HÀ NỘI — A collection of 108 photographs featuring Hương Pagoda at present and in the past are on display at the Thiên Trù Pagoda, part of the historical and spiritual Hương Pagoda complex in Hà Nội outskirt Mỹ Đức District.

Most Venerable Thích Minh Hiền—the abbot of Hương Pagoda, who is also the organiser of the exhibition, titled “Hương 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.

Đục Khê wharf in 1955

He discussed the exhibition at an opening ceremony of the Hương 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 Việt Nam 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 Việt Nam and France to look for historical information, documents and data about the old pagoda.

Tam Quan Gate

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 Việt Nam, according to Hiền.

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

Climbing up to Hương Tích Cave.

Thousands of pilgrims from across the country are currently flocking to the Hương 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 Hương Pagoda is a spiritual journey into Buddhist Land – where the Goddess of Mercy leads a religious life.

Thiên Trù Pagoda from above.

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, Hương Pagoda is an architectural complex scattered in Suối Yến (Yến 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 Hà Nội. The centre of the tourism complex in the region is Hương Pagoda, which is located in Hương Tích Cave, also known as Inner Pagoda (chùa Trong).

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

Entrance to Thiên Trù Pagoda. — Photos courtesy of Hương Pagoda

The Hương Tích Cave has the autograph of Lord Trịnh Sâm 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. — VNS