Visit
an accumulation of several pagodas about 60 kilometers southwest of
Hanoi considered one of the most beautiful places in North Vietnam.
The Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong) is in fact a vast
complex of pagodas and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich
mountains. From the middle of the second lunar month to the end of the
third lunar month, it is the site of a very popular religious festival
which draws large numbers of pilgrims. You first start the trip by
boating on a river among a beautiful karstic landscape, then you hike
quite a long trail, which is all lined up with stands of food and
religious souvenirs, to reach eventually the main sanctuary in a cave.
Along the way, there are a great number of other places to worship. It
is a festive occasion for the Vietnamese who often make the trip in
large groups.
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