Location: Thien Mu Pagoda is situated on Ha Khe Hill, on the left bank of the Perfume River, in Huong Long Village, 5km from center of Hue City.
Characteristic: It was built in 1601, and then Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan had it renovated in 1665. In 1710, Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu had a great bell cast (2.5m high; 3,285kg) and in 1715, he had a stele (2.58m high) erected on the back of a marble tortoise.
The name of the pagoda comes from a legend: a long ago, an old woman appeared on the hill where the pagoda stands today. She told local people that a Lord would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the country’s prosperity. Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, ordered the construction of the pagoda of the “Heavenly Lady”.
Several kings of the Nguyen Dynasty such as Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri and Thanh Thai, all had the pagoda restored. Phuoc Duyen Tower (at first called Tu Nhan Tower) was erected in 1884 by King Thieu Tri. This octagonal tower has seven storeys (21m high). Dai Hung shrine, the main-hall, presents a magnificent architecture.
As well as bronze cast statues, it shelters some precious antiques: the bronze gong cast in 1677, the wooden gilded board with Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu’s inscriptions (1714). On both sides of the pagoda are a room for the bonzes and a guest-room for visitors.
The pagoda is surrounded by flowers and ornamental plants. At the far end of the garden stretches a calm and romantic pine-tree forest. The pagoda was heavily damaged in 1943. Bonze Thich Don Hau hence organized a great renovation of the pagoda that lasted for more than 30 years.
2. Huyen Khong Pagoda
Huyền Không (Huyen Khong) pagoda is located in Hương Hồ (Huong Ho) village, Hương Trà (Huong Tra) district, Thừa Thiên Huế (Thua Thien Hue)province. Previously, monks Buddhist named Viên Minh (Vien Minh), Tịnh Pháp (Tinh Phap), Trí Thâm (Tri Tham), Tấn Căn (Tan Can) built the pagoda in bamboo in 1973 in the north of Hải Vân (Hai Van) collar, in Lộc Hải (Loc Hai) village, Phú Lộc (Phu Loc) district. In 1978, monk superior Giới Đức (Gioi Duc)moved it to the current place, at 3 km from the west of Thien Mu (Thiên Mụ) pagoda. Huyen Khong pagoda belongs to Buddhism theravâda. The pagoda is spread on a surface of 6000 m2. Its principal palate was built in 1993, and then inaugurated in 1995.
Huyen Khong is the whole of three pagodas according to Buddhism theravâda (doctrines of Ancients) in Huế (Hue). At 10 km from Hue, visitors of of Huyen Khong pagoda pass by a calm village and can hear songs coming from the fir trees forest and the brooks. Traversing the rough way which leads to the Chằm (Cham) mount, we will arrive at a small simple pagoda but of an extraordinary seduction.
On top, the Buddha temple carries on itself an air imposing but close to visitors. Asylums are foreseen in the fir trees forest. It’s where the oblates meditate and speak between them about teaching of Buddha and where the monks speak to the visitors.
Mây Tía (May Tia) Asylum is an ideal place chosen by artists to exchange, criticize poems, to contemplate nature and to taste tea. Going along the way towards pagoda, visitors can observe splendid penmanship of talented oblates or artists who have come there. Monk superior Minh Đức Triều Tâm Ảnh (Minh Duc Trieu Tam Anh) lived a long time there even before building the pagoda.
Near the asylum, there is Huyền Không Sơn Thượng (Huyen Khong Son Thuong) pagoda in the heart of a hill with fir trees very green. On the occasion of Buddha’s birthday or Huế festival, visitors can see calligraphers in Huế and admire their works. After the meditations in the morning and evening, monks Buddhist in Huyền Không Sơn Thượng learn Buddhist ethics. The begging is one of the ways towards which the Buddha directs its followers. On their course, they will live the life of the poor and the human suffering. In the same way, they will face with oneself to surmount obstacles and fears from the bottom of their heart.
Huyền Không Sơn Hạ (Huyen Khong Son Ha) (Tuệ Tĩnh Đường Diệu Đế) (Tue Tinh Duong Dieu Hue) is a cabinet where people can have free medical care. They also train doctors of Eastern medicine in Huế.
People have come to Huyen Khongpagoda for various reasons. They live there since their childhood or their family sends to it in order to teach them Buddhist philosophy. Moreover, there are people who think of the pagoda in despair. They will find there a support, to calm and seek another orientation.
Today, Huyen Khong pagoda is one of the re-elected pagodas in Hue, regularly accommodating artists, intellectuals and tourists.
3. Tu Dam
Built in 1695, Tu Dam Pagoda was founded by Superior Monk Minh Hoang Tu Dung in 1695. Located in Trang An ward, Tu Dam played an important role in the process of making Buddhism prosper in the Inner Land (South Vietnam now) though it was not the oldest pagoda in Hue
4. Dieu De Pagoda
Situated in Phu Cat Ward, Dieu De Pagoda was built in about 1842-1844 under the reign of King Thieu Tri. The Pagoda is located on a 5,000-square-meter rectangular land surrounded by four streets. There are two floors for bells, one for drums, and one for stelae. After a period of desertion, the Pagoda has now been restored. There remains Dai Giac Central Palace with two statues of the Eight Vajra Deities, and on the left and right of the Central Palace
5. Thuyen Ton Pagoda
Situated halfway up a very charming pine hill in Thuy An Commune, Thuyen Ton Pagoda was first a hermitage erected by Ancestor Lieu Quan for secluding and living a religious life. After resetored and enlarged several times, the Pagoda has now become more spacious and splendid. The gate was well-constructed with four big pillars. In the middle of the yard is the Kwan Yin statue. In the back are two magnificently structured towers where Ancestor Lieu Quan and Superior Monk Thich Giac Nien lied in rest after their death. The whole Pagida is surroundes by many big as well as small mountains and rows of rustling pine trees, which makes Thuyen Ton an appropriate place to recover tranquility in our soul.
6. Thanh Duyen Pagoda
This is an ancient pagoda built in the late 17th century on the poetic mountainous region of Tuy Van. The picturesque scenery made Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu astounded, and then he decided to build a splendid pagoda right here. Afterwards, King Minh Mang had it restored to be eligible for a national pagoda and named it Thanh Duyen. The Pagoda has a main temple with three compartments in the front, Dai Tu Pavilion and Dieu Ngu Tower
