Exploring Giac Lam Temple – a centuries-old spiritual haven in the heart of Saigon

If you have the opportunity to pilgrimage to the major temples in Ho Chi Minh City, do not miss Giac Lam Temple, one of the renowned temples with a history spanning hundreds of years, bringing a new architectural charm to Vietnamese Buddhism.

Discovering Giac Lam Temple – a centuries-old spiritual sanctuary in the heart of Saigon

Giac Lam Temple, also known as Giac Lam Pagoda, is an ancient temple located in Tan Binh district with a history of nearly 300 years. In 1988, Giac Lam Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic and became a famous pilgrimage site for many international tourists.

Since its establishment until the arrival of Zen master Vien Quang as the abbot, the temple had existed for over 30 years without development, serving only as a spiritual refuge for the local residents. However, under Zen master Vien Quang, Giac Lam Temple

During Zen master Tien Giac – Hai Tinh's succession around 1844, he actively promoted training for the monks at the temple by establishing lecture halls and study sessions to teach scriptures and legal reasoning, creating a strong spiritual atmosphere within the Buddhist community.

In 1873, under the guidance of Zen master Hoang An – Minh Khiem, inheriting existing Buddhist activities, the temple served as a place for printing, copying scriptures, carving wooden scriptures, laws, and translating Nôm scripts for some Buddhist books. In 1909, Zen master Hong Hung – Thanh Dao renovated Giac Lam Temple for the second and third times, making significant changes to the temple's architecture. From 1939 to 1945, during the time of Zen master Nhat Dan – Thien Thuan, some monks participated in the resistance. Giac Lam Temple was used as a logistical base and a sanctuary for many revolutionary activists working as intelligence agents in the inner city.

In 1953, Giac Lam Temple received the Bodhi tree and the Xa Loi Buddha relic from Venerable Narada Maha Thera of Sri Lanka, presented to the Traditional Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Initially, the Xa Loi Buddha relic was temporarily kept at Long Van Temple in Dong Nai in a small golden tower. After the completion of the Xa Loi stupa at Giac Lam Temple, the Xa Loi Buddha relic was transferred to its honored position.

On November 16, 1988, Giac Lam Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic. In 1992, Supreme Patriarch Thich Hue Sanh initiated a large-scale restoration of the Giac Lam ancestral site, lasting for 6 years and completed in 1999.

Giac Lam Temple features the typical triple-roof architecture of Southern temples, with three connected horizontal sections forming a rectangular layout, including: the main hall, lecture hall, and monks' quarters. Through major renovations, the temple added structures such as the Ancestral Tower area, Xa Loi stupa, lecture hall area, and the main house.

One of the distinctive features of Giac Lam Temple's architecture is the twin gate built in 1945, adorned with two lion statues at the corners following Indian culture and Naga serpent heads characteristic of Khmer Southern Buddhism.

The special element of the main hall lies at the top of its wall, adorned with approximately 7,000 plates. Most of these products come from the Lai Thieu pottery kiln in Binh Duong, while some have origins in Japan and China. With this massive number of plates, Giac Lam Temple holds the record for the 'Temple with the most decorative plates in Vietnam'.

Moreover, within the premises of Giac Lam Temple, there are notable structures such as the 7-story Xa Loi pagoda, the ancient tomb tower area, and precious artifacts vividly depicting the development of Buddhism in the Southern region.

Address: Giac Lam Temple – 565 Lac Long Quan Street, Ward 10, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

As per Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour