Jade Emperor Pagoda

Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên · CC BY-SA 3.0

A Chinese temple thick with incense smoke, full of carved wooden figures and a turtle pond.

The temple was built by the Chinese community in the early twentieth century to honour the Jade Emperor, and inside it is dark, cramped and so thick with incense smoke that your eyes sting. The main hall is packed with gilded carved wooden figures, and a side chamber holds the Hall of the Ten Kings of Hell, with wooden reliefs depicting the levels of the underworld in unnerving detail. Many people come to pray for children, and the chamber of Kim Hoa Thanh Mau is always the busiest. Out front is a turtle pond, the shells carved with the names of those who released them. This is a temple where the atmosphere matters more than the architecture.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Jade Emperor Pagoda?

Morning; busiest on the full moon and first of the lunar month

How long do you need at Jade Emperor Pagoda?

45 minutes

What are the opening hours of Jade Emperor Pagoda?

07:00 - 18:00

Did you know

The temple was built by the Chinese community in the early twentieth century, dedicated to the Jade Emperor.
The main hall holds many gilded carved wooden figures.
The Hall of the Ten Kings of Hell has wooden reliefs depicting the levels of the underworld.
A turtle pond in front of the temple is tied to the practice of releasing animals for merit.

Travel tips

The incense smoke is very thick — think twice if you have asthma or are sensitive to smoke.
Do not buy turtles to release here; the practice harms the pond's own population.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor_Pagoda

Updated: 2026-08-16