Perfume Pagoda

About 60km from the center of Hanoi, Huong Pagoda (full name is Huong Son Complex Special National Monument, located in Huong Son Commune, My Duc District) was ranked as a national monument by the Ministry of Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1962. In 2017, this place was ranked as a special national monument by the Prime Minister.

Most recently, Huong Pagoda was recognized as a city-level tourist area by the Hanoi People's Committee. This is the most famous spiritual tourist destination in the North, attracting millions of visitors every year, especially at the beginning of the new year.

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Huong Pagoda is a famous spiritual tourist destination in Hanoi, attracting a large number of visitors from all over the world every year. Photo: Bao Khanh

Huong Son complex includes a diverse system of communal houses, temples, pagodas, caves, and grottoes such as Thien Tru Pagoda, Trinh Temple, Giai Oan Pagoda, etc. scattered in 5 villages: Yen Vy, Duc Khe, Hoi Xa, Tien Mai and Phu Yen.

Among them, Huong Pagoda (located in Huong Tich cave) is located in the center of the complex.

The Huong Pagoda Festival is the largest and longest-running in the North, taking place from the 6th of January to the end of the 3rd lunar month. On this occasion, visitors from all over the country come to Huong Pagoda to worship Buddha and enjoy the scenery of mountains, caves, and pagodas.

Hong Van Tourist Area

Hong Van Commune (in Thuong Tin District) is a "newly emerging" name on the Hanoi tourism map in recent years, thanks to its rich culture and the way it builds ecological villages associated with experiential agricultural tourism.

This place owns a system of relics (including 16 relics, including 1 national historical relic, 2 city historical relics) and a diverse folk cultural treasure, attracting a large number of visitors throughout the year.

On September 24, along with the special national relic Huong Son complex, Hong Van tourist area was also recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee as a city-level tourist area.

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A corner of the countryside in Hong Van. Photo: Thuong Tin District Electronic Information Portal

Coming here, visitors not only experience rural tourism activities but also have the opportunity to visit agricultural models, admire the works of bonsai, stone art, etc. by experienced artisans and workers in the famous local ornamental plant craft village. In 2018, this craft village was also recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee as a tourist destination of the city.

Up to now, this tourist area has built more than 30 flower roads with different colors such as: Lagerstroemia, Royal Poinciana, Canary, Bauhinia, etc., becoming check-in coordinates loved by tourists from all over.

The specialty 'flying shrimp' is as expensive as lobster in the North, even rich people find it difficult to buy. From a rustic dish, the flying shrimp has gradually become a specialty that attracts customers. At its peak, this type of insect costs up to nearly 1 million VND per kilo.