I’m a photography enthusiast, and the landscapes in Northwest Vietnam seem incredible for capturing scenic views. Are there any specific spots that are particularly photogenic...
Tourists who love traveling to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City must be familiar with the famous Catholic symbol here, which is Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. However, as one of the largest cultural centers in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City not only has Catholicism but also Buddhism, a religion that is equally popular in this land.
One of the famous Buddhist symbols that tourists often visit here is the Jade Emperor Pagoda - a pagoda in Saigon that not only has great spiritual value but also possesses extremely unique Asian architecture.
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1. An Overview of Jade Emperor Pagoda
Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City is always chosen as a stopping point in the bustling and bustling life of Saigon to calm the soul and let go of all the troubles of life.
1.1 The History of Jade Emperor Pagoda
Jade Emperor Pagoda was built by a Chinese man named Luu Minh (Dharma name Liu Daoyuan) in Ho Chi Minh City in the early twentieth century. The pagoda was formerly a shrine to the Jade Emperor (the supreme entity governing the heavens in Chinese mythological culture).
In 1982, the temple was taken over by a monk named Thich Vinh Khuong and officially belonged to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. In 1984, the Jade Emperor Palace was renamed Phuoc Hai Pagoda.
Jade Emperor Pagoda was also recognized as a unique National Artistic Architectural Work in 1994. According to tradition from ancient times to the present, people often come here to pray for children, love, peace, and health (not much different from the purpose that people visit other pagodas in Vietnam such as Bai Dinh, Tran Quoc, Yen Tu, etc.)
1.2 Tourist Information of the Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Address: 73 D. Mai Thi Luu, Da Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Opening Hours: 07:00–17:30 daily.
- Ticket Price: Free.
Especially on the 1st and 15th day of every month, the temple is open from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fact: On the afternoon of May 24, 2016, the President of the United States of America Barack Obama visited the Jade Emperor Pagoda during his official visit to Vietnam.
2. The Architecture of Jade Emperor Pagoda
The Jade Emperor Pagoda is an ancient temple built by a Chinese. That's why the architecture here bears many Chinese characteristics (quite similar to the pagodas in Hoi An). That makes Chinatown in Saigon not the only place that owns Chinese architectural works.
The Jade Emperor Pagoda has the architectural style of a Chinese temple with brilliant decorative motifs. It was built from fired bricks with a yin-yang tile roof and also decorated the roof edge and roof corners with many colored ceramic statues.
The pagoda campus is about 2,300 m2 and is divided into 3 main buildings: Front Hall, Central Hall, and Main Hall. The main hall is used to worship the Jade Emperor, bodhisattvas, and some familiar gods in Chinese beliefs.
In front, there is a small temple with a statue of the Dharma Protector. The three-entrance gate stands out with the wavy lines of two dragons in a "battle for the pearl" pose. In the pagoda, there are many works of art such as altar paintings, altar statues, bamboo panels, tureens, incense burners, etc., made of materials of wood, ceramic, and paper mache.
If you wander around the grounds of the Jade Emperor Pagoda, you will easily see parallel sentences, horizontal lacquered boards, ancestral tablets, and plaques written entirely in Chinese. The horizontal panels at the Jade Emperor Pagoda are exquisitely carved on precious wood, with high artistic value, faithfully reproducing the religious ideology and beliefs of the Ming religion in the past.
3. Best Time To Visit The Jade Emperor Pagoda
From the beginning of the year to mid-January or the Jade Emperor festival, which falls around the 9th day of the lunar calendar every year, is the ideal time for you to visit the temple. The atmosphere at Jade Emperor Pagoda at these times is always bustling.
If you are not a fan of crowds, you can find another time to visit Ho Chi Minh City, because the pagoda always has many people visiting all year round.
4. How To Get To The Jade Emperor Pagoda?
The address of Jade Emperor Pagoda is right in the city center, so you can visit the pagoda by many means, from bus, and car to motorbike (rent or book a motorbike taxi). However, note that Mai Thi Luu Street is relatively narrow, you can travel by motorbike or taxi. Also, don’t forget to use Google Maps.
Currently, there are bus routes 18, 93, and 150 stopping at stations near the Jade Emperor Pagoda, such as Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Dinh Tien Hoang, City Television Station, etc.
5. Tourist Destinations near Ngoc Hoang Pagoda HCMC
Because the Jade Emperor Pagoda is also located in the city center, it is also close to many restaurants, hotels, cafes, and famous tourist attractions such as:
- Independence Palace: This is a tourist attraction with great historical value, and still displays artifacts to help people better understand the historical periods of the city.
- Ben Thanh Market: Considered a symbol of Saigon, Ben Thanh Market is a busy trading place with a variety of goods. In particular, the culinary area at the market is very popular with diners with the presence of a series of famous dishes, such as beef vermicelli, grilled meat vermicelli, crab soup cake, banh xeo, banh khot, spring rolls, and other types of food.
- Notre Dame Cathedral: This is the most famous religious building in Saigon, with architectural beauty imbued with Roman and Gothic styles. You can visit, pray before the statue of Our Lady of Peace, or attend Masses.
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street: This is a fun spot for young people, especially during Saigon by night when it becomes a vibrant and bustling culinary paradise with billions of attractive eateries and restaurants.
Ho Chi Minh City has many interesting things to do, however, if you want to find a quiet place after energetic Saigon tours, try visiting the Jade Emperor Pagoda.
See more articles about Vietnam:
>> Explore Ideas for Vietnam Photography Tours
>> Traveling to Vietnam with Kids: Things to Know, See and Do
