TempleFree entry

Thien Hau Temple

#9of 10 places to visit in Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City, Southeast Vietnam, Vietnam

Also known as Thien Hau Pagoda · Ba Thien Hau · Chua Ba Thien Hau · Temple of the Lady of the Sea · Mazu Temple Cholon

Quick answer

Opening hours: Varies by season or area. 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: Balon Greyjoy / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Opening hours: Hours vary; Commonly listed as 06:00 - 17:30 daily; another guide lists 08:00 - 16:30. Sources conflict, so verify at the site.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 45 min
Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00
Best months: Dec – Mar
Address: 710 Nguyen Trai Street, Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000

About Thien Hau Temple

Thien Hau Temple in Cholon is free to enter, as of 2026, and was founded around 1760 by the Cantonese community of the city, making it one of the older Chinese temples in Ho Chi Minh City. The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau, known in Chinese as Mazu, the goddess of the sea who protects sailors and travellers. Its roof carries small glazed porcelain figures showing scenes from Chinese legend, its courtyard is hung with spiral incense coils, and worshippers burn incense before the goddess's altar in the main hall.

Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00. When incense coils are freshly lit and worshippers outnumber tour groups.

Thien Hau Temple timings

Opening hours: Hours vary; Mon–Sun Varies by season or area; Commonly listed as 06:00 - 17:30 daily; another guide lists 08:00 - 16:30. Sources conflict, so verify at the site.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	Varies by season or area

Good to know: Crowded and extended hours on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the goddess's festival.

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

Thien Hau Temple ticket price

Entry fees for Thien Hau Temple
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Entry is free as of 2026, and donations are optional. Sources give different opening hours (06:00 - 17:30 in one, 08:00 - 16:30 in another), so verify at the temple gate.

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 Thien Hau Temple

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

06:00 - 08:30
Early WorshipBest time to go
Local worshippers light incense and offerings; the courtyard is quiet and the coils are freshly hung.
Quiet
08:30 - 11:30
Tour Group Peak
Tour groups arrive from central Saigon; the main hall fills with visitors and incense smoke.
Busy
11:30 - 15:00
Midday
Numbers thin and the heat builds; the covered halls stay cooler than the courtyard.
Moderate
15:00 - 17:30
Late Afternoon
Steady worshippers; a calmer time for photographs before closing.
Moderate

History of Thien Hau Temple

Thien Hau Temple in Cholon was established around 1760 by Cantonese immigrants, and it has been renovated many times, including in 1800, 1842, 1882, 1890 and 1916. The temple honours Mazu, a deified figure of the Fujian coast, and the Cantonese congregation used it as a place to pray for safe passage at sea. Its roof figures, ceramic dioramas of 19th-century Chinese scenes and a bronze bell dating to 1830 are among the details that survive from those centuries.

Thien Hau Temple sits in Cholon, the district long known as the city's Chinatown. Its main annual event is the festival on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, Mazu's traditional birthday, when a statue of the goddess is paraded through the neighbourhood and the temple fills with worshippers. Sources differ on the exact number of renovations and on some dates, and the founding year of around 1760 is an approximation rather than a documented date.

Rules & etiquette at Thien Hau Temple

Thien Hau Temple is a working temple with a resident congregation, so covered shoulders and knees are expected, and voices should be kept low. Visitors may light incense, but the coils hang from the roof beams and burning ash falls near the walkways, so protect hair and clothing. Photography of the roof and the halls is widely accepted, but people at prayer should be photographed only with permission.

Thien Hau Temple has few formal rules, but visitors should not touch offerings, step on thresholds or point feet at altars. Small vendors outside the gate sell incense, paper offerings and fruit, and prices are negotiable. Bags should be worn in front, since pickpocketing occurs in the crowded streets of Cholon.

Tips for visiting Thien Hau Temple

1
Thien Hau Temple is a 30-45 minute stop, best reached by Grab or taxi from central Ho Chi Minh City, as no metro line serves Cholon. Early morning suits photography of the incense coils, and the courtyard is more relaxed before mid-morning groups arrive.
2
Thien Hau Temple pairs with other Cholon stops in the surrounding Chinatown streets; ask a driver to wait or book a return Grab from inside the temple grounds. On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the festival brings crowds, processions and road closures, so plan extra time and avoid that day if a quiet visit is wanted. Tipping is not expected, and donations are voluntary.

How to reach Thien Hau Temple

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

710 Nguyen Trai Street, Cho Lon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000Directions in Google Maps

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
9 km · 30-45 min
170,000-280,000 VND taxi/Grab.
From Ben Thanh Metro Station (Line 1)
5 km · 20-30 min
50,000-90,000 VND Grab; bus fares from Ben Thanh Bus Station are lower.
From Jade Emperor Pagoda
6 km · 25-35 min by Grab
60,000-100,000 VND Grab.

Nearest airport

From Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)

about 9km, 30-45 minutes by road depending on traffic.

Nearest station

From No metro station serves Cholon; Ben Thanh Metro Station (Line 1) is about 5km away, with Grab or taxi from there.

Thien Hau Temple FAQs

Is Thien Hau Temple free to enter?

Yes, entry is free as of 2026. Donations are optional, and small vendors outside sell incense and offerings.

Who is worshipped at Thien Hau Temple?

Thien Hau, known in Chinese as Mazu, the goddess of the sea. She protects sailors and travellers, and the temple was founded around 1760 by the Cantonese community.

When is the Thien Hau Temple festival?

On the 23rd day of the third lunar month, Mazu's traditional birthday. A statue of the goddess is paraded through Cholon, and the temple is crowded.

How do I get to Thien Hau Temple from central Ho Chi Minh City?

By Grab or taxi, which takes about 20-30 minutes from Ben Thanh Market for roughly 50,000-90,000 VND. No metro line serves Cholon, and local buses run from Ben Thanh Bus Station.

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