Giac Lam Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh City

Copyright: Claudine Van Massenhove/Shutterstock.com

DESTINATIONS vietnam hochiminh Do & See Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam Pagoda

Built in 1744, Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest and most popular Buddhist pagodas, a place of pilgrimage during the Tet Holiday. It was officially accredited as a national cultural and historic site by the Vietnamese Department of Culture and Information. In addition, there are a lot of precious statutes of Buddha and Bodhisattvas made of both wood and bronze in the pagoda.

Useful Information

Address: 565 Lac Long Quan, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: +84 28 3865 3933

Do & See

Many of the tourist attractions, including the main walking streets or the famous Ben Thanh Market, are located in District 1. Here you will also find a range of temples and landmark buildings, as well as the Museum of Vietnamese History which houses 2,000 years of Vietnam’s past and enables you to gain deep understanding of the historical and cultural context.

Central Post Office

Central Post Office

The historic Saigon Central Post Office, which has long been one of the city's symbols, continues to offer postal services such as mailing and money exchange to-date. One interesting fact about the Post Office is that it was designed and constructed by the renowned French architect Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who is best known for …

The Independence Palace

The Independence Palace

Located just a 6-minute walk from the Notre Dame Basilica, the Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, is another not-to-be-missed destination in Vietnam’s second city. The Independence Palace was first designed by a French architect and originally given the name Norodom Palace; it once served as living and working quarters to French …

The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument

The Venerable Thich Quang Duc Monument

In times of conflict between the Vietnamese government and the country's Buddhist population, Thich Quang Duc calmly sat down in lotus position in the midst of Buddhist protesters and lit himself on fire as a sing of protest. In memory of his sacrifice, a monument was inaugurated in 2010, showing him surrounded by …

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral is a harmonious combination of Roman architecture and late medieval Gothic features. The most unique features of the Church – the two 60-meter high bronze bell towers – were added years following original construction in to magnify the Church’s beauty. Until now, the Church still remains in a near-undisturbed original state …

Cho Lon (Chinatown)

Cho Lon (Chinatown)

Cho Lon, also well-known as Chinatown, is an area of Ho Chi Minh where many Chinese immigrants reside and earn their living. Within Cho Lon, the biggest and most crowded trade hub is Tan Binh Market, where you can find a wide range of clothing and knick-knacks at very low prices (although be warned …

Emperor Jade Pagoda

Emperor Jade Pagoda

Many beautiful pagodas (temples) are located in Ho Chi Minh City while the Emperor Jade Pagoda is considered to be the finest and most lavishly decorated temple. To understand more about the meaning of the carvings and statues and the purpose of different rooms, it is recommended to visit with a local …

War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum

The War Remnants Museum contains exhibits reflecting the restless effort and deep devotion of people who endured the hardship of war, more specifically the Vietnam War and the First Indochina War. More than 20,000 valuable war documents, artefacts and films are exhibited here, but the biggest draw must be the outdoor exhibition of military …

Cu Chi Tunnels

The tunnels of Cu Chi hide an entire world including classrooms, kitchens and medical facilities underground. Today you can see the tunnels from above and even try to go down one, so as to better understand the hardships that Vietnamese soldiers had been through during wartime. One is left utterly amazed by the determination …

Mekong Delta

The Mekong River flows from the Tibetan Plateau and ends in the area close to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. The delta, dubbed a 'biological treasure trove', is also home to over 17 million people who live their daily lives on the river. Several different tour operators offer day and overnight trips to the …

Núi Bà Đen (Black Virgin Mountain)

Núi Bà Đen (Black Virgin Mountain)

With 1000 metres in height, this mountain is not a giant, however the flat surroundings of the now extinct volcano make it seem like one. Located 2 1/2 hours north from Ho Chi Minh City, you can ride cable car up to the peak of the mountain or go for a hike with …

Nui Dinh Mountain and Waterfalls

Nui Dinh Mountain and Waterfalls

A 2 1/2 - 3 hour motorbike or scooter drive from Ho Chi Minh City, the Nui Dinh Mountain rises around 500 meters into the sky, remotely off the beaten tourist paths in Vietnam. Hike up the mountain and along the nearby Suoi Tien River and you will discover several waterfalls and opportunities for …

Cao Dai Temple

Also known as Holy See, Cao Dai Temple is the center of Cao Dai faith, an indigenous Vietnamese religion that incorporates the teachings of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism as well as part of Islam and Christianity. The balcony on the 2nd floor is the best vantage point from which the religious ceremony can be …

Vinh Nghiem Temple

Vinh Nghiem Temple

This is a seven layer temple and southern Vietnam’s most majestic one. It was the first pagoda in Vietnam that was built in Vietnamese traditional architectural style but with concrete. Here you will find a large standing monument of Buddha and a beautifully decorated pagoda, which awaits you …

Scooter Tour

There are multiple local companies offering scooter tours of the Vietnam capital. These tours range greatly in thematic focus (street food to historic landmarks) and duration, and depend on the individual provider, but details can often be agreed upon on an individual basis. On these tours, an individual driver is normally assigned to each …

Museum of Fine Arts

Museum of Fine Arts

Housed in a restored building, the Museum of Fine Arts offers a beautiful selection of Vietnamese and international artwork and ancient artifacts alongside contemporary works. You will be amazed by the number of pottery, sculpture and weapons exhibitions and how detailed the information …

Museum of Vietnamese History (bao Tang Lich Su)

Museum of Vietnamese History (bao Tang Lich Su)

The Museum of Vietnamese History first opened its doors in 1929. The Museum houses an unique collection of interesting artefacts of Vietnam's history, from ancient times to modern day. A statue of the Buddha with 1,000 eyes and 1,000 arms is also part of their …

Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck

Bitexco Financial Tower Skydeck

From the 49th level in Bitexco Financial Tower you can enjoy the panoramic view over the city and its surroundings. The design of the tallest building in the city is inspired by a Lotus bud, which makes it stand out against the city …

Dam Sen Water Park

Dam Sen Water Park

To cool you off from the hot and bustling city, Dam Sen Water Park offers several swimming pools, water slides and rides that will keep you occupied and excited for a whole day. It is a very family-friendly destination, where you can try different levels of water slides, from easy to challenging …

Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

Though it is quite small, the modern exhibition rooms of this compact museum contain a range of interesting exhibits dating back to different periods in the history of traditional Vietnamese medicine. You can easily understand everything with the help of an English-speaking …

Giac Lam Pagoda

Giac Lam Pagoda

Built in 1744, Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest and most popular Buddhist pagodas, a place of pilgrimage during the Tet Holiday. It was officially accredited as a national cultural and historic site by the Vietnamese Department of Culture and Information. In addition, there are a lot of precious statutes of Buddha …

Saigon Outcast

Saigon Outcast is a vibrant venue particularly favored by the younger crowd, where all manner of events, festivals and movie screenings (every Thursday) are held throughout the year – the "Wednesday free food" event enjoys an understandable popularity. There's even a climbing wall on-site, plus a miniature skate park. Check their website for event …

Please don't close or refresh the page while we are processing your submission
Please be patient, this could take a few minutes.