Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda

Located in Central Vietnam near the ancient imperial city of Hue, the Thien Mu Pagoda can be found on Ha Khe Hill on the left bank of the Perfume River in Huong Long Village. It’s just five kilometers outside from the center of Hue.

The name of the pagoda translated into English means “Heavenly Lady.” Legend explains that an elderly woman told the local people that a Lord from the Nguyen Dynasty would come and build a Buddhist pagoda on the site of Ha Khe Hill. Lord Nguyen Hoang ordered the construction of the pagoda soon after in 1601, naming it after the elderly woman.

Toward the end of the pagoda is a burial grounds for monks, designated by service and rank to the pagoda. To this day, it remains an active institutions for monks to study and live.

Travel tips for the Thien Mu Pagoda
The best traveling time to the Thien Mu Pagoda is during Central Vietnam’s dry season, from January to August. Visiting any other month will threaten your trip with flooding. Nearby Central Vietnamese cities like Danang and Hoi An will be impacted as well. In the dry season, it’s worth taking the boat to the pagoda from the city center. You’ll cover the whole grounds of the pagoda in thirty minutes. The easiest way to get there is to hail a taxi from Hue. You can also get there by boat from Toa Kham Boat Station. The fare for the boat ride is $10 round trip.

Location: Kim Long, Hương Long, Tp. Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế
Price: free
Hours: Sunrise to sunset