Ho Chi Minh is considered as one of the main cities in Vietnam and ranks highly on culture, shopping, food and more. Unwind from the excitement of the city to feel the vibes of spiritual serenity of the following spiritual places of interest in Ho Chi Minh City.
Cao Dai Temple
One of the unique factors of this particular temple lies in its design, which bears a striking resemblance to a Christian Cathedral but with oriental influence. Another unique point lies in the Caodaist belief that all religions are the same and should therefore be tolerant of each other. Thus, in Cao Dai temple, one can pray to every holy figure from different religions ranging from Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Confucius, Joan of Arc, all the way to Julius Cesar. Basically, worshippers in Cao Dai Temple aspire for world peace and harmony.
One major highlight of touring the temple is to witness the Caodaists pray. During prayers, they suit up in long robes of different colours for the various respective religions. Men are seated on the right while women occupy the left, with every single devotee seated in an orderly manner. It is truly a spectacular sight to behold.
Giac Lam Pagoda
Giac Lam Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City and a prime historical site. It is surrounded by an expansive garden and overlooked by guardian statues of symbolic dragons. The sprawling site’s ceremonial hall is dominated by the gigantic statue of Amitabha Buddha. In the main hall, there is the ‘nine dragon altar’ depicting the birth of Prince Sidharta. Outside of the temple, there is the 32-metre tall stupa. This seven-story tall, hexagonal structure houses a Buddha relic on the top floor. Visitors can also head up there to enjoy gorgeous views of Ho Chi Minh. In front of the stupa, there is also a white statue of the Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin standing above an open lotus.
Jade Emperor Pagoda
The Jade Emperor Pagoda is a prominent shrine in Ho Chi Minh City. It epitomizes the Mahayanist sector of Buddhism which is practiced all around Vietnam. The ineffable ‘God Of Heaven’, Jade Emperor presides in the main hall and is flanked by his assistants. There is also the formidable 'God of Hell' and his red horse, who condemn sinners to hell. Within the Hall Of The Ten Hells, life in tribulation is gruesomely well-represented by the carvings on wooden panels, depicting the various torments and punishments awaiting evil transgressors in each of the ten levels of hell.
One of the halls contains the goddess of fertility Kim Hua, who blesses childless couples who come to pray for an offspring. Residing on the top levels, is the goddess of mercy Guan Yin, a major deity in any Taoist temple. With worshippers entering and leaving on a constant basis to give prayers or make offerings, the temple mostly experiences huge visitor traffic. The dimly lit and narrow passageways of the pagoda, coupled with pungent smoke of burning incense and joss sticks, help to give off a tension-filled atmosphere among the holiness settled in.
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral
Known as one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most eminent attractions, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, located in Paris Square, is one of the last few surviving strongholds of Catholicism in primarily Buddhist Vietnam. Constructed during the French colonialism in Vietnam, the cathedral displays characteristic neo-Romanesque features which include the fascinating red brick exterior, ornamented glass windows, two gigantic bell towers holding six bronze bells, and lastly a blissful garden for visitors to soak in the serene vibes.
A majestic 4-metre tall statue of the Virgin Mary is erected in front of the cathedral. It was the site of a mysterious phenomenon which took place in October 2005, whereby visitors claimed to have witnessed the statue shed a tear. Ever since that incident, tons of tourists and locals have been flocking to the statue in hopes of witnessing another miracle. However, the Catholic Church of Vietnam weighed in and dismissed rumours of such a miracle. That has not disuaged visitors who continue to pilgrimage to the site.
In a bustling city like Ho Chi Minh, it is well worth taking the time to explore the spiritual attractions it has to offer. The unique history and culture of the city is reflected in the rich diversity of different faiths introduced to the city over the centuries, with a distinctive local flavor that makes these places of worship a unique experience.
