Quan Am Pagoda (Chua Quan Am)

The basics

The Quan Am Pagoda was built in the early 19th century by Fujian Chinese. It’s very ornately and colorfully decorated, with ceramic tiles covering the ceilings showing scenes from Chinese stories. While it’s Chinese in style, it is a place of worship for both Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhists, and has elements of Taoism and folk religion. The temple consists of a couple of altar rooms, a courtyard, and a garden with a pond and fountain. As at most temples in Vietnam, the atmosphere is thick with fragrant incense smoke that comes from sticks and enormous coils hanging from the ceiling. Most visitors come to the Quan Am Pagoda while exploring the Cholon neighborhood. Some guided tours of HCMC include Cholon and the Quan Am Pagoda.

Things to know before you go

• There is no entrance fee.
• As at most temples in Vietnam, there are no strict dress codes, but it’s a good idea to dress modestly, as most locals do.
• Quan Am is a busy working temple, so be mindful of worshippers and respectful of where you take photos.

How to get there

The Quan Am Pagoda is in Cholon, which is easiest to get to from other parts of the city by taxi or motorbike taxi. Alternatively, take a boat down the Saigon River and the Ben Nghe Channel, or catch a bus from the central city area, around the Ben Thanh Market.

When to get there

The temple is open roughly from 8am until 5pm. It can be busy with worshippers throughout the day, but there’s no bad time to visit. It can get especially crowded during Buddhist holidays and during the lunar new year.

Visit the Giac Lam Pagoda

Another must-visit Buddhist temple in HCMC is the mid-18th century Giac Lam Pagoda. It’s one of the oldest temples in the city. A designated historic site, there are large gardens surrounding the pagoda, including a sacred bodhi tree. It’s a peaceful and spiritual place to visit while in busy HCMC.