Hon Chen Temple is a culturally significant religious sanctuary perched on the slopes of Ngoc Tran Mountain along the Perfume River. The landmark uniquely blends royal Nguyen Dynasty court architecture with vibrant Mother Goddess worship and folk beliefs. In 1993, it’s one of places within the Complex of Hue Monuments that was inscribed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all the information about it.
You may also like: Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue Vietnam
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Hon Chen Temple in Hue Vietnam
– Location/Address: Hai Cat village, Kim Long ward, Hue city, Vietnam
– Other name(s): Hue Nam Shrine/Temple, Ngoc Tran Temple
– Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm daily
– Entrance fee: 50,000 VND for adult and child above 12, free for children under 12
– Reason(s) to visit: one of the holiest temples in Hue, a building in Complex of Hue monuments (UNECSO world heritage site)
– Time to spend: 1 hour
– Best time to visit: dry season, festival dates
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hon-chen-temple-hue-vietnam
– Recognition(s): Unesco world heritage site (1993)
– Fact:
Hon Chen Temple on Map
History of Hon Chen Temple in Hue Vietnam
Originally, Hon Chen Temple is a small temple built by Cham people for worship of Po Nagar Goddess. She is the supreme Mother Goddess in ancient Cham mythology who created the earth, wood, and rice while teaching essential survival and agricultural skills to the people. Through centuries of syncretism, her indigenous identity merged with Hindu traditions, leading her to be worshipped as an incarnation of powerful deities like Bhagavati and Shakti, and later integrated into Vietnamese folk religion as Thien Y Ana Thanh Mau (Goddess).
In the 13th year of Minh Mang’s reign (1832), Empress Thuan Thiên Cao suffered from an eye ailment. When imperial physicians failed to cure her, the Emperor had prayers offered at Hon Chen Temple, and she recovered. The Emperor subsequently bestowed honorary titles and had the temple renovated, which led to an increase in officials participating in the worship of the Mother Goddesses.
Hòn Chén was also known as Hoàn Chén, meaning “returning the jade cup.” This name originated because Emperor Minh Mang once dropped a jade cup into the Perfume River during a visit here, thinking there was no way to retrieve it, when suddenly a turtle as large as a sleeping mat surfaced, holding the jade cup in its mouth to return it to the Emperor!
In 1886, after ascending the throne, Emperor Đong Khanh had the temple magnificently rebuilt, added numerous ritual objects, and notably renamed Hon Chen to Hue Nam Dien (Hue Nam Shrine/Temple) out of profound gratitude to the Holy Mother. “Hue Nam” is interpreted as bestowing graces upon the land of Nam and its King.
Emperor Dong Khanh also elevated the temple’s festivals to the status of national rituals, held during the first ten days of the 3rd and 7th lunar months. The Emperor himself professed to be a disciple of the Holy Mother.
HOIAN DAY TRIP daily organizes the boat tour on Perfume River to Hon Chen Temple.
Tour details: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hue-dragon-boat-tour-with-tomb-pagoda/
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to make a reservation. Thank you very much!
What to Expect in Hon Chen Temple in Hue?
Besides the main worshipping structure, Minh Kinh Dai, the complex also features many other worship spaces:
– Trung Thien Dai – located in front of the main hall, flanked by two octagonal houses dedicated to mandarins, wandering souls, fallen soldiers, etc.
– Quan Cu – the place for preparing ritual offerings.
– Trinh Cat Vien – dedicated to those who contributed to looking after the temple; the middle compartment houses the ancestral tablet of the village tutelary deity of the Le clan from Hai Cat village.
– Bac Te Duong – dedicated to Guan Yu.
– Dinh Ngu Hanh – dedicated to the Five Holy Mothers, the Mountain Goddess (Am Mau Thuong Ngan), the cave shrine of the Tiger Lord, etc.
– Thuy Phu Temple – located right by the riverbank, dedicated to the Water Dragon Deity (Thuy Long Ton Than).
HOIAN DAY TRIP daily organizes the boat tour on Perfume River to Hon Chen Temple.
