In Vietnam, Buddhism and spiritual culture have existed for a very long time, which is why there are still quite a few oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City that continue to exist and thrive. These temples have gone through thousands of ups and downs and have contributed to many pages of history with a lifespan of over 100 years. Not only do these oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City attract visitors with their unique architecture, but they also contain many distinctive cultural and religious features that you should explore.
When you enter the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City, you will immediately feel the peaceful, warm atmosphere that is completely different from the bustling streets. The serene scenery and the scent of incense in the silent space feel like transporting you to another world. Each temple carries its own story, expressing the faith and reverence of the people towards the deities and their ancestors.
Why Are There So Many of the Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City?
Looking back through the pages of history, since the Stone Age, ancient Vietnamese people have practiced the worship of deities and ancestors with the hope for blessings, protection, and abundant harvests. Over time, the practice of worship has evolved and become an important part of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese. Especially during the rice civilization, ancestor worship and the worship of protective deities became an indispensable custom in daily life.
Over the years, Ho Chi Minh City has become a crossroads of various cultures, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer, and French cultures. Each community brings its own beliefs and customs, leading to the establishment of temples to meet the worship needs and serve as a place to express the people’s reverence for the deities and their ancestors. Consequently, many ancient temples have become centers of cultural activities and venues for large ceremonies on traditional days. Therefore, when visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you can explore many interesting oldest temples. In this article, let’s join Jackfruit to uncover the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City – ancient temples that have existed for over 100 years.
Read more: Religion in Vietnam
Discovering Top 7 Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Giac Lam Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Giac Lam Temple, also known as Tổ Đình Giác Lâm, is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. Built in the 18th century and having withstood numerous historical upheavals, Giac Lam Temple is now over 300 years old. Initially, the temple was built collectively by monks and was known by various names. In 1774, Zen Master Viên Quang officially renamed the temple Giac Lam.
As of now, the temple has undergone several renovations and was a refuge during the revolutionary period. With a rich historical legacy, Giac Lam Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture in 1988. Since then, it has attracted many Buddhists for diligent practice.
As an oldest temple in Ho Chi Minh City, it features classic architecture characteristic of southern temples. Giac Lam Temple has a three-part structure with three connected sections: the main hall, the lecture hall, and the dormitory. Looking up at the temple’s roof, you will see the image of “two dragons competing for a pearl,” symbolizing the strength and protective power of the deities in the temple to bestow peace upon the people. Inside the main hall, sacred altars are dedicated to Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, and Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta.
Notably, around the main hall there are many large columns intricately carved with couplets, along with over 6,000 plates adorning the top of the main hall. These plates are crafted from the Lai Thieu pottery kiln in Binh Duong province, with some originating from Japan and China.
After visiting the main hall, you can step outside to admire the seven-story hexagonal stupa and the ancient tomb area, which houses the remains of Zen masters, monks, and practitioners who wished to be buried at the temple.
On the full moon days of the first and seventh months, or during the Vu Lan festival, people often come to the temple to hold ceremonies, choose wedding days, or seek blessings.
- Address: 565 Lac Long Quan Street, Ward 10, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 7 AM – 9 PM
Giac Vien Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Giac Vien Temple is related to Giac Lam Temple because originally it was built to oversee the timber sawing for the renovations of Giac Lam. However, after the renovation, Zen Master Viên Quang decided to convert this area into a temple and named it Viện Quan Âm. Until 1850, it was renovated again by Venerable Tiên Giác Hải Tịnh – the abbot of Giac Lam Temple at that time, and renamed Giac Vien Temple. Since then, people have often remembered both Giac Vien Temple and Giac Lam Temple due to this relationship, and it has thus become one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City.
The architecture of Giac Vien Temple consists of two interconnected four-column buildings, including the main hall in the front building and a lecture hall in the back building. The Buddha hall is majestically decorated and houses 120 statues, including those of Amitabha Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, most of which were created and carved during renovations in the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, the temple preserves many precious artifacts, such as the portraits of previous abbots. With its serene and sacred space, Giac Vien Temple is not only a historical monument but also a vibrant center for Buddhist activities. You can walk around the temple to directly enjoy its unique architectural style.
