1. Where is Thien An Pagoda?
Thien An Pagoda is located in Viet Quang town, Bac Quang district, Ha Giang province, Vietnam. About 60 km southwest of Ha Giang city and about 238 km northwest of Hanoi capital.
2. How is Thien An Pagoda unique?
Thien An Pagoda is located on the mountain, has a high position and beautiful view. From here, you can see a panoramic view of the countryside, lake and surrounding mountains. This place is likened to a watercolor painting that nature has bestowed on this land.
The highlight of the pagoda is the main communal house built on the top floor of the pagoda, with a bell tower and an Asian-style gate tower. Not only is it a spiritual place, Thien An Pagoda also attracts tourists because of its quiet, fresh space of trees and unique architecture.
Furthermore, this is also the living area of ethnic minorities. Such as Tay, Nung, Dao,… with a long traditional cultural history. Therefore, the pagoda is a unique spiritual destination, playing an important role in the development of spiritual culture imbued with national identity. As well as unique features of Ha Giang highland culture.
3. When is the best time to visit Thien An Pagoda?
Being a high mountainous district, the climate in Bac Quang is noticeably cold compared to the neighboring lowlands and midlands. The average annual temperature is about 21-23 degrees Celsius. Outstanding features of the climate are high humidity throughout the year, heavy and prolonged rain.
You can travel to Bac Quang in any season of the year. The most beautiful time is September, October, November and December. When Bac Quang is in the harvest season of golden rice, buckwheat flowers or fields of canola flowers blooming.
- In spring, apricot blossoms and plum blossoms bloom white in the forest. It makes you feel like you’re floating on the clouds.
- In May, the fields sparkle during the flood season. The whole area is like a giant mirror reflecting the majestic heaven and earth of Bac Quang.
- In June, July and August, few people travel to Bac Quang because this is the rainy season. Plus the steep mountainous terrain makes it easy to slip and endanger your journey.
4. How to get to Thien An Pagoda?
Depending on your needs, interests and abilities, you can choose a bus or personal vehicle to travel in Bac Quang. No matter what means of travel, you need to prepare carefully before starting the journey.
4.1. Traveling By Publish Bus
Passenger cars are a suitable means of transportation for everyone. This is also a means to help you save time and effort on travel.
Currently, My Dinh bus station has many bus companies operating the Hanoi – Ha Giang route. Bus routes depart continuously every day. You can go to the station and catch a bus at any time of the day. But most buses leave in the evening to help people optimize travel time.
Buses only go to the city center. Therefore, to move to Bac Quang, you will have to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang, take a car or taxi to move to Bac Quang. Motorbike rental prices here fluctuate around 180,000 VND/motorbike/day. The price is quite reasonable so you don’t have to worry when choosing to use it.
4.2. Traveling By Private Vehicles
If you want to have an active schedule or are the type of person who loves to explore, personal vehicles are the best choice. Because traveling by this vehicle, you can go to or stop at any location. You will be able to conquer picturesque roads, high slopes, sharp turns. Or admiring the majestic mountain and forest scenery of Bac Quang.
If you travel by personal vehicle, you must have a steady and steady steering wheel. If you do not have experience overcoming steep passes or going on dangerous roads, you should take a bus.
Most people will use personal motorbikes to get around. But if you want to go by personal car, you can still conquer the roads here. And of course, by car, you can only travel on major highways. If you want to go deep into the village, you will have to walk.
4.3. The Way To Move To Thien An Pagoda
- By motorbike: To Bac Quang by motorbike, you can go towards Noi Bai airport to Vinh Yen (Vinh Phuc). Then follow Highway 2C toward Son Duong (Tuyen Quang). Arriving at Tuyen Quang city, drive straight on Highway 2 to Ha Giang, about 97 km further to Viet Quang town. Thien An Pagoda is located in the Viet Quang town area. When you come here, you just need to ask local people for directions to the temple. Or using the directions App from your mobile phone.
- By car: If you go in a group, you can take an intra-province bus or taxi from Ha Giang city to Viet Quang town. In addition, your group can also rent a private car to travel here.
From Ha Giang city center, visitors follow National Highway 4C about 30 km north. After arriving at Tam Son town, visitors turn right onto Provincial Road 182 (Ho Chi Minh Road) and continue about 1.5km. At this time, visitors will see a sign leading to Thien An Pagoda. You will turn onto the concrete road and go about 500m further to reach Thien An Pagoda. You also can find it from google map here.
5. Exploring the beauty of Thien An Pagoda
Thien An Pagoda Ha Giang was built in 1923 with special architecture, combining Vietnamese and Chinese architecture. By 2015, the pagoda was officially started to implement the investment project to build and renovate construction items. Such as: Tam Bao, Tam Quan, Ancestral temple,…
With unique Asian-style architecture, the highlight that attracts tourists to this temple is the bell tower and gate tower here. The pagoda also has a lake and a green garden surrounding it. It gives you a peaceful feeling when visiting here.
6. Specialties when traveling to Thien An Pagoda
Traveling to this land, you will not only admire the majestic and poetic natural landscape. You also have the opportunity to enjoy the specialties of this beautiful land.
