Vinh Nghiem Pagoda

Location & History

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Nghiem pagoda can easily be accessed by bike, bus and car. It is only around 20 minutes away from Ben Thanh market. The pagoda attracts thousands of adherents and visitors each year and gets pretty busy on the first and fifteenth days of lunar months. The construction work of this pagoda commenced in 1964 and completed in 1971.
Photo: travel.sygic.com

What to see

This 6.000-square-metre Mahayana Buddhist pagoda is divided into three main sections: the Shanman gate (three-archway gate), the Grand Hall, and the surrounding towers.
Photo by @klassen2705

Like any other Mahayana Buddhist temples, this temple venerates Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and Arahants (Louhans) instead of worshipping Buddha alone like Theravada Buddhist temples. The Grand Hall is wholly dedicated to the veneration of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and Arahants. In the middle of the Grand Hall, it can be easily seen that Buddha is worshiped, along with two other Bodhisattvas on his left and right sides.
Photo: itourvn.com

All the decorations in the building, including carved wood columns, frescoes and pictures are all in align with Mahayana Buddhist teachings and astronomy. In addition, Kuan Yin stupa, which is 7 storeys tall, is really worth a visit. This stupa is one of the biggest stupas in the whole of Vietnam and is frequently praised by the media for its outstanding architecture. 

Don’t forget to pray to Goddess Kuan Yin standing tall in the middle of the yard before you leave so that she may fill you with her blessings as you go.

Useful Information