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

  • Bac Ha market

    Located about 76 km from the train station, Bac Ha is a remote district of Lao Cai province. Bac Ha market which takes place every Sunday is famous for the originality and...

  • Mariamman Hindu Temple

    Situated close to the Ben Thanh market, the Mariamman Hindu temple serves the small community of 100 or so Chinese and Vietnamese Tamil Hindus living in Ho Chi Minh City.

  • Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

    Just across the street from the Temple of Literature, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum can be found spotted easily from afar.

  • Ly Quoc Su Pagoda

    Located at 50 Ly Quoc Su Street in the Old Quarter, only 50m from St Joseph's Cathedral, Ly Quoc Su Pagoda is one of the oldest ones of its kind in Hanoi

  • Non Nuoc Beach

    Non Nuoc Beach in Da Nang takes up five kilometres of Hoa Hai Ward’s coastline, featuring soft white sands, a gentle slope, unpolluted waters and mild waves all year...

  • Tra Co Beach

    With the extensive beach of smooth white sand and blue transparent water, Tra Co Beach is the border of a natural island which is created by the impact of waves and sea stream...

  • Ba Be Lake

    Ba Be lake is one of the most 16 th beautiful lake and one of the most one hundered largest freshwater lake in the world. Ba Be lake is a destination that you should not...

  • Hanoi Old Quarter

    Getting to know more about the culture, custom and tradition of Hanoi absolutely will impress you so much while visiting Hanoi. One of the hottest spots in Hanoi that can...

  • Bach Ma National Park

    With close proximity to both Hue and Danang, Bach Ma national park is simple a cannot-afford-to-miss for nature lovers and especially bird-watching enthusiasts.

  • Vietnam War Memorial

    Across from the Ba Dinh Square from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Building and in between Ho Chi Minh complex and Thang Long ancient city is Vietnam War Memorial.

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