Thay Temple

20km southest from Hanoi downtown, at Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Thay Temple is an ancient pagoda that carries a thick historical value of Buddism in Vietnam.

Time never waits for us so just after a day for relaxing, Noah starts the first point in his Vietnam visiting footpint map.

Buddhism is the largest of the major world religions in Vietnam, with about ten million followers, so imprint of Buddhism can be seen in everywhere, from the big cities like Hanoi, Hochiminh, Danang... to every small village in rural areas.

Thay Pagoda is located at the foot of Phat Tich Mountain (also known as Thay Mountain). Originally, it was just a small hermitage called Huong Hai Hermitage. When King Ly Nhan Tong (1072 - 1127) ascended the throne, he had it rebuilt into two temples: the Upper Pagoda on the mountain and the Lower Pagoda (also known as Thay Pagoda or Phat Tich Pagoda) at the foot. Thay Pagoda is a historical, cultural, and spiritual relic of Hanoi in particular and the Northern region in general. It was recognized as a Special National Monument in 2014.

It's a good weather day, not too much sunny and hot (of course to Vietnamese, not to Noah), so after visiting the temple at the foot of mountain, we climb up to the mountain and visit the small cave, where the God master Tu Dao Hanh (1072-1116) did meditation and passed away.

And Cac Co Cave is the big one, do you remember the dark way to come down and the pool of bone at the end of the route? The lady-guide persuaded us to come inside and talked alot about myastical things but I'm not sure any among those are trustworthy.

After Chua Thay Temple, we followed a small village road and come to a restaurant, where the hotport named Lau Cua Dong so dilicious, and where Noah very much likes the mixed green vegetables.

Every step we go is memorable.Read more