Vietnam Pagodas

Bửu Long Pagoda

TP. Hồ Chí Minh(Chùa Bửu Long)

Bửu Long Pagoda

Overview & history

Bửu Long Pagoda, officially named Bửu Long Patriarchal Zen Monastery (Thiền viện Tổ đình Bửu Long), is a pagoda situated on a hill beside the Đồng Nai River at 81 Nguyễn Xiển Street, Long Bình Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda belongs to the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and was founded by lay devotee Võ Hà Thuật in 1942. In 2007, the pagoda underwent investment for construction and restoration. Bửu Long Pagoda features architectural elements reminiscent of temples in Thailand and India, combined with the style of pagodas from the Nguyễn dynasty period.

The highlight of the pagoda is the stupa named Gotama Cetiya, which began construction in 2007 and was completed after six years. Gotama Cetiya Stupa is a place for enshrining the Buddha's relics and those of the Noble Sangha. The stupa covers over 2,000 m² and stands 70 metres tall, built in the style of the ancient Funan culture. Surrounding it are smaller stupas, all made of bronze and gleaming gold in colour. Gotama Cetiya is the largest stupa in Vietnam, with five stupas of varying sizes; the main stupa at the centre is the tallest and largest, with seven storeys. The ground floor and second floor serve as assembly halls, the third and fourth floors are two meditation halls, and the fifth floor is the stupa enshrining the Buddha's relics and those of the noble monks.

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.

Location

Coordinates: 10.87878, 106.83598

🧭 Directions on Google Maps

Other pagodas in TP. Hồ Chí Minh

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Chùa Đại Tòng Lâm
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Chùa Hộ Pháp (Thích Ca Phật Đài)
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Chùa Khỉ
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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.
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Niết Bàn Tịnh Xá
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Thích Ca Phật Đài
Thích Ca Phật Đài
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