Of Huong Pagoda’s many attractions, including its surrounding mountains, hills and streams, Huong Tich Cave is perhaps the best tourist attraction. During festivals, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to the pagoda in numerous boats – a breathtaking scene, ethnic travel Vietnam.
To get to the pagoda, my 14 fellow travelers, and me went to the Ben Duc dock in the Yen Stream where we took a

small boat, which fits about 15 people. Drifting along the stream that curls through paddy fields, forest and mountains is an absolute treat – it is as if Mother Nature has created her own painting.
“Look, guys, those four stones are in the shapes of four characters in a Chinese literature work named Xi You Ji on their way to India for the book of prayers, ” Thach, our humorous tour guide, shouts as he points to the peak of an unknown mountain on the right side of the stream. We talk animatedly about the stones. Some argue that this is not the case, while others are busy taking photos. From time to time, some boats heading back to the dock glide by our boat with the people inside smiling and teasing us, bringing an element of animation to the stream. On the stream’s edge, some men are busy setting traps to catch shrimp and some women hurry to sail goods to Huong Pagoda. There is a flock of ducks swimming on the water. At that moment, I thought, “How peaceful is this?” “You know, legend has it that this region had 100 mountains in elephant shapes with 99 elephants towards Huong Tich Cave to show their respect while the only one left pointed his bottom to the cave. That’s why he lost his tail, ” Thach’s voice suddenly interrupts. It is true - there is a mountain in an elephant shape without a tail in front of my eyes. This mountain lies next to the bustling boat dock leading to Huong Pagoda. Leaving the boat, we are ready to conquer the mountain with pagodas and caves. On both sides there are many stores selling fresh bread and hot dogs. Keeping on, we come to an area with various booths selling Huong Pagoda specialties – candies and cakes made from yam with cheap prices from VND10, 000 to VND25, 000 per packet and an area selling votive paper and offerings. While we are standing still to look around, Thach, the tour guide calls us to follow him to Thien Tru Pagoda – a beautiful and sacred pagoda with the mountain in the background. People flock to the pagoda, their hands full with votive paper and offerings and long petition papers to ask the Buddha for health, wealth and luckiness. After worshipping the Buddha and donating money to the pagoda, our group continues to the place we are all eager to discover, Huong Tich Cave, not by foot but by cable car. It takes only seven minutes to get to Huong Tich Cave by this convenient means of transport instead of two hours walking. Each cable car holds five to six adults at a reasonable price of VND70, 000 per adult for a return ticket or VND40, 000 for a one-way ticket while children under 1.2 meters in height are VND40, 000 for a return ticket and half price for a one-way ticket. “Hurry up, we are almost at Huong Tich Cave, ” my fellow traveler pulls my hand, as I still have not recovered from the cable car trip. To get to the cave we have to pass many long and high stone steps up and down. Our shirts are soaked with sweat and our faces are sunburned. “There it is, the gate heading to Huong Tich Cave, ” Thach shouts excitedly to wake us up from our breathlessness. The way to Huong Tich Cave is wet and slippery, with 120 stone steps. Legend says that the Goddess of Mercy used to live here at Huong Tich Cave prior to the day she became the Buddha. Huong Pagoda, which is inside the Huong Tich Cave, was built at the end of the 17th century. Standing imposingly in front of the cave is Dun Gao, or a rice dune. Ancient people said that Huong Tich Cave was the mouth of a dragon with a rice dune as its tongue. On the left side of the cave’s front is a four-hundred-year-old bell. Inside the cave, the air is cold, while amazing and beautiful stalactites in different shapes hang from the cave’s vault. It is like a wonderland. At that moment, I thought the Goddess of Mercy could hear my prayers – a girl who had traveled a long distance to come here – and would turn them into reality. I left Huong Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave and Yen Stream nearly two weeks ago but these landscapes are still in my mind. They are not simply a place for worshipping Buddha but a place for human beings to communicate with nature and to find peace. It was a valuable journey to set me free from the stresses of everyday life. I think that all of us deserve a trip like this, so pack your luggage and take the time to travel to this very special destination, Vietnam vacations.