Chùa Từ Hiếu

In 1843, after resigning from the position of "Abbot of Giac Hoang Quoc Tu" and handing over the management of Bao Quoc Pagoda to his Dharma brother Nhat Niem, Abbot Nhat Dinh came here to establish a monastery and build "Thao Am An Duong" to practice meditation and care for his elderly mother. Abbot Nhat Dinh was famous for his filial piety. It is said that once his elderly mother was very ill, and although he took medicine every day, she did not recover. Someone worriedly advised him to buy more meat and fish to nourish his mother, hoping that only by doing so could she recover quickly. After hearing this, despite the gossip and criticism, the Zen master still walked through the forest to the market more than 5 km away to buy fish to cook porridge for his elderly mother. The story reached the ears of Tu Duc, who was a very filial king. The king was very impressed by Abbot Nhat Dinh's devotion and bestowed the title "Imperial Decree of Tu Hieu Tu". The pagoda has been named Tu Hieu Tu ever since. The stele recording the construction of the temple explains: "Compassion": is the great virtue of the Buddha; without compassion, how can one guide the four realms of existence and save all beings? "Filial piety": is the foremost virtue of the Buddha; without filial piety, how can one attain enlightenment and encompass heaven and earth? With the contributions of Buddhists, Emperor Tu Duc granted significant funds, and the temple also received donations from officials in the Nguyen dynasty, especially eunuchs, to support future worship. In 1848, Abbot Cuong Ky began constructing the temple on a larger scale, and Tu Hieu became a large temple. In 1894, Abbot Cuong Ky continued the renovation and reconstruction of the entire temple with the help of Emperor Thanh Thai, officials, and Buddhists. In 1931, Abbot Hue Minh continued the renovation and built the crescent-shaped pond. In 1962, Abbot Chon Thiet continued the renovation and beautification of the entire temple. In 1971, the temple's triple-arched gate, crescent-shaped pond, and damaged buildings were renovated by Venerable Thich Chi Niem. #Hue Car Cheap Rental - Xe Sân Bay Huế

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.

This is a place to sit down, calm down and breathe. The Pagoda is located in a quiet area, surrounded by many trees, with scenery walk.

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

A beautiful place for the soul and mind. Definitely worth visiting.