- Address: 161/35/20 Lac Long Quan, Ward 3, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 8 AM – 4 PM
Thien Hau Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Thien Hau Temple is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City, located in Chinatown in District 5. This temple is very famous and serves as a sacred symbol for the Chinese community in the heart of Saigon. Thien Hau Temple was initially constructed by a group of Chinese immigrants from Guangzhou who contributed funds for its establishment.
Since ancient times, the Chinese community has had a tradition of worshiping deities to pray for national peace and prosperity. Therefore, upon arriving in Vietnam, they carried with them cultural characteristics of the North, exemplified by the Thien Hau Temple, which has stood for many decades and embodies rich Chinese culture, attracting many visitors who come to pray for peace.
Thien Hau Temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, whose real name is Lam Mac Nuong, who lived during the Song Dynasty in China. Legend has it that Thien Hau was born on the 14th, rather than the usual 9 months and 10 days. Perhaps because of this, she displayed great talents in astronomy as she grew older, being able to predict the weather and unexpected calamities just by looking at the stars in the sky, thus helping fishermen at sea.
One time, while her father and two brothers were sailing, they encountered a great storm, and she managed to use her spiritual powers in a dream to save her family. However, just as she was about to do so, her mother called out to her, awakening her. Unfortunately, the waves swept her father away, and she could only rescue her two brothers. From then on, word of her deeds spread widely, and she was revered by the people. After her passing, they established a temple in her honor, which still exists today.
Thien Hau Temple consists of three sections forming the front hall, middle hall, and back hall. Upon entering, you will see the front hall, which has an open ceiling, allowing light in and smoke to escape to the heavens. To the left is a red board for writing wishes, hoping that Thien Hau will read them and grant blessings.
The front hall also houses the deities Phúc Đức Chán Thần and Mô Quan Vương Tả on either side, and above the walls, there are paintings depicting Thien Hau manifesting on the waves to save people. Moving further inside will lead you to the back hall, where the central area is dedicated to Thien Hau, while two side areas house statues of Quan Thanh, Dia Tang, and Than Tai. The temple is most crowded during the Tet holiday, as many people come to pray for peace in the new year.
In addition to worshiping, visitors can admire the rare treasures housed here. Currently, Thien Hau Temple boasts over 400 ancient items, including stone steles and intricately crafted statues. When you visit and explore, you will have many memorable experiences, as each step, each character, and each statue holds its own unique significance. Notably, you can visit the temple on the 22nd to the 24th of the lunar month of March to participate in the Thien Hau festival. During this time, the locals will place her statue on a palanquin and carry it around the temple, accompanied by lively activities like dragon dances, lion dances, and lion performances.
- Address: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 6 AM – 5:30 PM
Read more: Ba Thien Hau Pagoda in Saigon: A Local Guide
Phu Chau Floating Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
Phu Chau Floating Temple is undoubtedly an interesting place to visit in the list of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. For a long time, Phu Chau Floating Temple has held an important place in the hearts of locals due to its historical stories and the sacred nature of the temple, which floats on the water’s surface. To reach here, you can take a boat across the river, which takes only 5 to 10 minutes. On the way, you can also enjoy the breeze flowing through your hair and the picturesque scenery around the temple.
- Address: 173/36/7B11 Quang Ham, Ward 5, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 7 AM – 5 PM
Read more: Guide to Visit Phu Chau Floating Temple in Ho Chi Minh City
Phung Son Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
In addition to Giac Lam Temple, Phung Son Temple is also considered one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. This is an ancient temple of the city because it was built on the foundations of a Khmer temple that was ruined in the 19th century. Since then, the temple has been renovated several times and in 1988, Phung Son Temple was recognized as a national cultural and historical site.
