Vietnam Pagodas

Hoa Yên Pagoda

Quảng Ninh(Chùa Hoa Yên)

Overview & history

The Yên Tử Historical and Scenic Site is a heritage area located in Yên Tử Ward and Hoàng Quế Ward, Quảng Ninh City. This site includes two monuments: Hoa Yên Pagoda and Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Monastery, which are part of the Yên Tử – Vĩnh Nghiêm – Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc Complex of Monuments and Scenic Sites that has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.

Overview

The heritage area covers 9,295 hectares, stretching across Yên Tử Ward and Hoàng Quế Ward of Quảng Ninh City. The monuments here are divided into two clusters:

The cluster of monuments along the main route (Yên Tử Road) from Dốc Đỏ to Giải Oan Bus Station, including the following pagodas: Trình Pagoda, Suối Tắm Pagoda, Cầm Thực Pagoda, Lân Pagoda (Trúc Lâm Monastery).

The central cluster, including monuments from Giải Oan Pagoda to Đồng Pagoda, with the main sites being: Giải Oan Pagoda, Hòn Ngọc, Tháp Tổ (Founder’s Stupa), Hoa Yên Pagoda, Một Mái Pagoda, Hoa Hermitage, Dược Hermitage, Thiền Định Hermitage, Ngọa Vân Hermitage, Bảo Sái Pagoda, Vân Tiêu Pagoda, An Kỳ Sinh Statue, Buddha Stele, Đồng Pagoda, and other hermitages and huts yet to be discovered... pilgrimage routes, scenic landscapes associated with the monuments such as Ngự Dội Waterfall, Vàng Waterfall, Bạc Waterfall, Heaven’s Gate, Pine Road, bamboo forest, and Yên Tử mountain peak.

Recognition

The Yên Tử Historical and Scenic Site was designated a Special National Monument by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 1419/QĐ-TTg dated 27 September 2012.

On 12 July 2025, at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO recognised the Yên Tử – Vĩnh Nghiêm, Côn Sơn, Kiếp Bạc Complex of Monuments and Scenic Sites as a World Cultural Heritage.

Visiting tips

  • Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
  • Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
  • Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
  • Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
  • Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.

