Explore Long Tien Pagoda - The Temple at the Foot of Bai Tho Mountain

1 About Long Tien Pagoda

1.1 The history of the pagoda

Long Tien Pagoda was built in 1941, during the Nguyen dynasty. It is dedicated to deities, Buddhas, and generals who made great contributions to the country. The pagoda follows the Northern Buddhist tradition, which encourages people to seek liberation for themselves and others—not only attaining enlightenment and liberation for oneself, but also helping all sentient beings attain enlightenment and liberation.

1.2 Where is Long Tien Pagoda?

Long Tien Pagoda is the largest pagoda in Ha Long. Located on the street of the same name, it is renowned for preserving the city’s longstanding historical and cultural heritage. The pagoda also sits at the foot of Bai Tho Mountain, in a peaceful, tranquil setting that is ideal for spiritual activities and worship. Every Lunar New Year, Long Tien Pagoda holds a festival where visitors and Buddhists from near and far come to pay their respects and pray for good fortune and peace.

1.3 The best time to visit Long Tien Pagoda

The best time of year to visit Long Tien Pagoda is during its festival, held shortly after Lunar New Year. Many cultural, spiritual, and recreational activities take place at the pagoda then. A visit to Long Tien Pagoda offers a glimpse into the lives, customs, and cultural beauty of Quang Ninh’s residents. The peaceful, tranquil atmosphere here is sure to help you forget the worries and bustle of the outside world. May through December is the low season for tourism, so the pagoda is relatively quiet, allowing you to admire the grounds in a serene atmosphere.

2 How to get to Long Tien Pagoda

To get to Long Tien Pagoda, you can take a coach from Hanoi, departing from bus stations such as Gia Lam, My Dinh, or Luong Yen. The coach will take you to Bai Chay Bus Station, where you can then take a taxi to the pagoda. 

If you prefer the flexibility of driving yourself, you can follow this route: Hanoi -> Sai Dong Junction -> Bac Ninh -> follow National Highway 18 to Pha Lai -> Chi Linh -> Dong Trieu -> Uong Bi -> Ha Long. From central Ha Long, turn onto Nguyen Du Street, then continue for about 700m to Le Thanh Tong Street. When you reach the parking lot at Bach Dang Theater, park there and take a taxi or motorbike taxi to the pagoda.

If you are touring Ha Long Bay and would like to visit Long Tien Pagoda, you can take a boat across the river. A boat trip to the pagoda costs around 100.000 VNĐ/person, and each trip usually carries about 10 people. Larger groups can save on costs.

3 Exploring Long Tien Pagoda

Long Tien Pagoda in Ha Long has extensive grounds, so if you want to explore the entire famous temple, you should set aside at least half a day and plan your itinerary carefully. As you enter Long Tien Pagoda, you will see the Tam Quan Gate, with three entrances representing Huu, Vo, and Dai. The largest gate is reserved for Buddhists coming to worship, while the two smaller side gates are for visitors.

Further inside the pagoda grounds, you will see a statue of Bodhidharma, regarded as the founder of Chinese Chan Buddhism. On the right side of the pagoda is an altar dedicated to Mother Van Phuong. Long Tien Pagoda honors the Northern Buddhist tradition, the generals of the Tran dynasty, and Buddhas in accordance with Vietnamese religious beliefs.

Sunrise and sunset are the most wonderful times to visit Long Tien Pagoda. The soft sunlight and tranquil atmosphere make it feel like a heavenly retreat, far removed from worldly concerns. If you visit in spring or during major holidays, however, it is best to come around midday or in the evening, when there are fewer visitors and you can avoid the crowds.

If you visit Long Tien Pagoda on the 23rd day of the fourth lunar month, you can join Buddhist pilgrims in the lively festival atmosphere. The festival also draws many visitors who come to pray for good fortune and success throughout the year and to ward off misfortune. Visitors are drawn to its fascinating rituals, which reflect Vietnam’s traditional culture, including cheo performances, processions carrying the tablet of Duc Ong, wrestling, ceremonial singing, and human chess.

4 Choosing offerings for Long Tien Pagoda

When visiting Long Tien Pagoda, many visitors wonder what offerings to present to the deities. Based on the experience of previous visitors, the offerings are much like those at other pagodas and may include fruit, sticky rice, sweet soup, and various cakes. You should also prepare flowers to offer to the deities and Buddhas, such as peonies, lotuses, or fresh chrysanthemums. Choose an odd number of fruits, making sure none are bruised or wilted.

One important point to remember is that you must not place votive paper money or paper offerings on the Buddha altar. Cash donations should be placed in the pagoda’s donation boxes. If you bring savory offerings, such as sticky rice, chicken, or a pig’s head, present them at the altars dedicated to the Tran dynasty generals or at the Mother Goddess temple.

5 Things to keep in mind when visiting Long Tien Pagoda

To help make your visit to Long Tien Pagoda go smoothly, MIA.vn would like to share a few tips based on our experience:

First, choose neat, modest, and respectful clothing in subdued colors when visiting Long Tien Pagoda. Buddhists should wear traditional Buddhist robes when presenting offerings to the deities.

Second, avoid making comments about religious matters, Buddha statues, or local rituals. Also, do not talk or laugh loudly in the Buddha hall or the Three Jewels hall, and do not swear or use offensive language anywhere on the pagoda grounds.

Third, eat and dispose of rubbish only in designated areas. Do not carry food or drinks while making offerings, as this would be disrespectful to the deities.

Finally, if you visit Long Tien Pagoda during a crowded festival, keep your belongings safe and beware of pickpockets and thieves.

This is the information about Long Tien Pagoda that MIA.vn would like to share with visitors. We hope you have the chance to explore the pagoda and offer incense here, bringing good fortune and success to yourself and your family.