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Must-visit temples in Ho Chi Minh City

Must-visit temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Minh Nguyen
Must-visit temples in Ho Chi Minh City

After exploring the lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh City and contemplating historical sites and unique French architecture structures here, you will be recommended to must-see pagodas letting you perceive the locals’ religious culture amid the high-octane level. To perfect your Ho Chi Minh City tours, do not miss them!


Vietnam National Pagoda (Vietnam Quoc Tu)


Vietnam National Pagoda (Vietnam Quoc Tu)
Vietnam National Pagoda (Vietnam Quoc Tu)


Located at Ba Thang Hai Street and among the highest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Quoc Tu will be a must-see destination for your Ho Chi Minh City tour. What fascinates lots of travelers to the pagoda is its captivating beauty and mighty architectural style. Constructed in the 1960s, the site is depicted as a seven-story tower whose first one is open to visitors. It will be a great experience to walk and get to know about the religious culture around here.


Jade Emperor Pagoda


Jade Emperor Pagoda
Jade Emperor Pagoda


One of the most important shrines you should add to your bucket list is Jade Emperor Pagoda (Ngoc Hoang Pagoda), the city’s popular religious site. Built in 1892, the pagoda leaves a strong impression on tourists by a Chinese architectural style with colorful Yin-Yang roof and brick decoration. Though 100 statues in the pagoda made of cartridge papers are approximately 100 years old, they still look new and wonderful.


Emperor Jade Pagoda is indeed a living and working shrine in use by the locals who frequently come here to say prayers or make votive offerings of light candles, joss sticks and flowers. Due to the increased number of the worshippers, the place may become busy and feel a little cramped. Along with serving as a place for worship, it is also great for photograph lovers to have breathtaking shots, especially in the morning sunlight.


Thien Hau Pagoda


Thien Hau Pagoda
Thien Hau Pagoda


Located at irrepressible Nguyen Trai Street, Thien Hau Pagoda, among must see pagodas in Ho Chi Minh city carries marks of Chinese culture as it is dedicated to a traditional Chinese goddess, namely Thien Hau. Not belonging to Buddhism, Thien Hau is merely a spiritual icon from the Chinese’s seafaring culture, who is, in the fishermen’s mind, capable of following their ships on the sea as well as protecting them from bad situations. Basically, the pagoda was erected with the goal of expressing their gratitude to Thien Hau due to what she has done for their seafaring work.


Although Thien Hau is not the most exquisite pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, it is famous for awesome incense. There are countless coils of incense hung in the primary worship area, also in front of the altar; it will bring you a comfortable feel when it is being burned and you are roaming around here. Besides, what makes the pagoda more emerging is a range of unique decorations on roofs and walls, getting you absorbed for sure.


Vinh Nghiem Pagoda


Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda


Vinh Nghiem literally translated means “ever solemn.” Built over a span of seven years, this pagoda, unlike the others in Ho Chi Minh City, was constructed using concrete. The structures of the pagoda fuse Vietnamese architecture with that of the Japanese. The complex has an area of around 6,000 square meters and consists of the pagoda itself, a four storey-tower that stands behind the pagoda, and a building with classrooms and housing for the monks and nuns. It serves as a centre for Buddhist beliefs and practices, while is also one of the most beautiful attractions for tourists to stop by and explore. 


You can visit the pagoda all year around, but the best time is during Lunar New Year or the 15th of every month. You will be surrounded by many other people, so you will get a chance to witness their rituals and have a chat with them.


Giac Lam Pagoda


Giac Lam Pagoda
Giac Lam Pagoda


As the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Giac Lam Pagoda is also recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as the national historical and cultural relic. Its highlight focuses on the complex of towers built at the beginning of the 19th century. Unlike others, Giac Lam Pagoda was designed under the South Vietnam’s architectural style. There were a total of 38 multi-sized towers, based on the combination of the architectural style of the ethnic minorities and light resemblances of both Western and Eastern architecture.


Today, it still maintains a number of valuable historical cultural and sculptural documents and items. On some special occasions, dozens of domestic and foreign tourists arrive in here to go sightseeing, spread their eyes over the pagoda’s unique architecture, as well as burn the joss sticks to pray for every best wish.


Buu Long Temple


Buu Long Temple


Buu Long temple, located in District 9, is one of the most beautiful temples in Ho Chi Minh City, mixing architectural styles of India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and of course, Vietnam. It was built in 1942, on a hill near the Dong Nai River. Not only is the temple architecturally very beautiful and intricate, decorated in gorgeous gold, but also there is a fountain and a semi-circle lake in front of the pagoda, perfect for pictures. There are striking differences between Buu Long temple and others found in Ho Chi Minh City. One is that the use of incense and candles is not allowed within the premises. Another is only Buddha is worshiped in this temple, whereas other pagodas serve many deities.


Source Internet


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