VN · Hanoi · 20.62°N 105.75°E

perfume pagoda

Boat ride and cable car to a sacred cave pagoda outside Hanoi.

Best time
The pilgrimage festival runs for about three months after Lunar New Year and gets extremely crowded, especially in the first weeks and at weekends. Outside the festival, autumn (September to November) is cooler and much quieter.
How long
A day trip from Hanoi
Getting there
About 2 hours by car from Hanoi to the boat pier at Ben Duc. Most people go on a day tour or hire a car. Hanoi is about 3 hours 20 minutes' flight from KL.
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VN · Hanoiperfume pagoda20.62°N 105.75°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Boat ride and cable car to a sacred cave pagoda outside Hanoi.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPerfume PagodaVN, Hanoi
KLperfume pagoda
≈ 1,993 km from KL, as the crow flies
Thiên Trù Pagoda

Photo: Jack French from San Francisco, USA · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A large complex of Buddhist temples and shrines set in limestone mountains southwest of Hanoi. Getting there is part of the fun: a rowing boat along a quiet stream between karst peaks, then a climb or cable car up to Huong Tich Cave.

Makan

  1. Huong Tich apricotsLocal apricots, sold fresh in spring or as syrup and preserves.Map ↗
  2. Rau sắngA wild green from the surrounding hills, usually cooked in soup.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Boat ride on Yen StreamLocal rowers take you about an hour upstream past rice fields and karst peaks.Map ↗
  2. Thien Tru PagodaThe "outer pagoda", near the boat landing, with its courtyards and stone stupas.Map ↗
  3. Huong Tich CaveThe "inner pagoda", a huge cave filled with Buddha statues and incense at the top of the climb.Map ↗
  4. Cable car or hikeRide up the mountain, or climb the steep stone path, which takes an hour or more.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Dress modestly for the temples and wear shoes with grip. The stone steps get slippery.
  • Buy boat and cable car tickets at the official counters, and agree on any tip with your rower before you set off.
  • Avoid festival weekends if you don't like crowds.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.