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

  • 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.

  • Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh

    In a quiet corner of bustling downtown Ho Chi Minh City stands Notre Dame Cathedral, the one remaining stronghold of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam.

  • Quan Lan Island

    Quan Lan Island is located within the area of Bai Tu Long Bay, stretching on a total area of 11 square kilometers, from Van Don mountains to Giot Mountain.

  • Phat Diem Cathedral

    Phat Diem Cathedral is one of the most famous and beautiful churches in Vietnam with special architecture: an elegant combination of Western architectural style and...

  • Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

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

  • Sa Dec flower village

    Sa Dec is home to many kind of flowers and one of flower centers of South Vietnam. The best time to visit Sa Dec village is in spring when all flowers are blooming and Sa Dec...

  • Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh

    Situated in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, bustling Ben Thanh Market in District 1 is a great place to buy local handicrafts, branded goods, Vietnamese art and other souvenirs.

  • The Japanese covered bridge

    The Japanese Covered Bridge or Cau Chua Pagoda (in Vietnamese “Cau Nhat Ban”) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hoi An, Vietnam.

  • Hue Imperial Citadel

    Famously being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue has long been a must-see attraction for tourists visiting a hidden charm of...

  • 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...

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