Huyen Tran Cultural Centre - A Sacred Spiritual Attraction

Huyen Tran Cultural Centre is located in An Tay Ward, about 7km southwest of Hue, on an area of 28.5 ha near the foot of the Ngu Phong Mountain. It has many historical, cultural and artful works full of spiritual significance, of which the most noted are the temples dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the patron saint of the Truc Lam Buddhist sect in Vietnam, and his daughter, Princess Huyen Tran (1287-1340).

Visitors to Huyen Tran Cultural Centre in Hue city will have an opportunity to contemplate the wholesome environment shaded by green pine trees and surrounding forests and mountains, visit the temples and shrines for worshiping, do research on Buddhism, compose poems or relax and absorb the magnificent surroundings. The entire complex is located amid a grandiose natural setting that highlights the value of the cultural and art works and their spiritual impression. Visitors at Huyen Tran Cultural Centre. The yard in front of the 3-gate entrance is paved with Bat Trang ceramic tiles. The temple dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong. The shrine dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong. Statue of Mitreya near the foot of Ngu Phong Mountain. A sculptural work engraved with grafted glazed terrace-cotta tiles. The statue of nun Huong Trang. The great celebration of the day when King and Master of Truc Lam Zen sect, Tran Nhan Tong went into Nirvana (lunar January 1st). The festival at Huyen Tran Temple on lunar January 9th. Engravings of the famous pagodas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Hoa Binh copper bell. Ringing Hoa Binh (peace) bell.  Situated in the temple dedicated to King Tran Nhan Tong, who is considered the master of the Truc Lam Buddhist sect in Vietnam, is a statue of his Royal Highness, made of pure copper, standing 3m high and weighing 2 tonnes. It is cast identically to the original statue of the Tran Kings for worship in Nam Dinh Province. In front of King Tran Nhan Tong's shrine and along the stairway leading to it, are a pair of stone dragons made in the style of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). In the yard and along the staircases there are statues of elephants, horses, dragons and lions, believed to be spirits that safeguard the king's after world, making it impressive with a quiet and solemn beauty. The temple dedicated to Princess Huyen Tran was built with the architecture of Hue pagodas. The entire structure lies on a horizontal axis. In front of the first shrine there are three copper bas-reliefs engraved with scenes from the three regions of the country. In the main chamber, there is a copper statue of Princess Huyen Tran, 2.37m high and 1.5 tonnes in weight, which was cast by famous artisans from Hue. Besides the temples, in the open and spacious space there is an octagonal shaped house where stands a statue of the Nun Huong Trang and a courtyard with a statue of Mitreya (Buddha). After climbing on 246 stone stairs, visitors will arrive at the top of Ngu Phong Mountain, 108 m high, where there is a bell tower named Hoa Binh,  (peace) housing a bell made of pure copper, 2.16m high and 1.6 tonnes in weight, and carved with eight words, literally, "For a peaceful world, for a happy mankind", together with pictures of four pagodas typical for the country, namely Giac Lam Pagoda (in Ho Chi Minh City), Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue), Dien Huu Pagoda (Hanoi) and Truc Lam-Yen Tu Pagoda (Quang Ninh). Huyen Tran Cultural Centre is one of the tourist sites that provide visitors a sense of returning to the root of the country's glorious history to pay homage to people who had merits in building the country.