TempleFree entry

Jade Emperor Pagoda

#8of 10 places to visit in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City, Southeast Vietnam, Vietnam

Also known as Phuoc Hai Tu · Chua Ngoc Hoang · Chua Phuoc Hai · Emperor of Jade Pagoda

Quick answer

Opening hours: 07:00–18:00. Entry is free. Allow 45 min. Best time: 07:00 - 09:00.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Ymblanter / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Opening hours: 07:00–18:00; 07:00 - 18:00 daily, per third-party guides; hours may extend on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 45 min
Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00
Best months: Dec – Mar
Address: 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000

About Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda is free to enter, as of 2026, and was completed in 1909 by a Cantonese merchant named Luu Minh (Liu Daoyuan) on Mai Thi Luu Street in the former Da Kao district. The temple is a Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian hybrid, dedicated to the Jade Emperor, the supreme Taoist deity, and it combines timber carving, glazed ceramic roof figures and smoke-darkened statues in a dim, incense-filled interior.

Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00. Before tour groups arrive and while the incense smoke settles in the cool morning air.

Jade Emperor Pagoda timings

Jade Emperor Pagoda opens at 07:00 and closes at 18:00. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 07:00–18:00; Mon–Sun 07:00–18:00; 07:00 - 18:00 daily, per third-party guides; hours may extend on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	07:00–18:00

Opening hours compiled from hochiminhcity.gov.vn and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Jade Emperor Pagoda ticket price

Entry fees for Jade Emperor Pagoda
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Entry is free as of 2026, and visitors may leave small donations in the boxes provided. Hours differ slightly between sources and can extend on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month, so verify at the site.

Prices compiled from hochiminhcity.gov.vn and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Jade Emperor Pagoda

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

07:00 - 09:00
Early MorningBest time to go
Local worshippers and a few visitors; incense smoke hangs low in the main hall and the courtyard is calm.
Quiet
09:00 - 12:00
Tour Group Peak
Coach groups reach the pagoda; the halls become crowded and the incense haze thickens.
Busy
12:00 - 15:00
Midday
Numbers thin as groups leave; the courtyard is hot but the interior halls stay dim and cooler.
Moderate
15:00 - 18:00
Late Afternoon
Steady local worshippers; on the 1st and 15th lunar day the queues at altars are longer.
Moderate

History of Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda was completed in 1909 by Luu Minh, a Cantonese merchant, and served the local Chinese community. It was renamed Phuoc Hai Tu, or Luck Sea Temple, in 1984, and on 15 October 1994 it was recognised as a national architectural and artistic relic. The pagoda is now owned by the Vietnamese Buddhist Association, and Barack Obama visited during his state trip to Vietnam on 22 May 2016.

Jade Emperor Pagoda houses statues of the Jade Emperor and of guardian deities, along with carved wooden panels depicting the Ten Hells of Chinese folk belief. Beliefs and practice here mix Taoism, Buddhism and folk religion, and worshippers come to pray for luck, health and fertility. A pond in the courtyard holds turtles, which are treated as symbols of longevity, and visitors sometimes buy small turtles to release.

Rules & etiquette at Jade Emperor Pagoda

Jade Emperor Pagoda is an active place of worship, and visitors are expected to dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees, and to remove hats. Incense smoke is thick in the main hall, and visitors should keep voices low, avoid touching statues or offerings, and never point feet toward altars. Photography of the building is generally accepted, but pointing cameras at worshippers mid-prayer is considered intrusive; ask first.

Jade Emperor Pagoda receives its largest crowds on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month and during the Lunar New Year period, when worshippers queue for altars and the courtyard fills with offerings. Small donations are welcome but not required, and vendors who sell release turtles or incense outside the gate may quote inflated prices, so buy only what is wanted.

Tips for visiting Jade Emperor Pagoda

1
Jade Emperor Pagoda takes about 45 minutes, and early morning is the quietest window. Bring small notes in case of donations. The main hall is dark and smoky, so photographs benefit from a steady hand rather than a flash.
2
Jade Emperor Pagoda sits about 2.7km from Ben Thanh Market and is best reached by Grab or taxi, as the metro does not serve the area. The neighbouring streets hold small cafes and eateries that suit a coffee stop after the visit. Visitors who arrive on the 1st or 15th lunar day should expect long queues at the altars and a livelier, incense-heavy atmosphere, which suits those who want to see the practice, less so those who want quiet.

How to reach Jade Emperor Pagoda

The red star is Jade Emperor Pagoda; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

73 Mai Thi Luu Street, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000Directions in Google Maps

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
6 km · 20-35 min
130,000-220,000 VND taxi/Grab.
From Ben Thanh Market
2.7 km · 12-20 min by Grab
30,000-50,000 VND Grab; not a comfortable walk in the heat.
From War Remnants Museum
2 km · 10-15 min by Grab
25,000-40,000 VND Grab.

Nearest airport

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

about 6km, 20-35 minutes by road depending on traffic.

Nearest station

From Ben Thanh Metro Station (Line 1)

about 2.7km; Grab is the practical option.

Jade Emperor Pagoda FAQs

Is Jade Emperor Pagoda free to enter?

Yes, entry is free as of 2026. Visitors may leave small donations in the boxes provided, and there is no ticket desk.

When was Jade Emperor Pagoda built?

Jade Emperor Pagoda was completed in 1909 by a Cantonese merchant named Luu Minh. The temple was renamed Phuoc Hai Tu in 1984 and recognised as a national relic on 15 October 1994.

What should I wear at Jade Emperor Pagoda?

Dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees. Remove hats inside, keep voices low and avoid pointing feet toward altars.

What time does Jade Emperor Pagoda open?

07:00 to 18:00 daily according to third-party guides, with extended hours possible on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month. Verify at the site.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places