Jade Emperor Pagoda

Unclaimed

In terms of carvings and anthropomorphic representations of Gods etc this place was pretty cool. Quite unique..small overall though. Will take you about 20 mins to have a thorough look.. no photos allowed inside which is fine. Worth a quick look, very ornate in parts

This pagoda located in a small road in District 1, not far from the center. This place is very famous in Ho Chi Minh City, not only for tourists but also for local people. In normal days, it is not difficult to see big busses drop tourists to visit this pagoda. In Lunar New Year, it is super crowded and busy because so many local people come to visit this place. This pagoda is quite small, highly recommend not visit here in the first day of New Year because I think no air to breath and full of smoke from incenses. But they sell something inside the pagoda. In Lunar New Year, they sell both outside too. This pagoda looks like Chinese style, they don’t have the place to put small urns of died people and I have never seen any monks here. Because this place is small, that’s why they only can offer the place for motorbikes parking, impossible for cars. In Lunar New Year, many places around the pagoda open parking for visitors and the fee is 20,000 VND/ motorbike while no fee if parking in the pagoda. Also because this pagoda is small and if you visit here in Lunar New Year you have to be very careful about your belongings to avoid getting pickpocket.

The Jade Emperor Pagoda, known locally as Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, is a historic temple situated at 73 Mai Thị Lựu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Free parking inside the temple Open: 07:00 - Close: 18:00 Constructed in the early 20th century, it was originally established by a Chinese man named Lưu Minh, also known by his religious name Lưu Đạo Nguyên. Lưu Minh, a native of Guangdong, China, was a practitioner of Minh Sư Đạo—a sect that advocated for the restoration of the Ming dynasty and opposed the ruling Qing dynasty. He built the temple both as a place of worship dedicated to the Jade Emperor (Ngọc Hoàng Thượng Đế) and as a clandestine meeting spot to plan efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty.  In 1982, the temple came under the administration of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association when Venerable Thích Vĩnh Khương took over its management. Two years later, in 1984, it was officially renamed Phước Hải Tự, though it continues to be popularly referred to as Chùa Ngọc Hoàng.  The pagoda is renowned for its distinctive architectural style, which reflects Chinese influences. It has become a significant spiritual destination for both locals and tourists, who visit to seek blessings related to fertility, love, and overall well-being.  In 2016, Chùa Ngọc Hoàng gained international attention when then-U.S. President Barack Obama visited the temple during his official trip to Vietnam, highlighting its cultural and historical importance. Today, the Jade Emperor Pagoda stands as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of Ho Chi Minh City, embodying both historical significance and spiritual reverence.

One of the nicest temple, many locals and even more tourists. When entering there are on the side sother small room with a god that by the story (I heared from a local visitor) that help many women getting pregnant.

A sacred, long standing temple deeply respected by the local community. Dedicated to the Jade Emperor, who blesses the people with peace and prosperity. Inside, there’s also a special altar for mothers where many come to sincerely pray for the blessing of a child. This is a special place for those wishing to pray for a child. With true devotion, wishes may be fulfilled. May everyone and every home be blessed with peace, happiness, and harmony.