[2] It is thought that the first temple was a small structure on the current site of Thiên Trù which existed during the reign of Lê Thánh Tông in the 15th century.

[3] A stele at the current temple dates the building of a terrace, stone steps and Kim Dung shrine to 1686, during the reign of Lê Hy Tông, at around the same time that Chùa Trong was being constructed.

[3] Thiên Thủy stupa, a naturally occurring structure that is the result of the erosion of a rocky hill, is also nearby.

[1] Thiên Trù is also home to a bell tower and Hall of the Triple Gem, last restored in the 1980s.

[2] On the route from Thiên Trù to Hương Tích cave is Giải Oan Temple, also called 'Clearing Unjust Charges' Pagoda.

The characters (Nam thiên Đệ nhất Động) are translated as "the foremost cave under the Southern Heavens" and the carving is dated to 1770.

The pilgrims then make their way to Hội bridge and visit Thanh Sơn temple inside a cave.

At Hương Tích there are statues of deities, but many pilgrims come to get blessings from the stalactites and stalagmites, many of which are named and have special purposes.

[2] Pilgrims often gather under one particular stalactite, which resembles a breast, to catch drops of water in hopes of being blessed with health from the 'milk' of the 'breast'.

[1] Many restaurants in Hương Temple kill and butcher wildlife including civets, deer, porcupine, wild pig and serve it as special, rare or expensive meat which is particularly popular during the festival period.

The poem tells the story of a girl who accompanied her father on pilgrimage to Chùa Hương and found love while there.