Chua Huong (Perfume pagoda) is located in Huong son (Perfume mountain) 70 km
southwest of Hanoi. Chua Huong is not one temple but a cluster of temples and
shrines in the general vicinity of Huong son. The pagoda(s) are located in My
Duc hamlet in the province of Ha Tay. According to the book, Huong Son Thien Tru
Pha, Huong Tich temple was built during the reign of Le Chinh Hoa (1680-1705),
by a monk who happened on the site on his way to search for enlightenment. Other
shrines and temples were later built in this area to take advantage of the
beautiful scenery in this area.
Perfume pagoda has a long history in Vietnamese literature. This temple, its name, has been a theme of many songs, topic of poetry, used in literary works as well as backdrops for paintings. The uniqueness of Huong Son is that the mountains, river and forest appears like an oasis for buddhists in the middle of the great plains of northern Vietnam. This location truly incorporates all the elements of beauty that is often used in Eastern philosophy and arts.
