Place · Đa Kao and Tân Định
Jade Emperor PagodaChùa Ngọc Hoàng (Phước Hải Tự)
Half an hour of dark halls, carved figures and incense in a 1900s Taoist temple; go mid-afternoon, then walk to Tân Định for dinner.
Time on site
25–35 min
p95 50 min
Price
Free
Hours
unknown
see note below
Best time
unknown
28″ bags
Painful
Đa Kao and Tân Định: painful
- Smoky halls
- 30 minutes
- Free
- Free entry
- Works with kids
- Mostly indoors
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Hold phones and bags on the side away from the road
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Southern Vietnam ↗The Mekong's floating markets finish by about 09:00: to see one working, sleep in Cần Thơ or nearby and be on the boat by 05:30.
- Southern Vietnam ↗Phú Quốc's 30-day visa exemption applies only to direct international arrivals on the island; connecting via Saigon or Hanoi needs a normal visa or exemption.
- Ho Chi Minh City ↗Hold phones and bags on the side away from the road: snatch thefts by passing motorbikes are the city's most common crime against visitors.
- Ho Chi Minh City ↗Leave for Tân Sơn Nhất before 16:00 or after 19:00 when you can: the evening rush can double the airport ride.
Map & directions
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Plan
What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there
Weather here, next 7 days
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Time on site
Minimum
20min
Worthwhile
25min
Typical
35min
p95
50min
Gate hours not printed until verified.
What to see, in order
01
Jade Emperor altar
The Taoist ruler of heaven with guardians, in the smoky main hall.
02
Hall of the Ten Hells
Carved wooden panels of punishments in the afterlife.
03
Kim Hoa (goddess of fertility) hall
Figures of women and children; visitors pray for babies.
04
Turtle pond
Released turtles in the front courtyard.
How to do it well
- 1Mid-afternoon; 30 minutes is enough.
- 2Walk 15 minutes west to Tân Định church and market afterwards, or ride.
Facilities
- toilets
- Check; use cafés.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- 73 Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes on in most halls; follow signs.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Worshippers on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month and at Tết; couples and women praying for children at the Kim Hoa altar.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- low
Bailouts
heat
Café row on Mai Thị Lựu (AC)
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Jade Emperor Pagoda courtyard (shade)
Red lines
- Do not photograph people praying; keep quiet in the halls.
More on the groundPrices · Closures · Access and kids · Next door
Tickets and prices
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | Donation box. |
Closed days and closures
| When | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Festival days | check before you go | Packed at Tết and on the Jade Emperor's day (9th of the 1st lunar month). |
“Check” means the date moves year to year or is not published far ahead: confirm on the official page for your date.
Access and kids
- with kids
- Turtles, carved figures; the hells panels may scare small children.
Next door, in walking order
- +15′Tân Định church
- +14′Bánh Xèo 46A
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Did Barack Obama visit?
Yes, in 2016, which put it on many tour itineraries; it is still a working temple.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterĐa Kao and Tân Địnhnearest point: Jade Emperor Pagoda courtyard (shade)10 m · 1 min walk
- EatBánh Xèo 46A Đinh Công Tráng780 m · 13 min walk
- EatPhở Hòa (260C Pasteur)1.1 km · 17 min walk
- ClusterBến Nghé (Đồng Khởi core)1.3 km · 22 min walk
- ClusterIndependence Palace and War Remnants Museum1.4 km · 22 min walk
- PlaceSaigon Central Post Office1.4 km · 22 min walk
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Ho Chi Minh City