Tour details: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hue-dragon-boat-tour-with-tomb-pagoda/
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Festival at Hon Chen Temple 2026
Here is the official schedule of Hon Chen Temple Festival in 2026:
August 20, 2026 (June 8th of Lunar Calendar):
06:00: Procession of the Holy Mother departing from 352 Chi Lang up to Hue Nam Temple.
09:30: The procession performs an offering ritual in front of Linh Mu Pagoda, then continues the journey.
10:00: Gathering at the boat wharf in front of Hue Nam Temple.
13:00: Welcoming the Holy Mother and the Council of the Four Palaces into the main hall; opening the festival and performing the Announcement Ritual (Le Cao Yet).
15:00: Pilgrimage activities and festival events.
19:00: Prayer ceremony for national peace and prosperity.
August 21, 2026 (June 9th of Lunar Calendar):
05:00: Repentance ritual.
06:00: Main sacrifice ritual, praying for national peace and prosperity.
From 08:30: Pilgrimage activities and ritual practices.
13:00: Procession of the Holy Mother and the Council of the Four Palaces to Hai Cat village communal house to attend the ceremony and festival events.
August 22, 2026 (June 10th of Lunar Calendar):
05:00: Main sacrifice ritual at Hai Cat village communal house.
08:00: Procession escorting the Holy Mother and the Council of the Four Palaces returning to Hue Nam Temple.
10:00: Gratitude ceremony and return procession to the Holy Mother’s shrine at 352 Chi Lang. End of the Festival.
HOIAN DAY TRIP daily organizes the boat tour on Perfume River to Hon Chen Temple.
Tour details: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hue-dragon-boat-tour-with-tomb-pagoda/
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to make a reservation. Thank you very much!
How to Get to Hon Chen Temple in Hue
Hon Chen Temple is located in Hai Cat village, Kim Long ward, Hue city, Vietnam. It’s also on the bank of the Perfume River, the main river of the city, and is not too far from Thieu Tri Tomb.
The distance from Hue city center to Hon Chen Temple is around 15 km. Visitors can get there by a car/van/bus or ride the motorbike. A non-stop drive by car is around 40 minutes. We recommend combining some other famous attractions to spend a half day (or couple of hours) such as Minh Mang Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Dong Khanh Tomb, Vong Canh Hill, Thuy Xuan Incense Village, Thieu Tri Tomb, Thuy Tien Lake (Abandoned Waterpark).
If like going by a scooter, ride towards Thien Mu Pagoda by the riverside road and then turn into QL1A Highway. At this spot 16°24’46.5″N 107°33’19.4″E on Google maps, turn left and go straight until the end (to see the main/front entrance of the temple). From Thien Mu Pagoda – a must see attraction in Hue, visitors can go westwards (Van Thanh Road) and then turn into Long Ho Road. Follow this peaceful road until the end to see the back entrance of Hon Chen Temple.
In addition, visitors also can go to Hon Chen Temple by boat. From Hue city center (Toa Kham pier or 05 Le Loi Pier), this boat trip is approximately an hour if do not stop anywhere for sightseeing. Before Hon Chen Temple, it’s possible to see Thien Mu Pagoda and even Temple of Literature or Vong Canh Hill, and after Hon Chen Temple, Minh Mang Tomb is a perfect destination.
If do not like a long boat trip, visitors can take a short boat ferry to Hon Chen Temple. From Hue city center, take a car/van or ride the motorbike to Ben Than Pier (16°25’12.3″N 107°33’52.4″E on Google maps). Here, there are many dragon boats to choose from, and the price won’t be expensive. Remember to book and ask the final price for two ways. Near this pier, visitors can sightsee Thieu Tri Tomb or keep going up to Minh Mang Tomb.
HOIAN DAY TRIP daily organizes the boat tour on Perfume River to Hon Chen Temple.
Tour details: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hue-dragon-boat-tour-with-tomb-pagoda/
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Dress Code at Hon Chen Temple in Hue
HOIAN DAY TRIP daily organizes the boat tour on Perfume River to Hon Chen Temple.
Tour details: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hue-dragon-boat-tour-with-tomb-pagoda/
Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Hon Chen Temple
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Hon Chen Temple in Hue Vietnam:
