Hue, a charming city in the central region of Vietnam, is home to many temples, pagodas, tombs, and palaces with impressive architectural styles. The pagodas in Hue are famous for their ancient and sacred beauty with Asian and Vietnamese architectural features retained. The pagodas in Hue are not only unique architectural works blending with the natural landscape but also unique historical, cultural, and spiritual sites. Let’s explore the top 07 pagodas in Hue with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through this blog post, you will find out these pieces of information below.

Unique characteristics of the pagodas in Hue

The special thing for tourists when coming to Hue is that everywhere they go, they see pagodas. This place has long been one of the three largest Buddhist centers in Vietnam. Hue has more than 300 pagodas and Buddhist temples. Among them, there are 215 monasteries, 3 national temples, 67 Northern Buddhist temples, and 6 Southern Buddhist temples. Up to now, this number has grown greatly, accounting for 1/3 of the number of pagodas in Vietnam. 

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

The pagodas in Hue are spread throughout both inside and outside the capital, concentrated in the Duong Xuan hilly area, southwest of the city. Many pagodas are far away from the residential and you have to climb up high mountains, such as Huyen Khong Son Thuong, Truc Lam Zen Monastery, etc. Some pagodas only need to take a few steps to reach such as Tu Dam, Tu Hieu, Thien Mu, Dieu De, etc. All pagodas create the peaceful scenery of Hue. 

The spaces, architecture, and decorative motifs of pagodas in Hue are all in harmony with nature. Hidden behind those dark tiled roofs and ancient moss walls are the unique cultural, historical, and religious treasures of the land and people of Hue.

Exploring the top 07 sacred pagodas in Hue

Traveling to Hue, besides the system of palace relics and tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty, you should also visit the ancient pagodas in Hue. Here are the top 07 sacred pagodas in Hue that you should not miss.

Thien Mu Pagoda

• Address: Huong Hoa, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: 08.00 a.m. - 06.00 p.m.

Thien Mu Pagoda 

Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the most ancient pagodas in Hue. With its long-standing history and stunning beauty, the pagoda has become an attractive religious and tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Thien Mu Pagoda consists of many buildings and architectural works such as the Tam Quan gate, Guanyin Buddha statue, and Thien Mu bell. The pagoda possesses the typical beauty of Hue culture and the blend of Asian and Western elements. Below are things to do in the Thien Mu Pagoda.

• Admire the poetic beauty of the pagoda

Located on the banks of the romantic Perfume River (Huong River), Thien Mu Pagoda is among the most stunning pagodas in Hue with poetic and tranquil scenery. You can find pine trees, ornamental plants, and beautiful lotus ponds surrounding the pagoda. Coming here, you can escape from the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere and solemn Buddhist space. 

Admiring poetic beauty at the Thien Mu Pagoda

• Learning about the ancient architecture of Thien Mu Pagoda

The architecture of Thien Mu Pagoda is a unique symbol of Vietnamese culture and religion. When visiting the pagoda, you should not miss exploring the Dai Hung Palace. Coming here, you will find the Maitreya Buddha statue, a great painting, dating from 1974, and an extremely delicate bronze sun-shaped bell. Besides, Phuoc Duyen Tower is also a must-see spot in the pagoda. The body of the tower is built of rustic bricks, the curb part is built of solid stone. All combined to form an octagonal tower, the higher it gets, the smaller it gets, with a total of seven floors. Over the years, it has carried the mark of time, highlighting the unique value of the ancient capital's architecture. In addition, let’s see the architecture of Dia Tang Palace, the tomb of Venerable Thich Don Hau, and Tam Quan Gate. 

Phuoc Duyen Tower in Thien Mu Pagoda

Tam Quan Gate in Thien Mu Pagoda

Overall, Thien Mu Pagoda not only converges the beauty of architecture, and historical elements but is also adorned with the personality of the Hue people. Let’s visit the pagoda and immerse yourself in the sacred atmosphere here!

Huyen Khong Son Thuong

• Address: Cham Village, Huong Ho, Huong Tra, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: full day

Huyen Khong Son Thuong Hue

Huyen Khong Son Thuong, surrounded by the Van Tung Son pine forest and majestic mountain ranges, is also among the worth-visiting pagodas in Hue. The pagoda has many areas, including the outer courtyard, main hall, May Tia Hermitage, Tinh Trai Duong, guest house, and many other works. Let’s explore the pagoda with us!

• The pagoda’s outer campus

With a total area of more than 10,000 square meters, the pagoda’s outer campus is extremely large with many unique works, such as a stone grass garden with an area of 500 square meters, five lakes, and a calligraphy pavilion. The garden is the place where monks often practice martial arts, converse, and recite poetry. Among the five lakes in the outer space of the pagoda, Son Anh, Thuy Nguyet Dam, and Vong Hoa Dam are three outstanding lakes with bridges across. If you love calligraphy, the calligraphy pavilion facing the pine forests is an ideal place. 

