Located at 710 Nguyen Trai Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Thien Hau Temple, one of the oldest Chinese pagodas in the city, is a tourist destination great for a moment of quiet in a busy city.

Ba Thien Hau Temple, or Temple of Lady Thien Hau, is a temple dedicated to the Chinese Goddess of Sea.

Entering the temple, tourists will be impressed with the quiet, mysterious and sacred space.

Ba Thien Hau Temple is divided into three main parts: the front, middle, and main temple.

The main entrance of the temple leading to the front temple. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

The main temple is a place of worship for Lady Thien Hau with a one-meter statue of Lady Thien Hau made from a wooden block.

The front temple is a place of worship for the God Phuc Duc Chanh, the god of soil, and the God Mon Quan Vuong, the god of gates.

Meanwhile, the middle temple has 130-year-old censers burning incense.

A large censer in the temple. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

One of the largest events at the temple is the birthday anniversary of Lady Thien Hau, which is held annually on the 22nd-24th days of the third month of the lunar year.

On this occasion, people will carry a palanquin with a statue of Lady Thien Hau around the temple, along with many other activities, such as lion dances and other art performances.

Over the past 261 years, the temple has experienced the city’s ups and downs.

It is not only a religious place but also a special tourist site attracting many local and foreign visitors.

In 1993, Ba Thien Hau Temple was recognized as a national architectural and art monument.

The roofline of the temple was designed in a meticulous and sophisticated manner. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Local residents come to Ba Thien Hau Temple. The temple is most crowded on the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Conical incense coils are often used in the temple. Visitors tend to buy such incense coils and burn and hang them from the roof of the temple to pray for peace and good luck. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Conical incense coils are also attached with red tags where wishes of visitors are written. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Visitors look at pink pieces of paper, on which names of pilgrims and their contributions to the temple are written, stuck on a wall of the temple. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

A young girl places an incense stick into a censer. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Besides architecture, conical incense coils are a highlight of Ba Thien Hau Temple. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

In front of the main temple, large censers are placed. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

If there are many incense sticks in censers, they will be taken out to reduce smoke to ensure the health of visitors. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Ba Thien Hau Temple attracts visitors at different ages. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

Two people walk along a way from the main entrance. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

The temple is often crowded and busy at weekend. Photo: Nguyen Trung Au / Tuoi Tre News

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