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

Map of Giac Lam Pagoda

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Thien Hau Temple was built in 1760 to honour Mazu the ‘Lady of the Sea’ and when you enter through the iron gate you will see massive stone incense burners in front of the entrance of Mazu’s altar. The exterior is beautifully designed with the traditional curvy roof on which small porcelain figures are standing symbol for themes from Chinese religion and legends.

The interior has colourful dioramas decorating the roof by representing scenes from the nineteenth century in a Chinese city. Besides this, the most prominent visible interior design items are the three statues of the ‘Lady of the Sea’ that dominate the main altar. When visiting make sure you take your time to look at all the small corners this temple has, as there are many sculptures, statues and artworks to discover.

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 16:30
Location: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Map of Thien Hau Temple

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It is believed that a young girl claimed to have seen the goddess while playing with her friends at a stream which runs down the mountain. Soon after, Suoi Do Pagoda was built nearby the stream, where it continues to serve the local Buddhist community to this very day. Do note that the pagoda is packed with worshippers every 15th day of the lunar month, when visitors get to enjoy a free vegetarian meal.

It takes about 200 steps to reach the pagoda with no wheelchair facilities available, so travellers with physical disabilities or health problems may find it challenging to visit the temple. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be greeted with plenty of trees and a natural pool as well as panoramic views of the Cai River Valley, paddy fields, banana plantations, and neighbouring hills.

Suoi Do Pagoda is accessible within a 30-minute drive from the city, though it’s best to ask locals for directions or join a tour due to its hidden locale. As any holy places around the world, it’s important to be mindful of your attire before making your way to the temple. Photography is allowed, but refrain from making too much noise as it may disrupt the monks praying in Suoi Do Pagoda.

Opening Hours: Daily 06:00 – 18:00
Address: Suoi Hiep Commune, Dien Khanh District, Nha Trang

Map of Suoi Do Pagoda

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Despite its location within the bustling Da Nang city centre, the atmosphere here is very serene and peaceful. You can see locals praying in the morning or getting their fortunes told while the resident monks go about their daily lives. As with any Buddhist temple in Vietnam, Phap Lam Pagoda gets packed with devotees during annual festivities such as Tet and Lunar New Year.

The top floor of the pagoda is a presbytery that features intricately carved pillars, handwritten Buddhist Pali incantation, and a golden statue of Buddha while the ground floor hosts an amphitheatre that can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The courtyard of the pagoda houses a 1.1-metre-high seated Buddha statue as well as brass statues of the Goddess of Mercy (Avalokitecvara) and Dai The Chi Bodhisattva. Entrance to Phap Lam Pagoda is free of charge, but donations are welcomed.

Aside from offering a quiet retreat from the bustling city, Phap Lam Pagoda is a great place to enjoy vegetarian cuisine as the temple is surrounded by local restaurants and food carts that cater to its resident monks and devotees.

Opening Hours: Daily 05:00 – 11:30 & 13:00 – 21:30
Address: 574D Ong Ich Khiem Street, Da Nang

Map of Phap Lam Pagoda

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Although it’s now set on an islet within West Lake, the pagoda was originally located on banks of Red River before it’s relocated in 1615due to the river’s encroachment. Surrounded by lush greenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda was a favourite amongst the kings and royal families for festivals, full moons, and Tet Festival.

Standing at 15 metres, the main pagoda is made up of eleven levels, while its surrounding buildings include an incense burning house and a museum housing historic relics.You can also see intricately carved statues dating to 1639, each of which bear unique facial feature.

Opening Hours: Daily 07:30 – 18:00
Location: Thanh Nien, Truc Bach, Ba Dình, Hanoi
Tel: +84 4 3829 3869

Map of Tran Quoc Pagoda

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It is believed that the first temple was built here in the 15th century, although legend declares that the site was actually discovered over 2,000 years ago by a Buddhist monk who was meditating nearby. The mountain foothills are an area of great natural and spiritual beauty filled with streams, tropical plants and temples.

There are many pagodas to visit, each offering a different shrine, most of which are Buddhist although one or two are animist. The Perfume Pagoda attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking good luck from the stalagmites and stalactites inside the cave which have been named according to the individual blessing they can bestow. Dun Tien offers prosperity and Nui Co offers the chance of giving birth to a girl whilst Dun Gao translates as a ‘rice stack’ to those hoping for a bountiful harvest.

The Perfume Pagoda Highlights

The entrance to the vast and mysterious Perfume Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave resembles that of an open dragon’s mouth and is decorated in ancient Chinese letters which translate to ‘first grade cave of the South World’, this writing dates back to 1770.

Inside the cave are many statues carved from green stone which decorate an intricate shrine, including one of Lord Buddha and another of the Buddhist goddess Quan Am. Smooth stalactites and stalagmites also fill the cave which are constantly touched by pilgrims believing them to deliver miracles and good luck. You will find the temple very cool inside and also very busy especially during the days of the Chua Huong festival which lasts from January to April.

It’s well worth taking time to stop and enjoy the view en-route to the temple as the scenery is very interesting, dotted with fruit trees including apricots and medicinal herbs grown by local farmers. Other temples to see within the complex include the Vong Temple, Thuyet Kinh Cave and Thien Son Pagoda.

The journey to the Perfume Pagoda is itself an interesting experience. Located about 60km southwest of Hanoi in the Huong Son Mountain range you will need to take a car for around two hours before boarding a wooden or iron boat to reach the temple complex.

The boat journeys down a narrow flowing steam fringed by rice fields, temples and grass and you will have the option to stop and visit some of these temples. However, if you are short of time its best to head straight to Huong Tich Cave. It’s an uphill walk to the Perfume Pagoda which will take around one hour and things can get slippery, so remember to bring walking shoes or boots.

Map of Perfume Pagoda

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