VietNamNet Bridge – A collection of 108 photographs featuring Huong Pagoda at present and in the past are on display at the Thien Tru Pagoda, part of the historical and spiritual Huong Pagoda complex in Hanoi outskirt My Duc District.

Visitors admiring photos of Huong Pagoda. A collection of 108 photographs are being displayed at an exhihition titleD “Huong Pagoda-Now and Then” in Thien Tru Pagoda-part of the Huong Pagoda complex. The collection includes 32 works taken between 1927 and 1955, many of which were held in France. — Photo vov.vn

Most Venerable Thich Minh Hien—the abbot of Huong Pagoda, who is also the organiser of the exhibition, titled “Huong Pagoda-Now and Then”—said the collection of such a large number of photographs includes 32 particularly special works taken between 1927 and 1955, many of which were previously held in France.

He discussed the exhibition at an opening ceremony of the Huong Pagoda Festival held last week, saying that the photographs were regarded as a precious discovery as they exposed one of the palatial features of the mountain region of Vietnam as it was more than 60 years ago.

The monk said the exhibition was the culmination of a long period of research and study by his students, whom he had sent to many libraries and storage centres across Vietnam and France to look for historical information, documents and data about the old pagoda.

Targeted areas included the École Francaise d’Extrême-Orient, or EFEO, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the National Archives Centre I-II-III and the National Library in Vietnam, according to Hien.

The exhibition opened on February 21, or the sixth days of the Lunar New Year—the day that the annual Huong Pagoda Festival officially opened. It will close at the end of March this year.

Thousands of pilgrims from across the country are currently flocking to the Huong Pagoda everyday to offer incense, worship and pray for happiness, luck and peace at the pagodas.

Last year, the festival welcomed around 1.3 million visitors, including 7,800 foreigners while this year, it is expected to receive about 1.5 million visitors.

Going to Huong Pagoda is a spiritual journey into Buddhist Land – where the Goddess of Mercy leads a religious life.

Visitors will travel mostly by boats through various pagodas and tourism vestiges where they may admire the nature or practice their spiritual offerings and worshipping.

Built in the late 17th century, Huong Pagoda is an architectural complex scattered in Suoi Yen (Yen Stream) valley. It consists of ancient works with unique appearance and caves formed as a result of natural movement.

The pagoda complex has a large number of pagodas, temples and caverns filled with marvelous stalactites and stalagmites, about 70km from downtown Hanoi. The centre of the tourism complex in the region is Huong Pagoda, which is located in Huong Tich Cave, also known as Inner Pagoda (chua Trong).

Tourists will certainly not regret their choice to set foot in Huong Pagoda. Here, they have a chance to admire Huong Tich Cave, which is dubbed "the most beautiful cave in the North".

The Huong Tich Cave has the autograph of Lord Trinh Sam in 1770, describing the cavern as the most beautiful cave in the country.

The festival will last from the 6th of January to the end of March in the lunar calendar or from February 21 to May 14 in solar calendar. 

Duc Khe wharf in 1955. Tam Quan Gate. Climbing up to Huong Tich Cave. Thien Tru Pagoda from above. Entrance to Thien Tru Pagoda. — Photos courtesy of Huong Pagoda

Source: VNS