Chùa Từ Hiếu

A serene and historic pagoda tucked away in a pine forest just outside Hue. Founded in 1843, Tu Hieu is still an active monastery, home to a community of monks who you may see going about their daily routines or hear chanting during prayer times. The deep, resonant sound of the temple bell carries through the trees, adding to the calm and spiritual atmosphere. The grounds are beautifully kept, with lotus ponds, shaded courtyards, and ancient tombs, including the resting places of many Nguyen Dynasty eunuchs. It’s a fascinating blend of history and living tradition — a place to pause, reflect, and experience the peaceful heart of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Beyond its touching story of filial piety, Tu Hieu Pagoda is also special because of how its architecture blends so beautifully with the poetic scenery. It feels like you've stepped into a peaceful, almost magical world in the middle of a green pine forest. That’s what makes this pagoda so unique: it’s totally a part of nature. As you follow the small, tree-lined path, Tu Hieu Pagoda slowly appears. It has this airy feel and a charming, simple look that also has a touch of Hue's royal architecture. When you get here, you'll feel so pure and will probably forget all your city worries while breathing in the fresh air.

The most serene pagoda with the sound of monks humming matras to lift their vibration. Both beautiful and serene with a bookshop across the road. I was also lucky to get a glimpse of young monk training for strength and martial arts. A truly special and unique experience.

Really serene temple located in Hue. It was a lovely place to spend an afternoon, walk along the little ponds and enjoy the peacefulness amidst the busy city. This is a truly a gem.

I visited Tu Hieu Pagoda as a pilgrimage of sorts to honor my teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, who lived there as a novice first and later in the last years of his life. It is a wonderful place to visit; it is very secluded on a quiet road, and you can wonder for hours quietly, meditate, sit by the lotus pond and hear the roosters. Amazingly, it is also not far from Bao Quoc Buddhist Center, where he attended classes and which still serves as a study center for aspiring monks and nuns. Thich Nhat Hanh used to walk 2 miles every day, and we took that walk as a way to honor him. I highly recommend taking time To visit Chua Tu Hieu; it provides the perfect respite from the busyness of the city

If you heard about the famous Vietnamese "Thich Nhat Hanh" buddhist monk, you should visit this temple as it is his "root temple" where he started his path. At the age 92, he had returned to this temple and spent the rest of his live until he passed away.

A really peaceful place to walk around and sit. No entrance fee. The ladies outside try hustle cash out of you to park your bike but you don't need to pay them. I enjoyed it here.

Went here when there was torrential rain however this probably added to the atmosphere. Really tranquil with beautiful trees and plants around. The temple and surroundings seem to be pretty open so you can walk around and explore as you please. We saw some monks praying while we visited which was nice to see. Probably one of my preferred temples visited during my stay in Vietnam.