Thien Hau Pagoda, also known as Tue Thanh Assembly Hall or Thien Hau Temple, is located at 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. This is an architectural work built in the late 18th century by Chinese people from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, when they migrated to Vietnam to trade and make a living.
Located in the middle of bustling Cho Lon, Thien Hau Pagoda still retains its own quiet beauty.
This assembly hall not only serves as a meeting place, but also as a place to worship Thien Hau - a great woman who lived in the 10th century. She is known for her supernatural abilities, being able to see the future and help people in trouble.
Thien Hau Pagoda, nearly 256 years old, is considered the oldest Chinese pagoda in Saigon. Built in 1760, through many restorations and repairs, the pagoda still retains its unique architectural features as well as having a great influence on the cultural life of the Chinese living in the area.
Impressive architecture of the temple
Thien Hau Pagoda is built in the form of a wooden frame house with a yin-yang tiled roof, measuring 65m long and 27m wide. The space is arranged from the outside in, including the yard, main door, front hall, main hall, central hall, incense house and main hall. In particular, the pagoda is decorated with ceramic reliefs on the walls and tiled roof, displaying diverse themes such as Two dragons competing for a pearl, Journey to the West, Bao Gong's trial, Han-Chu competition for heroes...
From the outside looking in
As soon as you step through the gate, you will be immersed in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the temple. Everything is tinged with time, making the space even more peaceful. Passing through the small gate, you will be lost in a mysterious world but also a close, familiar one. The main architectural part of the temple is the place where religious activities are held. In the middle, there is a space like a skylight to get light and let the incense fly up. The two sides of the path are clearly divided, helping visitors move easily, especially on full moon days.
A world full of mystery but also close and familiar
In the center of the main hall, the statue of Thien Hau is placed in the middle. Around, the main light is red and yellow, combined with black wooden panels and sparkling candlelight, making the viewer even more mesmerized. Even if you only come once, visitors will be deeply and unforgettablely impressed by the mystery and tranquility of this place.
Worship area inside the main hall
The roof is decorated with many statues of various shapes and sizes. However, all are harmonious and strangely beautiful. If you observe each line carefully, you will understand the sophistication and intricacy in the design.
The roof is impressively decorated with reliefs and statues of various shapes.
Walking among the silence of incense smoke
The highlight of Thien Hau Pagoda is the space with incense rings hanging high above, typical of Chinese temples. Visitors can buy these incense rings, write their wishes and aspirations on a piece of paper. Then, hang the incense ring containing the paper to pray and ask for blessings from Thien Hau.
Incense rings carry many prayers
The special thing about this pagoda is that all the materials were imported from China. From precious wood to incense burners, from reliefs to small statues... This shows the special importance of Thien Hau Pagoda in the life of the Chinese community in Saigon.
The brick wall is covered with unique pink prayer papers that are rare in other spiritual tourist destinations.
Some people come here to pray for luck, love, and wealth, while others pray for peace and happiness in their family life. That’s why the incense burner is always filled with incense smoke. The scent wafts through the air, drifting with the wind, carrying wishes from the bottom of their hearts.
This place is always filled with incense smoke and visitors.
The biggest "Lady's Festival" in Saigon
In addition, on the 22nd to 24th of the third lunar month, there will be the Thien Hau Goddess Festival - the biggest annual festival of Ba Pagoda. On these days, many people will come to the pagoda to worship. Besides the traditional rituals, visitors can also witness the scene of people carrying the Thien Mau Goddess palanquin around the pagoda. At the same time, a number of other activities such as lion and dragon dances and art performances are also held, creating an extremely vibrant and bustling atmosphere.
Thien Hau Pagoda is not only famous for its sacredness, but also for its ability to predict future events through fortune telling and divination.
Visiting Thien Hau Pagoda is not only to pray but also to learn about the history, architecture and culture of the ancient pagoda. No matter how lost your heart is, you will still find balance and peace when visiting Thien Hau Pagoda.
