After 70 km or 2 hours driving out of Hanoi,located on the limestone rocks of Huong Son Mountain in beautiful and mysticalsurroundings. Unlike other temples in Vietnam, the only way to reachthis sanctuary is floating along a narrow but extremely poetic stream by rowingboats that takes 45 minutes.

An iron boat can carry 3-5 people and a large wooden boat – up to 20 locals.The stream is edged by rice, grass, small paths, and temples here and there. Alocal pilgrim can spend here traditionally three days to visit entirely the areaand pray at all the temples. The first temple they often stop is called DenTrinh (i.e. The Shrine for First Presenting), where Vietnamese burn the firstjossticks to inform the local deities about their presence and pray for a goodtrip and good luck forthe year ahead. If you are anxious to reach the main Wharf of Huong Son mountainto start the uphill trip to see the Main Grotto of HuongTich, you may skip this temple, especially in the peak season between Januaryand early April.

The uphill trip takes an hour climbing on the ancient flat and sometimeslippery stones, which have been here thousand years ago. The road is"breathtaking" in all aspects – you will have some exercise, and at the sametime have chance to take some stops to contemplate beautiful scenery and dailylife of local farmers, who plant cassava and apricots in the valleys, who runquickly on the slippery stone with their burdens of tapioca, apricots ormedicinal herbs whilst you are careful with your steps. The main pagoda is setin a huge grotto containing a highly decorative shrine. Each stalactite andstalagmite inside, which are soaked by undercurrent, is combined with a legendabout its miracle and good luck. Most of them became small shrines by now.Remember that the stone grotto is huge and very cool, so stop for a while at theentrance to dry your sweat before coming in.

The main festive days of Chua Huong stretches from January to early April,busy and exciting. Sometimes it\\'s drizzling and the Vietnamese all believe thatthe real good things will reach you if you catch rainwater after praying in asacred pagoda. And among all the sacred temples and pagodas in Northern Vietnam, ChuaHuong is even more attractive and mysterious not only for its spectacularscenery, but for the painstaking road you passed over to reach to the top.