Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam Pagoda, built in 1744, is the oldest Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City and as such was listed as an important historical site by the Vietnamese Department of Culture in 1988.

Situated in Binh Than District, the pagoda is surrounded by spacious, walled garden and fronted by statues of mythical dragons, the protective guardians to many temples here.

 

Giac Lam Pagoda

Inside, this richly decorated shrine is comprised of three areas: the ceremonial hall, the chanting hall and the refectory. This large and sprawling establishment houses beautifully rendered images of Buddha in various incarnations, along with numerous Taoist deities, each with own altar. All the wooden pillars are decorated with red-and-gold Chinese characters.

The ceremonial hall is dominated by the large statue of Amitabha Buddha, who is surrounded by five smaller Buddha images. Also in the main hall is the ‘nine dragon altar’ depicting the birth of Prince Sidharta, the future Buddha Gotama.

Outside, a new addition, the 32-metre tall stupa dominates the temple grounds. This seven-story high, hexagonal structure contains a Buddha relic housed on the top floor. Visitors can climb up to the top floor for panoramic views of the city. In front of the stupa stands the white statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy on an open lotus flower, a symbol of purity.

Opening Hours: 05:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 20:00 daily

Location: 118 Lac Long Quan, District 3

See more

  • Dau Be Island

    Located in the southeast of Ha Long Bay, Dau Be Island is 500 m to the east of Hang Trai Island, 28km from Bai Chay Cruise Port, in an archipelago located in the bay outside...

  • Water Puppet Theatre

    Water puppetry is one of typical stage art of Vietnam culture- showing the intelligence, creativeness of people; being specialty of Vietnam’s wet - rice civilization.

  • Fairy Stream

    Fairy stream is flowing next to Cang Vang Hill in Mui Ne and its color is very unique. Besides, fairy stream has beautiful scenery that attracts many tourists.  

  • Bãi Dài (Long Beach)

    Bãi Dài (Long Beach) in Vân Đồn District, Quang Ninh Province is one of the most beautiful beaches in the North of Vietnam. It is known for the...

  • Long Bien Bridge

    If Hoan Kiem Lake with special green water and the red bridge named The Huc is the symbol of an elegant and charming ancient city; Red river and Long Bien bridge may be seen...

  • Thu Le Park

    Also known as Hanoi zoo, Thu Le Park is a popular place for families, especially those with young children.

  • Bach Thao Park

    Bach Thao means “hundreds of plants” and like its name, the park is one of the few green areas in the increasingly industrialized city of Hanoi. Bach Thao Park or...

  • Dau Go Cave

    Floating on the emerald water, Đầu Gỗ Island (Wooden Head Island) is amongst the most famous tourist attractions in Halong Bay. Inside Đầu Gỗ Island, tourists will...

  • Museum of History of Vietnamese Military

    Also popularly known as Military Museum, this is one of the oldest museums in Hanoi.

  • Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

    The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an outstanding place of interest not only for the Hanoi but also for the country as a whole and was inscribed on the World Heritage List...

Most popular tours

Business info

  • Vietnam Local Guide

  • Address: 18th Floor, VTC Online Tower, 18 Tam Trinh Str.,Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Email: info@vietnamguider.com
  • Phone: (+84) 0904989890
  • Hotline: (+84) 0904989890