6.1. Au Tau Porridge
O dau tree (au tau) often grows wild in high mountainous areas on the northern border of Vietnam. Such as Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Nghia Lo, Cao Bang, Bac Kan,…It is a poisonous tree, especially as for the tuber, the toxic amount in the au tau tuber can make people’s limbs numb. If you know how to prepare the au tau tuber, it becomes a nutritious delicacy.
The cooked porridge has a dark brown color, looks like a bowl of lowland porridge, and has a special fleshy, fatty and fragrant taste. Because it is a medicinal flavor, the characteristic of Au Tau porridge is bitter like Panax notoginseng. However, the bitterness mixed with the fleshy, flexible piece of Au Tau, mixed with the sweetness of the simmered bone broth and the fragrant aroma of the eggs, lingers into a fragrance and sweet taste in the neck. It creates a strange and attractive feeling.
Au Tau Porridge is often sold all year round, but mainly in the evening. Because people here believe that the essence of this dish is best absorbed in the evening.
6.2. Thang Co
This is a unique dish originating from the H’mong ethnic people. Initially, thang co was only cooked with meat and internal organs of the horse. But later, to suit everyone’s taste, people replaced horse meat with buffalo, cow, and pig meat to make it easier to eat. It’s suitable for local people. But if you are a foodie adventure lover you may try it.
6.3. Smoked Buffalo Meat
Smoked buffalo meat is a typical dish of the Northwest people. The buffaloes are grazed nomadically so the meat is very firm. After taking the meat, the people will slice it into pieces along the grain and then marinate it with basic spices. Such as salt, pepper and indispensable typical ingredients like Mac Khen and Doi seeds. Coming here to try the most authentic buffalo meat dish.
7. Accommodation when traveling to Thien An Pagoda
Traveling to Thien An Pagoda, you can refer to some accommodations below:
7.1. Hotels:
- Toan Vinh Hotel. Address: House number 18, Group 4, Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Toan Phat Hotel. Address: Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Tan Binh 1 Hotel. Address: Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Huy Phuong Hotel. Address: Tan Son Village, Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Vinh Ha Hotel. Address: Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
7.2. Guesthouses:
- Phuong Huy Guest House. Address: Highway 2, Vinh Tuy, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Thuy Chi Guesthouse. Address: Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Thuy Linh Guesthouse. Address: Tan Thanh, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Khanh Hoa Guest House. Address: Highway 2, Hung An, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Dai Duong Guesthouse. Address: Hung An, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
7.3. Homestays:
- Truly Bac Quang Bed and Breakfast. Address: Quang Tien Village, Quang Minh, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
- Homestay Ban Man. Address: Group 1, Viet Quang Town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang.
8. Some famous tourist attractions near Thien An Pagoda
Traveling to Thien An Pagoda, you can visit the following tourist attractions in Bac Quang:
8.1. Nam An eco-tourism area
Nam An eco-tourism area is the first eco-tourism area in Bac Quang district, Ha Giang. Because this place is located at an altitude of 1000m above sea level, the climate here is quite cool and fresh. The vegetation is extremely rich, the surrounding primeval forest and many small waterfalls. It’s flowing through and creating a beautiful natural picture.
Nam An is also the living area of the Dao ethnic group. Therefore, this place is imbued with the cultural identity and traditional customs of the villagers. Coming here, you not only can immerse themselves in nature but also have the opportunity to learn about culture. You can participate in traditional festivals such as Cap Sac festival, Fire Dance,… extremely interesting.
8.2. Cultural Tourism – Spiritual Village of Tan Son village
Tan Son village is located at the end of Tay Con Linh range, in Viet Quang town, Bac Quang, Ha Giang. The villagers here are mainly ethnic minorities. Specifically the Dao people account for more than 90%.
In recent years, Tan Son village has become a cultural and spiritual tourist destination known to many people through activities imbued with traditional culture such as: folk dance, folk dance, coming of age ceremony, etc. Here, visitors can also admire the rich and diverse natural landscape and extremely cool climate.
8.3. Thac Thi tourist area
Thach Thi tourist area is about 1.5km from the center of Bac Quang district, a place tourists should not miss when visiting Thien An pagoda. This place is considered one of the most poetic waterfalls in Ha Giang. Coming here, visitors not only admire nature but can also soak in the cool water.
8.4. Nam Pau Cave
Nam Pau Cave is an ideal destination for tourists who love adventure and experience if they choose to travel to Ha Giang. This place is famous for its shimmering stalactites, considered the second Phong Nha – Ke Bang in Vietnam.
The cave mouth is about 10 meters wide. The deeper you go inside, the more you will be surprised by the large interior space of up to tens of thousands of square meters. Stepping inside, a whole wonder appears before your eyes with mysterious mountain scenery and beautiful stalactites.
Thien An Pagoda is a reflection of a more peaceful Ha Giang, where religious and natural elements are intertwined seamlessly. Sites such as these are sometimes part of a larger itinerary, especially if one is interested in seeing Ha Giang beyond the beaten path.
