Buu Long Pagoda - Saigon’s Stunning Thai-Style Temple

Located in the chill District 9 of Ho Chi Minh City, Buu Long Pagoda encompasses the perfect combination of peace, architectural coolness, and depth of spirituality. It has been tagged the "Thai Temple" of Vietnam due to its proximity in appearance to most Thai Buddhist buildings, and lately, the number of tourists visiting increases in order to take them away from the rut of urban life. A whole article about Buu Long Pagoda gives detailed information about the history and design, some tips to keep handy, and places around.

P.S Do not miss to visit the Chinatown of Ho chi minh city 

A Glimpse at Buu Long Pagoda

Constructed in 1942, Buu Long Pagoda is such a facility representative of Buddhist pilgrimages following Theravada traditions. This temple draws inspiration from India and Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, while most of the Vietnamese pagodas owe their architectural style to Mahayana Buddhism. In 2019, it ranked among National Geographic's 20 most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world.

Perched on the hill with a view of the Đồng Nai River, this pagoda completely gives off a chill vibe, so unlike those crazy streets of Ho Chi Minh City. It is truly worth the drive for the architecture and the quiet.

Wonderful Buildings

Central Stupa of the Gotama Cetiya

The coolest thing about Buu Long Pagoda is its awesome 56-meter-tall golden stupa, which has some sacred relics of the Buddha and his disciples chillin’ inside. The stupa’s got these amazing carvings, golden spires, and all sorts of detailed decorations that mix Indian, Thai, and traditional Vietnamese styles.

You can climb up this stupa to see these relics and get some great views of District 9, the Đồng Nai River, and much more. From here, besides all that, you see modern spots such as the Landmark 81 skyscraper, really showcasing old-school and new combined in Vietnam.

Serenity of Landscape

The temple grounds are adorned with lotus-filled ponds, dragon statues, and lush gardens. A semi-circular lake in front of the pagoda mirrors the golden towers, creating a tranquil atmosphere ideal for photography and meditation.

A Mashup of Cultures

While it reflects Thailand in terms of architectural influence, it does bring in the quintessence of Vietnamese elements: dragons, dharmachakra, and other traditional carvings ingrained in it to showcase the perfect harmony of cultural artistry.

Experiences and Activities

Meditation and Spiritual Retreat

Buu Long Pagoda is a residence for spiritualists and Buddhists. Meditation sessions conducted by the in-house monks and chanting are the perfect view of Buddhist traditions. Visitors can watch the events in silence, but they have been asked not to make noise inside the given premises.

Photo Opportunities

Buu Long Pagoda is extra popular among photographers, thanks to the cool architecture and relaxed vibes of the place. Early morning is usually the best time for taking shoots with those golden spires set against the blue sky.

Nature Walks

Large gardens around the pagoda, some of the nicest shaded paths whereby one can take their time walking, during the rainy season when flowers are in bloom and butterflies everywhere.

Quiet is easier to find outside a city

Buu Long is the quiet pagoda in a city of nine million, which is why people go, and also why it stops being quiet at weekends.

In Phong Nha the quiet is structural: the national park caps how many people enter each day, so a busy Saturday and an empty Tuesday look the same. Our Elephant Cave and Ma Da Valley day trek runs on that permit.

It is 1,000 km north and it is a walking day, so it has nothing in common with an afternoon at a pagoda except the reason people go.

Visitor Information

How to Get There

• By Taxi/Ride-hailing Apps: This is the fastest and most convenient method, taking about 40–45 minutes from the centre of Ho Chi Minh city (approx 24 km). Using apps like Grab guarantees fixed prices and eliminates any inconveniences.
  If you are a solo traveler, then a grab bike ride is a blessing in Ho chi minh city to navigate peak traffic times!

• Public Transport: There are buses in the direction of District 9, but one has to take a taxi or motorbike ride to complete.

Operating Hours

• Daily: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

• Stupa: 8:00–10:00 AM and 2:00–4:00 PM

Admission Fee

• Free, although donations are appreciated.

Amenities available at temple complex 

• A vegetarian restaurant, moderately priced.

• Super clean bathrooms.

• Motorcycle parking is free.

How much time it would take for tour of Buu Long Pagoda

• We would say one hour is enough to cover most of the spots at Buu Long Pagoda even counting the hundred pictures you would take :)

Traveler Tips

• Dress Appropriately: Put on long trousers and sleeved shirts as a sign of respect.

• Shoe Etiquette: Always remove your shoes before entering into the temple buildings.

• Morning Plans: Mornings are cool, and they are a lot less crowded.

• Hydrate: Bring water, particularly in hot weather conditions.

• Be Respectful: Avoid loud conversations and follow any directions in signs.

Local Attractions

Following a visit to Buu Long Pagoda, other places nearby worth an hour:

• Notre Dame Cathedral: Saigon Neo-Romanesque church in District 1. This is quite a good spot for that instagram picture you want in Ho chi minh!

• Ben Thanh Market: Souvenir and street food destination. If you still have some time left then there is one more famous market in Ho chi minh city which you can cover - Tan Dinh Market. It's approx. 3km from Ben Thanh market which should take you around 15 minutes on a grab bike/car.

• Independence Palace: The monument of modern history in Vietnam.
  
  P.S If you have couple of extra hours, I can't recommend the cafe apartment of Saigon for a unique experience here!!

Why Visit Buu Long Pagoda?

Buu Long Pagoda is a working place of prayer and an unusual piece of architecture, as one will find from this place an extremely calm atmosphere, great views, and some beautiful art, making it a perfect getaway. Name it: spiritual uplift, cool place to snap pics, or a laid-back day trip, this temple works for all three.

Tip: If you got an extra day in Saigon, I would highly recommend you to check out the Japan town of Saigon.

District 9 no longer exists

On 1 January 2021 Districts 2 and 9 and Thu Duc district were merged into Thu Duc City, a municipal city within Ho Chi Minh City. Buu Long Pagoda is in Thu Duc City now.

Everyone still says District 9, including taxi drivers, and the pagoda has not moved. It matters when you are typing an address into a booking form or reading official signage.

This is separate from the nationwide reorganisation of 1 July 2025, which abolished the district tier across Vietnam.