Experts' Choice Award Giac Lam Pagoda
What the experts agree on
Saigon's oldest pagoda (1744) rises majestically from lush gardens, creating an atmospheric sanctuary away from city chaos. Experts praise its serene, temple-ground setting and historical significance.
“Standing in the middle of a verdant garden, the Giac Lam pagoda rises majestically above the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City.”
– Michelin Guide
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Believed to be the oldest temple in HCMC (1744), Giac Lam is a fantastically atmospheric place set in peaceful, gardenlike grounds." Full review
Fodor's "One of the oldest pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Giac Lam Pagoda was built in 1744 in the jungle outside of the city of Gia Dinh." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"This pagoda is said to have been visited by the emperor Gia Long himself." Full review
Frommer's "Giac Lam Pagoda, originally built in 1744 and remodeled in the early 1900s, is the oldest pagoda in Saigon." Full review
i
Take a look at the outside courtyard with its many tombs of long-deceased monks and stewards of the temple, and don't miss the large outbuilding just to the right of the entrance -- inside are aisles of shelves with colorful urns of ashes, Chinese pots with red lights, candles, and offerings.
Lonely Planet "You can delve into the city's rich history and spiritual side at ancient sites like the Giac Lam Pagoda"
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