Thien An Monastery in Hue City

Thien An Monastery is one of the few monasteries in Vietnam that possesses the beauty of Asian architecture. Its unique design style has helped this religious structure exude a typical reverence.

Located on the top of Thien An Hill, in Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy district, Thua Thien Hue province, Thien An Monastery was built in 1940.

Two French priests, Dom Romain Guillaume and Dom Corentin Colin, laid the foundation for this religious facility.

The first impression of this place is the smooth asphalt road through the cool green pine forest leading to the monastery. A little winding and a few gentle ups and downs make the path even more charming.

If the road promises a mysterious destination, Thien An Monastery is a surprise gift for travelers with adventurous minds.

In the middle of romantic pine hills, Thien An Monastery appears like a palace surrounded by tranquil greenery.

For the writer, the most robust and distinctive attraction of this place lies in the unique blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles.

These include decorative motifs or outstanding structures built on the entire central campus of the monastery.

As soon as I stepped into the parking lot, the writer was attracted by the 7-storey tower located right behind the statue of God. This 7-storey tower has an exterior similar to the structure of Phuoc Duyen Tower, located in front of the gate of Thien Mu Pagoda.

The main path leading up to the chapel is a row of steps shaded by green trees. The railing on the left is decorated with many "Happiness" frames in Chinese characters. Above is a row of square pillar lamps with a curved roof in a bold Asian style.

In front of the chapel is a beautiful garden area, including many ornamental plants and ancient trees arranged in a style similar to Vietnamese temple gardens.

The front of the chapel further shows the impressive appearance of the unique combination of two almost opposite architectural styles. This central building has the Gothic architectural style commonly found in Catholic churches. But at the same time, it has a secondary roof covered with yin-yang tiles protruding forward.

The entire front of the chapel reminds the tourists of the Tam Quan door architecture that often appears in Vietnamese temples and pagodas.

The building clearly shows two separate floors. The middle part is higher and broader. On both sides are two small, square attics decorated with round windows and lotus motifs.

The statue of Jesus stands out in the middle of the front of the chapel. At the same time, a dragon decoration, with two dragons facing the moon, is present. The three Chinese characters, "THÁNH," are embossed, extremely eye-catching, and solemn.

Thien An Monastery exudes a unique and different beauty, which is the result of the combination of seemingly contradictory details, creating a strong attraction.

Take the time to visit this beautiful and quiet monastery. It will bring you exciting experiences. Of course, you will definitely have many lovely photo frames with solemn, calm, and highly romantic scenery to mark a meaningful trip and share with friends and relatives.