Huyen Khong Son Thuong's campus

Thuy Nguyet Dam 

• Nghinh Luong Dinh

Nghinh Luong Dinh stands out with its open space design, with three blank sides. The materials used to build this project are tile and miscellaneous wood taken from planted forests. Around there are many pots of porcelain flowers, orchids, and frangipani flowers that are hundreds of years old. This is the place for visitors from all over to stop to rest, enjoy tea, and talk.

• Main hall area

The main hall area is probably the most Hue-themed space in Huyen Khong Son Thuong. Designed in the ancient Vietnamese style, the main hall uses wood as the main material, using red bricks as the foundation, and a mahogany roof.

Buddha statue in Huyen Khong Son Thuong

Besides these three areas, the pagoda has many other places and stunning scenery to admire. Let’s come and explore the pagoda yourself!

Tu Dam Pagoda

• Address: 01 Su Lieu Quan, Truong An, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: 06.00 a.m. - 09.00 p.m.

Tu Dam Pagoda

Tu Dam Pagoda is also among the most beautiful and sacred pagodas in Hue you may want to drop in. The pagoda is only 3 kilometers from the city center, located on the Nam Giao slope, facing south. The development history of the pagoda is closely linked to the history of Buddhism. The pagoda has existed since 1683. Coming to the pagoda, besides learning about the history of Buddhism, you can also pay respects to Buddha and admire the landscape and architecture of the temple. Tu Dam Pagoda's design is simple and airy on an area of ​​15,000 square meters. The pagoda consists of 3 main parts: Tam Quan Gate, the main pagoda, and the assembly house. Let’s explore the impressive architecture of the pagoda with us!

• Tam Quan Gate

Tam Quan Gate has three gates. The middle door is larger than the other two doors. The gate pillar is made of solid stone, with a roof on top. At the largest gate, the name of the temple is engraved. 

• Tu Dam Pagoda’s campus

Entering the grounds of Tu Dam Pagoda, you can admire the entire solemn pagoda scene. The pagoda’s yard is paved with flat, clean stone, with many large shaded trees, creating a comfortable, airy, and relaxing feeling. The pagoda structure includes the front hall, main hall, Nha To area, An Ton tower, and souvenir room.

Tu Dam Pagoda's campus

Tu Dam Pagoda’s front hall is built on higher ground about 1.5 meters higher than other areas. The pagoda's roof has high, ancient architecture with images of artistically symmetrical pairs of winding dragons. Below this roof are Buddha statues placed on high stone pedestals. At the pagoda, the main hall is designed and decorated very simply but still exudes majesty. Coming inside this area, you can see statues of the World-Honored One Sakyamuni on a lotus, Bodhisattvas Samantabhadra, and Manjushri. Besides the front hall and main hall, the pagoda is also impressive with the An Ton Tower, which has a height of 27m, 7 floors, and a gradually smaller design when reaching the top of the tower. 

Tu Dam Pagoda's main hall

With its outstanding architecture and long-standing history, Tu Dam Pagoda is undoubtedly among the amazing pagodas in Hue. Let’s visit the pagoda and soak yourself in the sacred atmosphere here!

Tu Hieu Pagoda

• Address: Duong Xuan Thuong III, Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: full day

Tu Hieu Pagoda

Tu Hieu Pagoda is one of the ancient pagodas in Hue that you should not miss, especially if you are a nature lover and want to immerse yourself in quiet scenery and learn about history. Until now, Tu Hieu Pagoda has always maintained its inherent dignity and serenity despite going through many times and many different restorations. The pagoda's space is imbued with ancient architecture from the reign of King Tu Duc. The details of dragon and phoenix carvings, pagoda porches, pagoda columns, and tiled roofs are meticulously designed, creating an impressive and extremely sacred space.

Tu Hieu Pagoda's gate

The total pagoda grounds are up to 50,000 square meters. Coming here, you can enjoy the peaceful scene with quiet pine hills and gurgling streams. Walking up the hill, you will see the ancient Bo De Tower built in 1896, surrounded by the tombs of concubines of the Nguyen Lords. On the side of the pagoda yard, there are two hexagonal stelae on each side, recording the construction history of Tu Hieu Pagoda. 

Tu Hieu Pagoda

Bao Quoc Pagoda

• Address: Ham Long Hill, Bao Quoc Street, Duc Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province

Bao Quoc Pagoda

If you are looking for a pure, peaceful spiritual place in Hue, don’t miss out on Bao Quoc Pagoda, one of the most religious pagodas in Hue. The pagoda has a total area of up to two hectares with a spacious campus and massive architectural works, including the main hall, monk’s house, guest house, and back house. Let’s explore these areas below. 

