At an altitude of 534 meters above sea level, Hoa Yen Pagoda holds the position of the central pagoda in the entire system of pagodas and towers in the Yen Tu heritage site. The pagoda was originally named Van Yen. King Le Thanh Tong (1442-1497) renamed it Hoa Yen. Locals often refer to it as “Chua Ca” (Main Pagoda), “Chua Chinh” (Central Pagoda), or “Chua Yen Tu.” The pagoda once had a bell tower, drum tower, monk’s house, Dharma hall, and Phu Do Institute, serving as a place for practice, enlightenment, and the transmission of teachings of the Yen Tu Zen lineage. During the Ly Dynasty, Zen Master Hien Quang founded Van Yen Pagoda before 1220. During the Tran Dynasty, there were great monks like National Teacher Dao Vien, Dai Dang, Zen Master Tieu Dieu, and Hue Tue. Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, along with Phap Loa and Huyen Quang, inherited and developed the Yen Tu Zen lineage, establishing the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect, with the spirit of “entering the world” and “protecting the country and ensuring peace for the people.” During the Le Dynasty, Zen Masters Chan Tru and Chan Nguyen worked to revive the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect.

The pagoda has undergone several restorations. In 2002, with investment from the government and contributions from people across the country, Hoa Yen Pagoda was rebuilt on the foundation of the Tran-era pagoda, following the architectural style of “internal strength, external grandeur.” It features the Main Hall (Chính Điện) for worshiping Buddha, the Ancestor Hall, and bell and drum towers on either side. Beneath the current pagoda, the foundations of the Tran-era pagoda were preserved and uncovered during archaeological excavations in 2001.

The statues inside the pagoda are arranged according to the Northern Vietnamese style of worship.

Main Hall:

• Top row of statues in the inner sanctuary: The Three Buddhas.
• Second row of statues: The First Buddha and the Two Great Disciples.
• Third row: The Nine Dragon Throne.
• Fourth row: Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.
• To the right of the Buddha altar is the statue of Earth Store Bodhisattva (Dị Tạng Vương Bồ-tát).
• To the left of the Buddha altar is the statue of Avalokiteshvara (Quan Âm Chuẩn Đề).

Front Hall of the Main Hall:

• On the right is the statue of the Elder Monk, the Guardian of Law, and the Encourager of Virtue.
• On the left is the statue of the Sage King, Avalokiteshvara with a Thousand Hands and Eyes, and the Guardian of Law who Punishes Evil.

Ancestor Hall:

Statues displayed:

• In the center is the statue of the Three Patriarchs of the Truc Lam Zen Sect and the statue of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong entering Nirvana, alongside his disciple Bao Sai.
• To the right is the statue of the Three Kings and the statue of Saint Tran (Emperor Tran Hung Dao).
• To the left is the statue of the Three Holy Mothers.

Brief History of the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam:

• First Patriarch – Emperor Tran Nhan Tong: His life and career were introduced at the Ancestor Tower.
• Second Patriarch – Phap Loa: Born on May 7, 1284, in Nam Sach, Hai Duong, with the birth name Dong Kien Cuong. According to legend, his mother dreamed of a god giving her a sword, and after being pregnant, she had a son, later named Kien Cuong. He was a very intelligent child and abstained from meat and fish. In 1304, he met Emperor Tran Nhan Tong and asked to become a monk. The emperor recognized his spiritual insight and accepted him, giving him the name Thien Lai and later the Dharma name Phap Loa. In 1308, he became the second patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen Sect. He passed away on March 3, 1330, and was buried at the Viên Thông Pagoda.
• Third Patriarch – Huyen Quang: Born in 1254 in the village of Van Tai, Gia Binh, Bac Ninh, into a family of officials during the Ly Dynasty. He was a highly intelligent person, who passed the imperial exam and worked in the court. At the age of 51, after hearing Phap Loa’s teachings at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, he became enlightened and chose to leave the court to become a monk. At the age of 77, he was formally entrusted with the Dharma by the second patriarch, Phap Loa, becoming the third patriarch of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Sect. He passed away on January 23, 1334, and was buried at the Chiêu Minh Stupa in Côn Sơn Pagoda, now in Chi Linh, Hai Duong.

Before Hoa Yen Pagoda, there are three ancient trees that are several hundred years old. To the right of the pagoda stands the Hậu Phật Stele, which records the merits of Vu Thi Phuong, who donated funds to relieve famine in the Yen Tu mountain region before 1723.

Behind the pagoda are many tomb towers of Zen masters who practiced at Yen Tu, such as the Do Nhan Tower and the Huong Ha Tower. A short distance up the mountain, there is a beautiful tower made of blue-glazed bricks from the Tran Dynasty, called the “Zen Dinh Tower.” On the right side of the pagoda’s courtyard stands an ancient fig tree. According to local legends, figs and wild fruit from the forest were the vegetarian food of the Zen monks who practiced at Yen Tu.