Giac Lam Pagoda (Chua Giac Lam) Tours
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Built in 1744, the Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. A Buddhist structure designated as a historic site by the Vietnamese government, the site boasts an impressive sanctuary filled with gold figures and a fat laughing Buddha. The large gardens surrounding the pagoda also contain a sacred bodhi tree.
The Basics
Like many other Vietnamese Buddhist temples, Giac Lam Pagoda mixes elements of Buddhism with Taoism and Confucianism. The main temple was built in 1744, but the most prominent part of the complex is the seven-storied stupa which was started in the 1970s and completed in the early 1990s (after decades of delay due to the Vietnam War). The towering structure now houses items said to be relics of the Buddha.
Things to Know Before You Go
- There is no fee to enter the pagoda or the complex.
- Make sure to dress modestly when visiting the temple, covering your shoulders and knees.
- The relics in the new stupa are located on the top floor and can only be accessed via stairs.
How to Get There
The Giac Lam Pagoda is located west of the central part of the city, about 1.8 miles (3 km) from Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. The easiest way to reach the site from central Ho Chi Minh City or Cholon is by taxi or motorbike taxi.
When to Get There
The temple is open from sunrise until noon and then again from early afternoon until late in the evening. Prayers are held daily in the pre-dawn hours, around noon, in the late afternoon, and in the evening.
Visit Cholon
Travelers often combine a trip to the Giac Lam Pagoda with a visit to the Cholon district. Cholon is the largest Chinatown in Vietnam and is full of interesting Chinese temples, markets, and restaurants. The atmosphere and architecture is quite different from the rest of Ho Chi Minh City. The neighborhood can be reached by bus from the market area in central Ho Chi Minh City, or by taxi or motorcycle taxi from anywhere in town.
Address: 118 Lac Long Quan, Tan Binh, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Admission: Free
5 Tours and Activities to Experience Giac Lam Pagoda (Chua Giac Lam)
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Ho Chi Minh City tour (8 hours)
Embrace the spirit of Saigon with a day trip visiting the iconic landmarks of the city and soaking up its rich tapestry of history and culture. With a local to guide you on this all-fees-paid tour, it’s never been easier to visit this incredible city. This vibrant tour unravels Saigon’s turbulent past and also provides a glimpse into the fascinating variety the city has to offer.
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Long layovers are no fun, especially when there's a beautiful city out there ready to be discovered. If you are in Ho Chi Minh City waiting for your next travel adventure and have some time to spare, why not spend it outside exploring the city?
Let a local show you their city in a layover tour. With a convenient pickup and drop off, you'll enjoy the best of Ho Chi Minh City and will be back in time for your next destination.
From incredible sights like the oldest pagoda in town to one of the biggest markets in Vietnam and with a delicious bánh mì included, your local host can create a personalized itinerary taking into consideration your preferences and time availability. Believe it, your local host knows exactly how to make just a few hours count!
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Dive into Ho Chi Minh City’s history and culture on this 7-hour sightseeing tour with a guide. Visit attractions like Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Giac Lam Pagoda, and a lacquerware factory. Learn about the sites as you go, and break for a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
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Saigon for Vietnamese people are most beautiful name to call Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC) even from the past till now and I am totally in love with this name. Saigon is the most dynamic city at the high dizzying level in not only commerce but also culture ever seen. This incredibly driven the whole Vietnam with its unlimited energy that international visitors cannot help haul along for the ride. If you have a short time staying in Ho Chi Minh, no worry, my tour will be designed to fit any of your schedule flexibly.
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Economic capital of Vietnam, Hồ Chí Minh-City is a bulimic city, frenetic, enterprising and rebellious, commercial, southern and tropical. Placed in the loop of a nonchalant river, in the heart of a low and wet plain of bright green, Hồ Chí Minh-City, which everyone here continues to call Saigon (its name before 1975), has known 95 years of French influence, supported the Americans, resisted the bureaucracy of the North. Today, she shows an insolent economic dynamism and her standard of living is higher than the rest of Vietnam.
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