Upon entering the temple’s main hall, you will be able to admire the magnificent beauty of ancient Buddha statues made from golden wood, intricately carved. Currently, Phung Son Temple houses more than 40 altars, including a statue of Mr. Chằn in Khmer culture. Although in Khmer folklore, Mr. Chằn symbolizes evil, in folk beliefs, he has been subdued by Buddha to protect and ensure a peaceful life for the people.
Additionally, Phung Son Temple also preserves a statue of the rooster, significant in Khmer folklore. Besides admiring the ancient statues, when you visit here, you can immerse yourself in the sounds of wind chimes all around, creating a feeling as if this is a paradise for those who enjoy the tranquility of a Buddhist temple.
- Address: 1408 3/2 Street, Ward 2, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
Hue Nghiem Pagoda
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
One of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City worth visiting is Hue Nghiem Pagoda. Located in the peaceful Thu Duc District, the temple grounds are very spacious, airy, and full of greenery. With a grounds area of up to 2 hectares, the abbot Thich Tri Quang has created a park filled with greenery that creates a very fresh atmosphere.
Besides planting greenery, the abbot has also named each lotus pond, fish pond, garden corner, and courtyard after each revered saint and bodhisattva in the temple to add a touch of sanctity. Therefore, visitors to Hue Nghiem Pagoda are always delighted and enjoy the atmosphere here. Furthermore, right in front of the temple, there is a masterpiece: a 12-meter tall statue of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva made of solid marble, which was donated from Kim Son Temple (USA) in 2003.
However, the main hall of the temple is usually only open during festivals, full moons, and the first day of the lunar month. Thus, the abbot’s lectures often attract numerous monks and hundreds of Buddhists to the temple to participate in practice. In addition, the temple has also hosted state presidents and leaders during their visits.
This shows that Hue Nghiem Pagoda is a place worth visiting when you are looking for the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. It is not only a sacred place for incense offerings but also a site that harmonizes traditional Vietnamese architecture with Japanese influences, creating a unique beauty of this ancient temple in the heart of Saigon.
- Address: 207 Dang Van Bi Street, Binh Tho Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hours: 6 AM – 7 PM
Mariamman Hindu Temple
Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
While the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City mentioned above bear strong architectural influences from Vietnam, China, or Japan, Mariamman Hindu Temple is a rare shrine with Indian architecture located right on Saigon Avenue. The temple was built in the early 20th century by Indian immigrants to Vietnam. Originally, it was just a small hut serving the spiritual needs of Indian descendants, which was later renovated with its unique design to this day.
Mariamman Hindu Temple is one of three temples with Hindu architecture in Saigon, dedicated to the goddess Mariamman – a Hindu deity famous for her ability to bring bountiful harvests, fertile lands, and favorable weather. The temple has a U-shaped architecture with two wings opposing each other. In the main hall, the statue of the goddess Mariamman is placed in the center, flanked by two guardian deities. Along the temple walls are statues of 18 Hindu deities in different poses symbolizing the 18 wishes of the people.
When visiting the temple, people often press their faces against the stone to pray for blessings and peace for themselves and their families. Additionally, many come here to participate in the fire sacrifice to goddess Mariamman at 10 AM and 7 PM each day. Each day, quite a number of people attend the ceremonies because they believe that receiving the holy flame of Agni from the offerings will bring blessings and happiness.
- Address: 45 Truong Dinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Hours: 9 AM – 10 PM
Let’s Immerse Untold Stories at Oldest Temples in Ho Chi Minh City
The oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City not only represent valuable cultural heritage of Vietnam but also carry high historical and spiritual values of the Vietnamese people. They are all centuries old and carry unique ancient beauty, and Jackfruit believes that your journey to explore these oldest temples will be filled with many memorable experiences. If you are looking for a companion to join you on this journey, Jackfruit Adventure will always be ready to take you through all the paths on a bicycle and share untold stories about these ancient shrines. Let’s begin your journey in Ho Chi Minh City!
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