JADE EMPEROR PAGODA

As one of the famous ancient pagodas of old Saigon, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is known by various names such as Da Kao Pagoda or Empereur de Jade. While the Vietnamese call it Chùa Ngọc Hoàng, the Chinese community refers to it as Ngọc Hoàng Điện. In 1982, the pagoda was officially renamed Phuoc Hai Pagoda.

Built from fired bricks with “yin and yang” tiled roofs, the pagoda deeply reflects Chinese temple architecture, creating an ancient beauty steeped in the passage of time. The overall grounds of the Jade Emperor Pagoda are divided into three main halls: the Front Hall, the Middle Hall, and the Main Sanctuary. The primary deity worshipped is the Jade Emperor, alongside various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities (notably Kim Hoa Thanh Mau—the Holy Mother, the God of Marriage, and the 12 Midwives).

During the resistance war against the U.S., the pagoda served as a revolutionary base where Most Venerable Thich Vinh Khuong organized shelters for cadres and soldiers coming into the city from the resistance zones. In 1994, the Jade Emperor Pagoda was recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument.