Jade Emperor Pagoda

Being a real gem among Chinese temples, Jade Emperor Pagoda is a Taoist temple built by the Cantonese Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City during the 19~20 century.

With a 20min's walk from Ben Thanh Market you can get to the pagoda, a quiet oasis from the busy street outside. People often refer this pagoda as one of the most beautiful and famous temples in Ho Chi Minh City. Dedicated to the supreme of Taoism God the Jade Emperor, this small lovely building is also known as the Tortoise Pagoda because a pond filled with turtles is located in the corner of the courtyard. Intricate carvings and tile work on the roof of the main building is quite worth a long look, symbols of divine can be seen anywhere and are colorful to be photogenic. Inside, the famous Jade Emperor statue sits surrounded by other worshiping figures. Legend has it that the emperor was the only one allowed to enter heaven while declined the offer. An altar dedicated to Kim Hua, the goddess of fertility is also popular with prayers. The Room of 10 Hells housing two demon guardians is usually obscured by incense smokes and candles, piled fruit and lucky money.

In the vicinity, it's easy to reach other tourist sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, Thien Hau Pagoda and War Remnants Museum.

Ho Chi Minh City is also well connected with popular Asian destinations, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Here's a 22-Day Explore Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Thailand for your reference.