Giac Lam Pagoda Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam - Hoi An - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City - Hue
Unlike most other pagodas in Saigon, the architecture, plan and decoration of Giac Lam have been kept almost unchanged, following its reconstruction in the early 1900s.
It is considered to be the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.
The tranquil surroundings of Giac Lam Pagoda take you far away from the hustles and bustles of Ho Chi Minh City.
The forest of the Giac Lam has a rare Bodhi tree gifted by a monk from Sri Lanka.
A gleaming white statue of Quan The Am Bo Tat (Avalokitesvara, the goddess of mercy), placed on a lotus blossom, comes immediately after the scared Bodhi tree.
Roof decoration of this famous pagoda and some of the small towers in its front garden, with blue and white porcelain plates, is noteworthy.
Interior of this pagoda is adorned with a rich collection of statues of old Buddha and Arhat. The ancient furnishings and statue placements within the Giac Lam Pagoda attract a great deal of attention from tourists visiting the site.
The 49-Buddha oil lamp is another interesting feature of this pagoda.
The rows of funerary tablets with images of the dead, within the Giac Lam pagoda, distinguish it from all other pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City.
Besides tourists, this active pagoda remains crowded by its followers, who frequently visit the temple to offer prayers. Prayers involve chanting accompanied by beating of drums, ringing of bells and gongs followed by a traditional rite.
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