Vietnam PagodasDictionary of Vietnamese pagodas & temples

Quảng Đức Zen Monastery

TP. Hồ Chí Minh(Thiền viện Quảng Đức)

Quảng Đức Zen Monastery

Overview & history

Quảng Đức Zen Monastery is currently located at 294 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street (near Công Lý Bridge and Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda), in Xuân Hòa Ward (formerly Ward 8, District 3), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is a large thiền viện (Zen monastery), serving as the second office of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and is also the printing and distribution centre for Buddhist scriptures and books of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Association.

Overview

The thiền viện was founded by Most Venerable Thích Thiện Minh in 1964 as a place of practice and study for monastics of the Northern School (Bắc tông) tradition. The triple-arched gate (cổng tam quan) began construction on 23 April 1996 and was completed that same year. In 2004, the main hall (chánh điện) underwent major restoration. On 5 November 2008, construction began on an additional East Wing (khu Đông lang).

The entire thiền viện is solidly built with modern materials, with a façade designed in traditional style featuring gracefully curved red-tiled roofs. The Buddha Hall (Điện Phật), located on the upper floor, is arranged in a solemn manner. At the centre of the hall is a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha (Phật Thích Ca) 3.6 metres tall, seated in meditation on a 1.2 metre high lotus pedestal, which was ceremonially installed on 13 January 2005 under the witness of Most Venerable Thích Trí Tịnh (then Chairman of the Central Executive Council), Most Venerable Thích Hiển Pháp, Deputy Dharma Chairman of the Council of Certification and concurrently Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (GHPGVN), along with many other leading Vietnamese Buddhist elders.

Every year, major Buddhist festivals are held here, as well as memorial ceremonies for monks who have contributed to the Dharma and the nation. It is also the venue for the annual summary ceremony and conference organised by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Currently, the abbot of the monastery is Most Venerable Thích Hiển Pháp and Venerable Thích Huệ Trí.

Photos

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Visiting tips

Dress modestly; remove hats and keep quiet inside the main hall.
Incense, flowers and offerings are usually sold right outside the gate; light an odd number of sticks (1 or 3).
Most pagodas open from early morning to evening and are free to enter (some major sites charge a small scenic fee).
Full-moon days, the 1st of the lunar month and Tet are very crowded; visit on weekday mornings for a quiet experience.
Ask permission before photographing inside shrines; do not touch statues or altar objects.

Read more & references

Useful links to learn more before your visit:

Location

Coordinates: 10.79038, 106.68366

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

References

Other pagodas in TP. Hồ Chí Minh

Chùa Đại Tòng Lâm

Đại Tòng Lâm Pagoda, with its full name being Vạn Phật Quang Đại Tòng Lâm Tự, is a grand pagoda featuring many large-scale and modern structures. The pagoda is located on National Highway 51, Quảng Phú quarter, Phú Mỹ ward, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam.

Chùa Hộ Pháp (Thích Ca Phật Đài)

Hộ Pháp Pagoda is a pagoda built in the Southern (Theravāda) Buddhist architectural style, located at 610/2A Trần Phú, Vũng Tàu Ward, Hồ Chí Minh City, within the Thích Ca Phật Đài architectural complex. The pagoda features four steles inscribed with the Dharmacakrapravartana Sūtra (Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dharma) in four different languages. The Vietnam Record Organisation has recognised these as holding the record for 'The largest mother-of-pearl inlaid Dharmacakrapravartana Sūtra steles in four languages.'

Chùa Khỉ (the official name is Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Chân Nguyên) is located at the foot of Minh Đạm Mountain, in Phước Hải Commune, Hồ Chí Minh City. The pagoda was built in 1990.

Linh Sơn Cổ Tự

Linh Sơn Cổ Tự Pagoda is a Buddhist temple located at 104 Hoàng Hoa Thám, Vũng Tàu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The pagoda was recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam as a national historical and cultural site on 3 August 1991. The pagoda was originally built in 1919 on Núi Nhỏ (Small Mountain), but as the French occupied the site to build a pilot station, another pagoda was constructed at the current location and has existed until today. This is the oldest pagoda in Vũng Tàu. Although Linh Sơn Cổ Tự Pagoda is not grand or spacious, it is the oldest pagoda in Vũng Tàu, situated on Hoàng Hoa Thám Street, Vũng Tàu Ward. In its early days, the pagoda was built on the slope of Small Mountain, but in 1919 this area was occupied by the French to build villas for their pilots. Immediately afterwards, another pagoda was built and has remained until today. In the main hall, there is a 1.2-metre-high Buddha statue made of stone and gilded with gold leaf, skilfully carved to create a gentle and lively expression on the Buddha’s face, in the style of Chăm Buddha statues. Archaeologists estimate that it dates back about 1,600 years. Regarding the origin of the Buddha statue, legend has it that over a year ago, a group of fishing boats from Central Vietnam came to fish at Bãi Trước. While searching for firewood on Núi Lớn (Big Mountain), they accidentally discovered two stone Buddha statues buried in the ground on the mountainside near Bãi Dâu. They dug them up together and waited until the next day to perform a ritual to take them away. When the local people heard the news, they rushed to see and insisted that these were local historical relics and demanded to keep them. The group of fishermen from Central Vietnam pleaded for a long time before being allowed to take the smaller statue. The larger statue was brought back by the villagers for worship and is the very statue currently enshrined at Linh Sơn Cổ Tự Pagoda.

Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá

Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá is a Buddhist tịnh xá (monastery/temple) situated on the slope of Núi Nhỏ (Small Mountain), in Vũng Tàu ward, Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam. The tịnh xá was organised and constructed by Most Venerable Thích Thiện Huệ from 1969 to 1974 on the slope of Núi Nhỏ, which was formerly known as Tao Phùng Mountain, facing the sea. This is a grand complex consisting of many buildings, covering an area of nearly 10,000 m², and is a famous spiritual tourism and pilgrimage site in Vũng Tàu. On 14 December 1989, the temple was recognised and ranked as a national historical site by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam.

Thích Ca Phật Đài

Thích Ca Phật Đài

Thích Ca Phật Đài (lit. 'Platform of Shakyamuni Buddha') is a notable Theravada Buddhist temple in the coastal city of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam. It lies to the northwest of the Lớn mountain and was built between 1961 and 1963 when it was opened.