving Hanoi in the late afternoon. At 16.30, after the boat trip back to Ben Duc, we depart for Hanoi, arrive in the city around 18.30.
