Ho Chi Minh City
The largest Cao Dai temple in HCMC, this fabulously colourful three-storey structure celebrates Vietnam鈥檚 home-grown religion of Cao Daism. Use separate stairs for men and women and ascend to the 2nd-floor main hall. Notice the pantheon of saints above the main altar, which includes both Eastern and Western figures as well as the symbolic Left Eye of God.
Head up the stairs to the viewing platform at the back (where the ceremonial drums are located) for a wider view of the colourful main hall.
1.89 MILES
To understand the US invasion of Vietnam, and contextualize its devastating impact on the country's civilians, this remarkable and deeply moving museum is鈥
2.8 MILES
Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in Ho Chi鈥
2.16 MILES
Built between 1877 and 1883, Notre Dame Cathedral enlivens the heart of Ho Chi Minh City's government quarter, facing 脨 Dong Khoi. A red-brick, neo鈥
2.63 MILES
Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, garden-like grounds. The Chinese鈥
1.86 MILES
Surrounded by royal palm trees, the dissonant 1960s architecture of this landmark government building and the eerie ambience of its deserted halls make it鈥
1.99 MILES
A grand neoclassical structure built in 1885 and once known as Gia Long Palace (and later the Revolutionary Museum), HCMC鈥檚 city museum is a singularly鈥
1.41 MILES
Delightfully fronted by greenery and opening to an interior blaze of red, gold, green and yellow, this is one of the most beautifully ornamented temples鈥
2.02 MILES
Cholon鈥檚 main market has a great clock tower and a central courtyard with gardens. Much of the business here is wholesale but it鈥檚 popular with tour鈥
0.21 MILES
Originally built by the French and destroyed three times, this 19th-century house of worship is one of the city's largest churches, with good views from鈥
1.13 MILES
The clean lines and minimal ornamentation of this mosque contrast starkly with nearby Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhist temples. Note the pool for ritual鈥
1.2 MILES
Noteworthy for its gilded woodwork, this temple has a large carved wooden boat hanging over its entrance and inside, to the left of the doorway, an鈥
1.24 MILES
Retaining much of its original rich ornamentation, this 19th-century temple 鈥 a guildhall named after Sanshan (Three Mountains) in China's seaboard Fujian鈥
1.27 MILES
This gorgeous 19th-century temple is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau, and always attracts a mix of worshippers and visitors, who mingle beneath the鈥
1.3 MILES
While you鈥檙e roaming the area, stroll over to the strip of traditional herb shops between 脨 Luong Nhu Hoc and 脨 Trieu Quang Phuc for an olfactory鈥
1.35 MILES
One of Cholon鈥檚 most active and colourful temples, this shrine was founded in the early 19th century. It鈥檚 named after the Goddess of Mercy, whose full鈥
1.41 MILES
Delightfully fronted by greenery and opening to an interior blaze of red, gold, green and yellow, this is one of the most beautifully ornamented temples鈥