• Tam Quan Gate

The gate is built with 15 impressive stone steps. The gate is very ancient and massive; however, due to the ravages of time, the words engraved on the gate are no longer clear. 

• Bonsai garden

After passing through the Tam Quan Gate, you will see a large garden planted with many trees. The garden creates a cool and peaceful space for the pagoda. 

Bao Quoc Pagoda's campus

• The main hall

The main hall area of the pagoda is a solemn and pure place of worship. It is built into three compartments with elaborate and unique decorations. Walls and pillars have patterns made from pieces of porcelain or majestic dragon shapes. 

Bao Quoc Pagoda's main hall

• Tower area

The pagoda has a system of 19 tomb towers built to commemorate the late monks and abbots. The tomb towers are all built with many overlapping floors, at the top is the image of a noble lotus flower.

Bao Quoc Pagoda's tower area

• Ham Long Well

Ham Long Well is an ancient well associated with many ancient stories that have been passed down. The well is about 5 - 6 meters deep with extremely clear and pure water.

Besides these areas, there are many unique heritages inside the pagoda, such as the Dai Hong Chung bell, a wooden sample that has a strange shape like a human skeleton, the Buddha statues, tablets and dharma objects, etc. 

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

• Address: Loc Dien Commune, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: 06.00 a.m. - 05.00 p.m.
• Sightseeing fee: VND 60,000

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery is among the most famous pagodas in Hue where you can admire the ancient features of Buddhist works. One of the outstanding architectural works in the monastery is the Tam Quan Gate, which includes a main gate and two side paths. To admire the gate, you must pass 172 stone steps. Stepping inside the monastery, you can find three main areas. They are the main shrine, the area to worship Patriarch Dat Ma, and the nunnery is exclusively for female Buddhists and nuns. Let’s find some amazing things to do in this pagoda. 

• Admiring the giant Shakyamuni Buddha statue

Admiring the giant Shakyamuni Buddha statue is one of the special experiences when visiting Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery. This statue is crafted from stone with a height of up to 24m, sitting on the top of the mountain in a very sacred location. Surrounding the statue are many paintings telling the story of Buddha's life, from birth to death and nirvana. This work not only impresses visitors because of its size and beauty but also because of the perfect combination of architecture and surrounding nature. 

The giant Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

• Seeing the artistic masterpieces of Buddhism

Coming to the pagoda, you will see the wonderful world of intersection between art and religion. From classic decorative motifs to gracefully curved temple roofs, everything here is a beautiful masterpiece that is hard to find elsewhere. 

• Immersing yourself in the natural landscape

When visiting the monastery, you can walk on the trails and admire the Buddhist architectural works. Surrounding the monastery are pristine forests, lush trees, and carefully tended flower gardens, all creating a peaceful and quiet space.

Truc Lam Bach Ma Zen Monastery

Dieu De Pagoda

• Address: Bach Dang, Phu Cat, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province
• Sightseeing time: 05.30 a.m. - 09.00 p.m.

Dieu De Pagoda

Among the pagodas in Hue, Dieu De Pagoda is also an ancient pagoda that is worth visiting. This pagoda is now storing the largest painting of 9 dragons hidden in the clouds in Vietnam with unique architecture, attracting many tourists every year.

Dieu De Pagoda Campus

Dai Giac Palace was modified with a street frontage, on the left is Chung Lau, and on the right is Co Lau. On the rooftops, there are displays of two dragons and moons. This architectural feature is influenced by Tu Dam Hoi Quan pagoda. Inside the inner hall, there are four large columns made of reinforced cement and decorated with dragon clouds that appear and appear very skillfully. The temple's yard is very spacious with many trees surrounding it, bringing fresh, cool, and peaceful air.

Things to note when visiting the pagodas in Hue

Before visiting the pagodas in Hue, you may want to note many things. First of all, the pagodas in Hue are sacred places; therefore, you need to choose appropriate, discreet clothing. Ao Dai combined with the typical conical hat can be an ideal choice of clothes. Coming to the pagodas, you may want to maintain a quiet, respectful attitude to avoid affecting the solemnity and purity of the temple. If you want to hear interesting stories and learn about the temple, you can talk with the monks. 

In conclusion, visiting the pagodas in Hue not only gives you the chance to learn about Buddhism in Vietnam but you can also immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere and admire stunning natural landscapes. Let’s arrange your schedule and drop by those pagodas. Supposing you want to book a Hue tour package or tailor your itinerary, please do not hesitate to contact our team.