Ho Chi Minh City Pagoda and Temple
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is located on 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Road, District 3, is the biggest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built between 1964 and 1971.
The pagoda is noteworthy for its ancient Asian architecture, a vast sanctuary and eight storey tower. On the first and fifth of lunar month, believers go to the pagoda to pay their respects, make offerings and pray for blessings.
At the base of the tower is a shop that sells Buddhist ritual objects. The pagoda opens daily.
Van Hanh Monastery
Van Hanh Monastery situated near the road between Phu Nhuan and Go Vap Districts. It includes the imposing Tam Quan (three entrance gate), the main court hall, Viet Nam Buddhism Research office and the Translation Council of Viet Nam prayer Books office.
Giac Lam Pagoda
Giac Lam Pagoda (also known as the Cam Son or Cam Dien Pagoda) is located at 118 Lac Long Quan Street in Tan Binh District. Built in 1744, it is one of the city is oldest pagodas and unlike many other local reigious structures, it has not been renovated since 1900, the architecture, layout, and ornamentation remain almost unaltered. The scenery around the pagoda is picturesque and many people come here to write or recite poetry.
Giac Vien Pagoda
The Giac Vien Pagoda is located in Lac Long Quan St., District 11. Built in 1798, it is architecturally similar to the Giac Lam Pagoda.
The most noteworthy elements of the pagoda are the finely carved wooden boards, typical of the ancient architecture of the south. The repairs carried out in 1958 and 1961-1962 were inspired by Western architecture.
Xa Loi Pagoda
The Xa Loi Pagoda is the largest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in 1956 to enshrine a sample of the relics of Gautama Buddha, and was also the headquarters of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association until 1981. During the dictatorship of President Ngo Dinh Diem (early 1960s) thousands of Buddhist monks were sent to jail and pagodas were closed, and the Xa Loi Pagoda became a centre of resistance against the Diem government. In August 1963 the pagoda was raided and vandalized by the army and many monks and nuns were arrested. President Diem was killed 3 months later.
The pagoda has a very colourful seven stories bell tower. It was opened in 1961 and stands 32 meters, which makes it the highest bell tower in Vietnam.
Phung Son Pagoda
Phung Son Pagoda is located at 1408, 3 Thang 2 Road, District 11. It was established in the early 19th century by Bonze Lieu Thong. Since then, it has undergone two major restorations. Many statues found in the pagoda were created by a group of craftsmen from Sa Dec. A number of valuable statues, such as Di Da Tam Ton, Ngu Hien Thuong Ky Thu, a stone statue of Buddha coverred with gold leaver, and a ceramic statue of Tieu Dien are also found in the pagoda.
Le van Duyet Temple
Le Van Duyet was born in 1764, in the village of Long Hung, Tien Giang province. He was a renowned military dignitary of the Nguyen Dynasty, and the last governor of the military province of Gia Dinh.
Due to a long feud between Duyet and Emperor Minh Mang 1835, the Emperor desecrated Duyet’s tomb and forbad anyone to offer candles of to burn incense on his behalf.
Le Van Duyet Temple is located on 126 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Binh Thanh District.
Tran Hung Dao Temple
Tran Hung Dao Temple is situated at 36 Vo Thi Sau Street, District1. It was first erected in 1932 as a Buddhist pagoda bearing the name of Van An. In 1958, it was entirely rebuilt, featuring the architecture seen today, forming a T-shape with two piled up roofs and eight curved corners adorned with dragon and phoexix figures.
It is styled after northern Vietnamese temples and communal houses. Inside, there are many hozizontal and vertical lacquered boards, as well as carved and meticulously inlaid incense tables. On the wall, there are pictures of Tran Hung Dao as he chased away Kublai Khan’s Monggol aggressors in the 13th century.