Thiên Mụ Pagoda

Thiên Mụ Pagoda, also known as Linh Mụ Pagoda, is one of the oldest and most revered religious sites in Hue, Vietnam. Perched on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, the pagoda dates back to 1601 and is a symbol of the city. The most striking feature is the Phuoc Duyen Tower, a seven-story octagonal structure built in 1844, each floor dedicated to a different Buddha. Visitors enter through a triple-gated archway and walk up a long staircase lined with bonsai trees. The main hall houses a bronze statue of the Buddha and intricate carvings. The grounds are peaceful, with ancient trees, a bell tower, and a stone stele on a giant turtle's back. The pagoda also holds historical significance as the site where Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc lived before his self-immolation in 1963. The view of the river from the pagoda is breathtaking, especially at sunset.

Don't miss

• Admire the seven-story Phuoc Duyen Tower, the tallest of its kind in Vietnam
• Explore the main hall with its intricate Buddha statues and carvings
• See the giant bell and the stone stele on a turtle's back
• Enjoy panoramic views of the Perfume River from the hilltop
• Visit the car that carried Thich Quang Duc to Saigon in 1963

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Thiên Mụ Pagoda

Cheapest way inHue Royal Tombs Tour: Visit Best Pagoda & King's Mausoleums5★ · 59 travelers3–5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$17 per personSee dates →Best full dayHue to Dn/Hoi An: Hai Van Pass, beaches & Mt Monkey or vice versa4.9★ · 753 travelers6–7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$59 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleHue private guided tour to royal Tombs and Thien Mu Pagoda5★ · 21 travelers5–7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$64 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• Combine your visit with a boat trip on the Perfume River for a scenic experience.
• Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees as it is an active temple.
• Photography is allowed, but be respectful inside the main hall.
• Remove shoes before entering the temple buildings.

A bit of history

Thiên Mụ Pagoda was founded in 1601 by Lord Nguyễn Hoàng, the first ruler of the Nguyễn dynasty. The Phuoc Duyen Tower was added in 1844 by Emperor Thiệu Trị. The pagoda was a center of Buddhist activism during the 1960s.