Other sights in Ho Chi Minh City
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Mariamman Hindu Temple
This is the only Hindu temple still in use in HCMC and is a little piece of southern India in the centre of town. Though there are only a small number of Hindus in HCMC, this temple is also considered sacred by many ethnic Vietnamese and ethnic Chinese. Indeed, it is reputed to have miraculous powers. The temple was built at the end of the 19th century and dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mariamman.
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B
Le Van Duyet Temple
Dedicated to Marshal Le Van Duyet (1763–1831), this temple is also his burial place, alongside his wife. The marshal was a South Vietnamese general and viceroy who helped put down the Tay Son Rebellion and reunify Vietnam. When the Nguyen dynasty came to power in 1802, he was elevated by Emperor Gia Long to the rank of Marshal. Le Van Duyet fell out of favour with Gia Long’s successor, Minh Mang, who tried him posthumously and desecrated his grave. Emperor Thieu Tri, who succeeded Minh Mang, restored the tomb, thus fulfilling a prophecy of its destruction and restoration. Le Van Duyet was considered a national hero in the South before 1975, but is disliked by the commun…
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C
Giac Vien Pagoda
Architecturally similar to Giac Lam, this striking pagoda also shares its atmosphere of scholarly serenity, although Giac Vien is less visited and in a more rural setting near Dam Sen Lake in District 11. The pagoda was founded by Hai Tinh Giac Vien in the late 1700's. It is said that Emperor Gia Long, who died in 1819, used to worship at Giac Vien. The pagoda remains a marvellously preserved artefact from the past, boasting some 100 lavish carvings of various divinities.
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D
Phung Son Pagoda
This pagoda is extremely rich in statuary made of bronze, wood, ceramic and beaten copper. It’s peopled with a mix of gilded and beautifully carved statues (some painted). This Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda was built between 1802 and 1820 on the site of structures from the Funan period, dating back at least to the early centuries of Christianity. Other foundations of Funanese buildings have also been discovered here.
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E
An Quang Pagoda
This pagoda gained some notoriety during the American War as the home of Thich Tri Quang, a powerful monk who led protests against the South Vietnamese government in 1963 and 1966. When the war ended he was held under house arrest and later placed in solitary confinement for 16 months until his eventual release.
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F
Ha Chuong Hoi Quan Pagoda
This typical Fujian pagoda is dedicated to Thien Hau, who was born in Fujian. The four carved stone pillars, wrapped in painted dragons, were made in China and brought to Vietnam by boat. There are interesting murals to each side of the main altar and impressive ceramic relief scenes on the roof.
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G
Tran Hung Dao Temple
This small temple is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, a national hero who in 1287 vanquished Mongol emperor Kublai Khan’s invasion force, said to have numbered 300,000 men. The temple is one block north-east of the telecommunication dishes that are between Ð Dien Bien Phu and Ð Vo Thi Sau.
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H
Thien Hau Pagoda
Built by the Cantonese Congregation in the early 19th century, this large pagoda is dedicated to Thien Hau and always has a mix of worshippers and visitors, who mingle beneath the large coils of incense suspended overhead.
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I
History Museum
The stunning Sino French–style building that houses the History Museum was built in 1929 by the Société des Études Indochinoises. It’s worth a visit just to view the architecture.
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Research Library
At the back of the History Museum building on the 3rd floor is a research library with numerous books about Indochina from the French-colonial period.
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