Thien Mu Pagoda

Situated on the north bank of the Perfume River the Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved religious sites in Vietnam. The name of the pagoda comes from a legend. Long ago an old woman known as Thien Mu ("Heavenly Lady") appeared on the hill where the pagoda now stands. She told the local people that one day a King would come and build a Buddhist temple for the country’s prosperity. In 1601, on hearing this legend, King Nguyen Hoang began construction of the pagoda. The tower has seven levels (21m tall) and is the tallest such structure in Vietnam. (Hue, Vietnam)