Thien Mu Pagoda was established in 1601 and has long been one of the most important Buddhist sites in Vietnam. The seven-story tower, called Phuoc Duyen, was added in the nineteenth century during the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri and has since become an emblem of Hue itself. The complex sits on a hillside along the northern bank of the Perfume River and remains an active place of worship, home to resident monks and centuries of religious tradition. It is also closely associated with pivotal moments in twentieth-century Vietnamese history.

The view from the river is especially vivid in late afternoon, when the low sun warms the tower's upper tiers and the surrounding canopy seems almost to glow.