7 Perfume Pagoda Tours That Repay the Day

1.Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Private or Small-Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 174 reviews · from $67Our pick

Travel from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda with an English-speaking guide, cruise the Yen Stream by rowboat, visit Thien Tru and Huong Tich Cave, and stop for lunch. You can walk the steep mountain path or pay extra for the cable car. Guide Minh is praised for clear explanations and good humor.

“smooth tour with a great tour guide. A few of us decided to walk up to the mountain and boy was that a challenge but it was nice. the only downside was my weak stomach.”

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2.Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Group Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 141 reviews · from $48

Travel from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Perfume Pagoda by coach, electric vehicle, rowboat, and footpath. Visit Huong Tich Cave and Thien Tru Pagoda with an English-speaking guide such as Minh or Long. Lunch is included, and you can choose a cable car to reduce the climb.

“the perfume pagoda complex is amazing, i really enjoyed it! it is a bit far away from Hanoi so it's good to be prepared for a very long full day (and can get a bit cold through the river path in particular). time spent in each stop felt enough, the tour is great and doesn't feel rushed at all. my guide was a highlight of the day too! thanks Long for the singing and all the knowledge you shared!”

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3.Full Day Tour to Perfume Pagoda with Traditional Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · from $39Best value

Travel from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda with an English-speaking guide, a sampan ride on Yen Stream, lunch, and visits to Thien Tru and Huong Tich Cave. Guide Minh, who comes from the village, may lead the tour and adds local context. Bring cash for boat, cable car, and electric-car fees.

“Great tour. A lot of walking up and steps. Beautiful scenery. Tour guide Minh was really nice. He’s from the village, so he’s very knowledgeable about the history and 3 months festival that takes place there.”

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4.Perfume Pagoda – Yen Stream Boat Ride, Lunch & Cave

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 85 reviews · from $49

Travel from Hanoi Old Quarter in a small group of up to 12, then ride a bamboo boat along Yen Stream to Perfume Pagoda. Guide Minh is praised for explaining local beliefs, legends, and village life. The day includes lunch, an English guide, transport, an electric car, and visits to Huong Tich Cave and Thien Tru Pagoda.

“This is a remote place, not as far as Ninh Binh, but the road felt as long. The boat trip is nice (if the weather is nice), although is a bit too long. And you need to go by boat both ways! The place itself is good: the pagoda is beautiful and the cave is absolutely spectacular. The only competition for it is a cave near Da Nang (among what I've seen so far). Even if the weather is not well, you can still enjoy both places. The cable car is OK, but nothing exceptional. What is not very good there - the whole place is overrun with sellers (who…”

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5.Perfume Pagoda Full-Day Guided Tour from Hanoi – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · from $49

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Perfume Pagoda by coach and rowboat. Visit Huong Tich Cave and Thien Tru Pagoda, eat a Vietnamese lunch, and hear local history from an English-speaking guide. Minh, Louis, Chang, Kong, and Tony have all led highly praised departures. The cable car costs extra.

“The tour itself is excellent. Its such a beautiful part of Vietnam. Rich in culture and a visual spectacular. Our guide was average. Limited information that was just repeated over and over again. We felt that the management of the tour was just a little to relaxed and casual. Still very much worth the time. Some great memories.”

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6.Perfume Pagoda Day Tour with Boat Ride & Cave Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 20 reviews · from $46

Travel two hours from Hanoi to the Perfume Pagoda, float along Yen Stream, visit Huong Tich Cave, and eat a Vietnamese lunch. Guide Minh is praised for clear storytelling, humor, photos, and helpful service. The cable car and electric cart cost extra, and the cave requires a moderate walk.

“Minh was an excellent tour guide, you could ask him anything. He taught us a lot about the stories and legends of the Perfume Pagoda, and he did it in perfect English. He always kept us in a good mood. Lunch was really generous. We couldn't eat everything :) Minh takes pictures of you during the trip, which he then sends to you via WhatsApp. I'd totally recommend this tour with Minh to anyone You'll definitely have a great, humorous day and feel very comfortable as a tourist. Thanks Minh :)”

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7.Perfume Pagoda Day Tour from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · from $62

This 8-hour trip takes you from Hanoi by air-conditioned bus to a boat on the Yen Vi River, then by cable car and stairs to Huong Tich Grotto. Lunch, admission, transport, and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides named Lee, Long, Sean, and Ling have received praise, though the guide can vary.

“The scenery Felt we were being rushed along. Breakfast at 7:30 followed by brunch at 9:30...didn't work.”

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