This is part of an email you receive from an English pen-friend, Sandy. I’m coming to your country next month on holiday. Where do you think I should

Dear Sandy

Talking about the spiritual culture of the Vietnamese, it is impossible not to mention the ancient, sacred temples with characteristic beauty, serenity, where they show their respect and gratitude to the ancients, with their religious beliefs. One of the famous ancient temples of our country must be mentioned Huong pagoda – famous landscapes, historical and cultural relics and beliefs of Vietnam.

Under the skillful hands of the ancients along with the natural beauties bestowed by nature, the beauty of Huong pagoda has a very unique mark, taking us from surprise to surprise. Huong pagoda complex has many architectural works scattered in Yen stream valley.
The main area is Ngoai pagoda, also known as Tro pagoda, whose name is Thien Tru pagoda. The pagoda is located not far from Tro Wharf where pilgrims go upstream from Yen stream to the pagoda, then go down the boat there and go on foot. The three pagodas are stored on three large tiled courtyards. The third courtyard has a bell tower with three floors.
This is an ancient project, unique appearance because it reveals two triangular gables on the top floor. This bell tower originally belonged to Cao Mat village pagoda, Ha Dong province. In 1980, it was moved to Huong pagoda as a bell tower. Chuua Chinh, ie Trong pagoda, is not a man-made building but a natural stone cave.The Huong pagoda festival is held on the sixth day of January, usually lasts until the summer of the third lunar month. On the occasion of the ceremony, millions of Buddhists and tourists from all directions eagerly celebrated the Huong pagoda festival.
The peak of the festival is from the full moon of the first month to the 18th of the second lunar month. This is the day of the opening of the mountain of the locality, but today the opening ceremony is understood in the sense of opening-opening the temple. The Huong pagoda festival in the ceremony is very simple.
One day before the festival, all temples, pagodas, communal houses and shrines are lit with incense. In Trong pagoda, there is a ceremony to offer incense, including incense, flowers, lamps, candles, fruits and vegetarian food. At the time of worshiping, two monks and nuns dressed in robes brought the altar and then proceeded to use the offerings to the altar.
From the festival day to the end of the festival, only occasionally did a monk from the above pagodas come knocked and chanted sutras for about half an hour at pagodas, temples and temples. But the scent of smoke never stops. As for the ceremony, there is a tilt towards “meditation”. But in the outside temple, they worship the superior mountain deities with all colors of religion.

Best friend,

Hoai Anh