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

  • Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City

    The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh is a beautifully preserved remnant of French colonial times and perhaps the grandest post office in all of Southeast Asia. Located next...

  • Thien Cung Cave

    Thien Cung Cave is considered the most beautiful primitive cave of Halong Bay with complicated interior structure, many floors, and high ceiling. Thien Cung Cave...

  • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    This is the most recent yet probably the largest and undoubtedly the most interesting Museums in Hanoi and Vietnam.

  • Hanoi Flag Tower

    Hanoi Flag Tower at the age of nearly 200 years is renowned as one of the symbols of Hanoi. The construction began in 1805 and completed in 1812, the 11th year of Gia Long...

  • Datanla Waterfall

    Datanla waterfall is a well-known for an adventure destination with the largest waterfall in Dalat . Tourists enjoy not only the spectacular landscapes here but also many...

  • 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...

  • An Bang Beach

    An Bang Beach is one of the few stretches of beach in Hoi An that’s relatively unspoiled by development, making it a popular option for soaking up the sun and enjoying...

  • 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.

  • My Khe beach

    The Mother Nature has endowed Danang dynamic city with the unique and stunning beauty of My Khe beach. My Khe Beach is recognized as one of the most beautiful beach of...

  • Thong Nhat Park

    Thong Nhat Park is located next to Hanoi Circus, about 15 minutes by bike to the Old Quarter.

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