Huong Pagoda Nominated as New World Heritage Site
Vietnam is seeking UNESCO’s recognition for its Chua Huong (Perfume Pagoda) complex as a World Heritage Site, according to a source from the Ministry of Culture and Information.
Chua Huong, about 70km southwest of Hanoi, is the most famous pagoda in Vietnam. It consists of 18 tourist attractions including temples, pagodas and caves scattered in four hamlets in My Duc district, northern Ha Tay province. Most of them were built in the 15th century.
The uniqueness of Chua Huong is that the mountains, river and forest in the complex appear like an oasis for Buddhists in the middle of the great plains of northern Vietnam. This location truly incorporates all the elements of beauty that is often used in Eastern philosophy and arts.
The most outstanding spots are Huong Tich Grotto - considered as the most beautiful grotto in Vietnam.
Annually, the Chua Huong festival, which lasts three month starting on the 6th day of a new lunar year, attracts about half a million visitors including pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country and foreigners.
If the nomination file is approved, the Perfume Pagoda will be the sixth named World Heritage Site in Vietnam. The other five are Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh province, Hue former imperial city in central Thua Thien Hue province, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Quang Binh province, and My Son holly land and Hoi An ancient town in central Quang Nam province.
Vietnam also boasts its court music or nha nhac as a world intangible heritage.
The communist country is now also seeking UNESCO’s recognition for five other intangible cultural heritages. They include the gong-beating art of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) in the northern region, epic stories from ethnic minorities, Quan Ho love duets from northern Bac Ninh province and water puppetry in the northern delta.
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