Buu Long Pagoda

The golden Gotama Cetiya stupa amid green grounds, at a Theravada pagoda that uses no incense

Many people call this "the Thai pagoda in the heart of Saigon", and from a distance the reason is clear: a white and gold stupa soaring above the treetops, with a blue lake at its foot. But the pagoda's architecture does not copy any single place; it follows the Theravada Buddhist tradition, directly influenced by Indian architecture and blended with Nguyen-dynasty and Thai elements, following a major renovation from 2007 to 2013. The pagoda was founded in 1942. Its most recognisable structure is the Gotama Cetiya stupa, which enshrines relics of the Buddha and holy monks. One thing few people know before arriving: the pagoda does not use incense or candles. You do not need to bring incense, and as a result the atmosphere in the grounds feels quite different from many other pagodas – just shade, water and the sound of the wind. As a place of worship, modest dress is advised. A publication from the Department notes that between 11:00 and 14:00 visitors may only tour the outside of the pagoda; if you want to go inside, avoid that time slot. In 2019, the pagoda featured in the "20 beautiful Buddhist temples around the world" photo collection presented by National Geographic.

English text: machine translation from the Localis platform — proper names kept in Vietnamese.