Table Of Contents
Introduction
Magnificently standing on the unspoiled mountains, Huyen Tran Princess Temple appears as a unique spiritual tourist attraction in the ancient capital. Its sacred ambiance and structure make it a place for the remembrance of the Tran dynasty’s princess, who contributed to the country’s expansion.
This temple is an important part of the Hue Buddhist architectural system and the cultural appearance of Hue’s ancient capital. So it’s definitely worth a visit! Let’s take a detailed look at this temple with Vietnam Vacation Travel!
Biography Of Huyen Tran Princess
Huyen Tran Princess is the daughter of Tran Nhan Tong Emperor and Kham Tu Empress. In the summer of 1306, as a promise, Tran Nhan Tong King gave Huyen Tran in marriage to King Jaya Sinhavarman III (Che Man King). He was the King of the neighboring Champa Kingdom, also known as Chiem Thanh.
As the wedding gift, Champa King Jaya Sinhavarman III offered Tran Nhan Tong King, his father-in-law, the two continents of Chau O and Chau Ly. It is now the area of land between the south bank of the Hieu River in Quang Tri and the north bank of the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam.
To pay Princess Huyen Tran respect for her help to expand the country in peace, the Huyen Tran Princess Temple was built in 2006. And it has been officially open to the public since 2007.
Huyen Tran Princess Temple Travel Guide
Huyen Tran Princess Temple Location
Address: 151 Thien Thai Street, An Tay Ward, Hue City
To the south, 8 km from the heart of Hue City, stands Huyen Tran Princess Temple, also known as Huyen Tran Cultural Center. This is a well-known spiritual tourist destination in Hue. The temple is situated on Ngu Phong Mountain and has a total area of 28.5 hectares.
The mountain’s foot to its summit is covered with pine trees, and its four sides are made up of hills and mountains. From the mountain’s summit, we can see a large area and Hue City as a whole in the distance.
Huyen Tran Temple Map
How To Visit Huyen Tran Princess Temple?
Because the way to Huyen Tran Temple is easy, there are many transportation options for you. You can catch a taxi, go on a Grab bike, or hire a motorcycle to go by yourself. Another option is to rent our private car.
If you want to discover more tourist attractions and historical sights in Hue, you should book a Hue City Private Tour at Vietnam Vacation Travel. We are willing to customize the tour as you wish. A lot of interesting places are waiting for you!
Opening Hours And Entrance Fees
The Temple of Huyen Tran Princess is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
For adults, the entrance tickets cost 30.000 VND (around $1.5), but they are free for kids under the age of six.
Best Time To Visit Huyen Tran Princess Temple
It is advisable to visit Huyen Tran Temple from January to April, when Hue’s weather is mild, neither too hot nor rainy. More importantly, the Huyen Tran Temple festival is held during this time (on the 9th of the first lunar month), so you will have a chance to enjoy it.
Also, this will be a wonderful time to take Hue city tours! You may be interested in other Hue city tours such as the Hoi An to Hue Day Trip, Hue Buddhist Tour, Hue Royal Tombs Tour, Hue to Hoi An private car, etc.
Highlights Of Huyen Tran Princess Temple
Unique Structure
Huyen Tran Princess Temple Hue shows not only the sacredness but also the untouched beauty of nature. The whole structure of the temple has the features of both Tran and Buddhist architectural designs.
The temple includes two main shrines of Huyen Tran Princess and Tran Nhan Tong King. The Peace Bell from the temple tolls resonantly around the mountain. Besides, you can enjoy numerous artworks and constructions coming from the hands of skilled local artisans.
When you stand right in front of the temple, there are four huge pillars and four stone mascots as the guardians of the temple. Then, you will reach a vast yard paved by Bat Trang tiles, and you will see poetic lakes full of lotus flowers. Moreover, you can see a small bridge over a lake with bending willows, which creates geomancy.
Huyen Tran Princess Temple
After crossing the small bridge and a three-door gate, you enter the Huyen Tran Princess Temple. This main hall has three open rooms that are spacious and refreshing, with intricate decorative details.
The central room displays the Huyen Tran Princess statue on the throne, which is 2.37 meters in height. It was cast in pure bronze by the artisans of Duc Ward, a bronze casting village in Hue City.
If you notice, you will see that, in the shrine, the monuments are all symmetrical and on axes. Also, behind the shrine, you will see the statue of Huyen Tran Princess in her ordination with the dharma name of Huong Trang.
Tran Nhan Tong King Temple
On the grounds of Huyen Tran Princess Temple, you will also see her father’s – Tran Nhan Tong King Temple. This temple has one of the most outstanding features of the whole temple – a couple of dragons as protectors in front of the temple. Their length is up to 108 meters, which holds a record for architecture in Vietnam.
Inside the temple, there is the majestic statue of Tran Nhan Tong King, cast in pure red bronze. You can go inside to admire and pray.
Tower Of Peace Bell
The Tower of Peace Bell, which is 7 meters tall and weighs 6 tons, is situated on the summit of Ngu Phong Mountain.
Its sound resonates around the vast space of the forest, which brings calmness to your heart and mind. Looking at the bell, you will see the Vietnamese saying, which means “A peaceful world – A happy humankind”.
There are two ways to climb up to the Ngu Phong summit to see the Bell. You can start at Tran Nhan Tong Temple on the right path. But if you want something more challenging, try conquering the left path of 246 steps.
On that tricky path, you will see a big Buddha statue with a happy smile. You can stop here to rest for a while before continuing your challenge with Ngu Phong Mountain. Plus, you will see the shrines of some gods with geomancy and spiritual meanings.
The natural scenery on the peak of Ngu Phong Mountain is fresh and full of life. You can not only visit the Bell but also open your eyes to vast forests and Hue city as a whole.
Huyen Tran Temple Festival
Annually, on the first 9 days in the first month of the lunar calendar, the Huyen Tran Festival is held to commemorate the Princess’s day of death. The festival has a large scale and solemnity to reflect the Vietnamese tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”.
During the festival, you can see cultural activities and art performances by troupes of artists from 3 provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.
Conclusion
Huyen Tran Princess Temple is among the must-see attractions for your visit to Hue. With its harmonious beauty and cultural significance, you won’t be disappointed once you come!
To help you with your visit, we offer a wide range of car transfer services and private tours. We hope you have an enjoyable trip. Thanks for reading on our website!