Location

Coordinates: 21.15180, 106.71818

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

Other pagodas in Quảng Ninh

Chùa Ba Vàng
Chùa Ba Vàng
Ba Vàng Pagoda (also known as Bảo Quang Tự) is a pagoda located halfway up Thành Đẳng Mountain, in Uông Bí ward, Quảng Ninh province.
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Chùa Cảnh Huống
Cảnh Huống Pagoda (the name means 'Pagoda of Beautiful Scenery') is a pagoda located in Đồn Sơn, Hoàng Quế ward, Quảng Ninh province (formerly: Yên Đức ward, Đông Triều city, Quảng Ninh, Vietnam). This is an ancient pagoda dating back to the Trần dynasty (12th–14th centuries). The pagoda is associated with the legend of King Trần Nhân Tông, who, after leading the people to victory against the invading forces for the second time at the Bạch Đằng River, came here to establish and serve as abbot of the pagoda, and inscribed poetry on the cliff face. Over the course of wars, the pagoda was destroyed many times. The largest restoration was during the Lê dynasty in 1664. The pagoda was once used as a revolutionary base during the resistance against the French, and as a place to care for wounded soldiers during the resistance against the Americans. The pagoda is set amidst picturesque mountains and covers an area of 36,000 m², consisting of three worship halls. Local people often come here to make offerings, pray for good things for their families and loved ones, and pray for favourable weather and bountiful harvests. To the right of the pagoda is a single-roofed ancestral temple (đền thờ tổ, 'ancestral temple'), which was renovated in 1987. Inside, there is a stele inscribed with the names of eight founding ancestors who contributed to the establishment of the village. Next to the ancestral temple is the 'Immortal's Chessboard' (bàn cờ Tiên) under a large rock that forms a wide sheltering roof, with a chessboard carved into a stone slab inside. According to legend, two immortals often descended here to play chess, and later this became a place for the village elders to play chess. In 1993, the complex of scenic spots and relics of Cảnh Huống Pagoda and Hang 73 was recognised as a National Historical and Cultural Site.
Chùa Đồng
Chùa Đồng
Chùa Đồng, also known as Thiên Trúc Tự (天竺寺 – the Pagoda of the Buddha Realm), is a pagoda situated at the highest peak of the Yên Tử range (1,068 metres). This is the largest bronze pagoda on a mountaintop in Asia.
Chùa Hà Giang
Chùa Hà Giang
Hà Giang Pagoda (also known as Hà Lôi Pagoda; Chinese name: 河源寺; Sino-Vietnamese reading: Hà Nguyên Tự) is an ancient pagoda located in Đông Triều ward, Quảng Ninh province (formerly: Đức Chính ward, Đông Triều city, Quảng Ninh province). In addition to worshipping the Buddha, the pagoda also venerates the four village tutelary deities (Thành hoàng) of Hà Lôi village: Trần Triều Bảo Huệ Quốc Mẫu, Trần Triều Bảo Từ Hoàng Thái Hậu, Văn Huệ Thái Trưởng Princess, and Thượng Trân Princess. The pagoda has been included in the inventory and classification of heritage sites, but has not yet been officially ranked, according to the following decisions by the People's Committee of Quảng Ninh province: Decision No. 2459/QĐ-UBND, dated 14 August 2009 of the Quảng Ninh Provincial People's Committee; Decision No. 789/QĐ-UBND dated 26 March 2015 of the Provincial People's Committee; and Decision No. 3929/QĐ-UBND regarding the approval of the List of Historical - Cultural Sites and Scenic Spots in Quảng Ninh province.
Chùa Hồ Thiên
Chùa Hồ Thiên
Hồ Thiên Pagoda (formal name: Trù Phong Tự) is located on the slope of Phật Sơn Mountain, part of the Yên Tử mountain range, within Bình Khê ward, Quảng Ninh province. Hồ Thiên Pagoda was built during the Trần dynasty and was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam on 29 May 2006, according to Decision No. 55/2006/QĐ-BVHTT. Hồ Thiên Pagoda is situated halfway up the southern side of Phật Sơn Mountain, surrounded by mountains at the back and on both sides, with a hill in front forming a blessed land in the middle. The pagoda was erected during the period from when the Second Patriarch Pháp Loa succeeded the First Patriarch until the end of his life (1307–1330). This pagoda is one of the relics from the same era, related to a series of other Trần dynasty sites associated with the Trúc Lâm Three Patriarchs in Quảng Ninh, such as Yên Tử Pagoda, Ngoạ Vân Pagoda, and Quỳnh Lâm Pagoda. A. Current State: The Hồ Thiên Pagoda complex consists of two parts: 1. The ancient relic section: Structures and vestiges remaining from the feudal era 1.1 The ancient pagoda foundation with green stone column bases, stone gutters, etc., identified as dating from the Trần dynasty 1.2 The stupa garden with a seven-storey green stone stupa with Buddha statues enshrined on all four sides (restored), a patriarch stupa built of brick on a green stone base carved with stylised lotus petals (relatively intact), and three similar stone stupa bases 1.3 The stele house made of green stone 1.4 The old pagoda building made of brick, dating from the Nguyễn dynasty 1.5 The thất garden with traces of an ancient foundation protected by a stone embankment 1.6 Hàm Rồng Hermitage with remains of an ancient foundation and some green stone column bases. This hermitage is located near the mountain summit. 2. The newly built section serving the daily and monastic needs of the pagoda 2.1 The main hall for worshipping the Triple Gem, conducting ceremonies, and meditation 2.2 The central area including the laypeople's residence, kitchen, dining hall, guest house, and rest stop 2.3 The abbot's thất: including the abbot's residence and reception area 2.4 The auxiliary pagoda area in front of the stele house, including accommodation for female Buddhists and a stilt house providing free services for tourists B. Personnel and Activities The abbot of the pagoda is Zen Master Thích Đạt Ma Chí Thông. Religious activities at the pagoda are maintained according to the tradition of the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen school. Festivals: Hồ Thiên Pagoda does not have an official festival. The main and important annual ceremonies at the pagoda include: 1. The full moon of the first lunar month (15th day of the 1st lunar month). On this day each year, the local authorities organise for people to visit the pagoda to worship the Buddha and sightsee, while the pagoda organises a peace-praying ceremony and offers free vegetarian meals. 2. Memorial day of Patriarch Huyền Quang 3. Memorial day of Patriarch Pháp Loa 4. Memorial day of Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông (Trúc Lâm Đại Đầu Đà) In addition, the pagoda also organises major Vietnamese Buddhist festivals such as Buddha's Birthday (Phật Đản) and Vu Lan (Ullambana). C. Other Information There are various explanations for the name of the pagoda (and mountain) Hồ Thiên. On certain special winter days, after heavy showers, thick fog fills the surrounding valleys, making the landscape as seen from the pagoda resemble islands rising from a lake in mid-air. Hồ Thiên Pagoda is one of the scenic sites of the Yên Tử region.
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Chùa Lôi Âm
Lôi Âm Pagoda is a famous ancient pagoda in Quảng Ninh, renowned for its beautiful scenery and sacred atmosphere.