Thien Mu Pagoda Travel Guide
Located just outside Hue, close to the Perfume River, Thien Mu Pagoda is one of Vietnam's most high profile and beautifully designed religious buildings.
- What is It?
- An ancient and active Buddhist temple on the banks of the Perfume River near Hue.
- When to Go
- The best weather in Hue is between December and March.
- Nearest Town
- Hue, five kilometers along the Perfume River.
- Don't Miss
- the octagonal Phuoc Dien Tower.
- Trivia
- Thien Mu Pagoda was built way back in 1601 and means elderly celestial woman pagoda.
Thien Mu (meaning 'elderly celestial woman') Pagoda was built in the early 1600s and was a seven-tier pagoda amid several other religious buildings. It is situated in Huong Long village, five kilometers from Hue city. The octagonal Phuoc Dien Tower, built in 1864, is just in front and features a huge bell and large wooden sculptures. There is also a nice cemetery here.
One of the most poignant relics at the Thien Mu Pagoda complex is the car that transported monk Thich Quang Duc to the place where he performed self immolation in 1963 in Saigon. He set himself alight while in the lotus position as a protest against the state's oppression of religious freedom.
Travel to Thien Mu Pagoda - Getting There
It takes about 20 minutes to get to Thien Mu Pagoda from central Hue, being just a few kilometers along the Perfume River and accessible by cyclo and motorbike. Flights land at nearby Phu Bai Airport in Hue from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (45 minutes, as do buses and trains.
