Huong Son Complex of Natural Beauty and Historical

Perfume Pagoda, as it is better known to foreigners, is really popular with Vietnamese tourists in March and April when they have religious festivals. The rest of the year it is dead quiet. To get here you need to join a tour or hire a driver. The tours are cheap compared to the other attractions around Hanoi.

When you get there you will see a crappy wharf with tiny metal row boats. Surely this can't be it? Yes it is! Those metal boats are hard on your ass so bring something to pad your butt for the 45 min boat ride along the canal. The boats are also uncovered so if the sun is glaring down you better have a hat. You later have to take the same route back with the rower asking you for a tip. Tipping is a difficult subject but she basically just rowed and waited, and then rowed back. You pay for that in a ticket already...besides that they tell you the boat needs 6 people so you need to pay extra if you don't want to wait which in my opinion is a bit of scam already.

When you get to the temple area you will see many restaurants. Shortly afterwards you get to see a big temple complex. This is actually not the Perfume Pagoda even though you see it on many pictures online. It is not a bad temple although aside from the main gate there are generally just new …