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Giac Lam Pagoda – the oldest pagoda.
Giac Lam Pagoda, also known as Cam Son, Son Can, or Cam Diem, is one of the oldest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in the spring of the year Giap Ty (1744), with funds donated by lay Buddhist Ly Thuy Long.
The architecture of Giac Lam Pagoda is considered typical of the architecture of Southern Vietnamese pagodas, with an overall layout in the shape of the Chinese character "Tam" (three), supported by 98 columns. Each column is elaborately carved with couplets and gilded. Between the rows of columns are arched doorways, also gilded and carved with traditional decorative motifs such as the four mythical creatures, the four seasons, flowers and birds, etc.
The temple houses 113 ancient statues, mostly made of wood, with only 7 bronze statues. Many of these statues are of great value, such as: statues of Amitabha Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva; statues of the Ten Kings of Hell, and statues of Patriarch Bodhidharma…
Currently, the pagoda is the most famous ancestral temple, containing many valuable documents about history, culture, architecture, sculpture, and religion such as horizontal plaques, couplets, altars, and ancient religious artifacts… The set of eighteen Arhat statues is the clearest evidence of the development of Buddhism in Southern Vietnam.
Address: 118 Lac Long Quan Street, Ward 10, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda – Home to the tallest and most elaborate stone pagoda in Vietnam.
Temple gate.
Temple worship.
Vinh Nghiem Stone Tower.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda was built by two Venerable Monks, Thich Tam Giac and Thich Thanh Kiem, after they went to the South to spread Buddhism. They based their design on Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, which was the center for the dissemination of Buddhism of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Bac Giang.
The pagoda was started in 1964 on low-lying land next to the Thi Nghe canal. During construction, approximately 40,000 m³ of soil had to be transported from the Hanoi highway to level the ground. The construction cost of the pagoda was about 98 million dong at that time.
The temple's architecture follows the traditional style of Northern Vietnam. The overall structure includes the main components: the triple gate, the central building, and the stupas.
The Vinh Nghiem stone tower (just past the gate, the tower is on the right), inaugurated in 2003, is considered the first stone tower in Southern Vietnam, and also the largest and tallest stone tower in Vietnam to date. The tower was built with intricate and elaborate stone carving techniques, with patterns and motifs covering the entire structure… all in the style of the Ly-Tran dynasties.
Address: 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Hoang Phap Pagoda – Famous for its summer retreat for teenagers.
Hoang Phap Pagoda.
The Tower of the Two Immortals.
Young people participate in the summer retreat.
Hoang Phap Pagoda belongs to the Northern Buddhist sect, founded by the late Venerable Ngo Chan Tu in 1957. After several renovations, the pagoda now has the ancient appearance of a Northern Vietnamese pagoda with soaring curved eaves and a two-tiered red tiled roof. The entire foundation, beams, columns, ceiling, and roof are made of solid concrete, the walls are brick, the exterior is covered with ceramic tiles, and the interior is painted. The floor is tiled with granite imported from Spain. All the doors,bagThe altar table is made of precious wood and intricately carved.
Hoang Phap Pagoda is famous for attracting Buddhist followers to visit and participate in Buddhist retreats. Among these is a 7-day summer retreat that helps young people balance their material and spiritual lives, overcome sadness, build necessary skills for the future, and rediscover true values. Alongside this, strict rules of conduct such as going to bed early and waking up early help teenagers break their computer addiction. This retreat is completely free.
Address: Tan Hiep Commune, Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Relic Pagoda – The pagoda with the tallest bell tower in Vietnam
Stupa of Relics.
A gilded Buddha statue in the temple.
Xa Loi Pagoda was completed on May 2nd, 1958. The pagoda was built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha, hence its name, Xa Loi Pagoda (Relic Pagoda).
Xa Loi Pagoda was the first pagoda in the city built in the new architectural style, with the main hall above and the lecture hall below. The pagoda served as the headquarters of the Southern Vietnam Buddhist Association from 1951 to 1981. From 1964 to 1966, it also served as a teaching facility for Van Hanh University. From 1981 to May 1993, the pagoda was the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Association (Office II).
The bell tower of Xa Loi Pagoda was inaugurated in 1961. Standing 32 meters tall and comprising 7 floors, it is the tallest bell tower in Vietnam. The top floor houses a large bronze bell weighing 2 tons, cast in the style of the bell at Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue).
Not only is it known for its stunning architecture and landscapes, but it is also quite famous for its historical evidence of the Buddhist struggle against the Ngo Dinh Diem dictatorship, which discriminated against and suppressed religion.
Address: 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
The first pillar of the South – One Pillar Pagoda in Southern Vietnam
The South Gate of Heavenly Unity.
And Nam Thien Nhat Tru is modeled after the One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi.
"Nam Thien Nhat Tru," commonly known as the One Pillar Pagoda in Southern Vietnam, was built by Venerable Thich Tri Dung in 1958 and completed in 1977 with the purpose of being both a historical monument and a scenic spot for the people of Southern Vietnam to admire.
Nam Thien Nhat Tru follows the model of Thang Long Nhat Tru in Hanoi, but is shorter and smaller. Viewed from the triple-arched gate, Nam Thien Nhat Tru stands in the middle of Long Nhan Lake, with lotus flowers swaying on the water's surface, both pure and serene.
In addition, here you can also admire the 61 kg statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, cast from precious metal.
Address: 511 Dang Van Bi Street, Binh Tho Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.
(According to Infonet)
