Religious site
Thien Hau Temple of Cholon
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Thien Hau Temple, also known as Tue Thanh Assembly Hall, is a Chinese-style temple on Nguyen Trai Street in Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. It is dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese Goddess of the Sea, and was built by Cantonese immigrants around 1760.
Don't miss
- The roof is decorated with small, delicately fashioned porcelain figurines depicting themes from Chinese religion and legends.
- Porcelain dioramas on the roof show scenes from a 19th-century Chinese city, including actors, demons, animals, and Persian and European sailors and traders.
- The altar to Mazu is dominated by three statues of the goddess, with bronze-colored faces and multi-colored clothes and crowns.
- A large bronze bell dating to 1830 is rung when large donations are made to the temple.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Thien Hau Temple of Cholon
You can visit Thien Hau Temple of Cholon on your own. A guide is worth it for the history and detail that is easy to walk past, and a tour can combine it with nearby sights.
Cheapest way inHo Chi Minh City: Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour4.8★ · 248 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$1 per personSee dates →
Best full dayExplore Cu Chi Tunnels: Vietnam War History & Underground Life4.9★ · 4,582 travelers8-9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$14 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleBest of Saigon Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port5★ · 16 travelers6-12 hoursFree cancellationFrom$115 per personSee dates →Know before you go
- Enter through an iron gate and cross a small courtyard to access the temple.
- Lanterns and wooden models of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance.
- Incense burners are placed throughout the interior and in the exposed portions of the courtyard.
A bit of history
The temple was first erected around 1760 by the Cantonese community. It underwent major repairs or expansions in 1800, 1842, 1882, 1890, and 1916.
Common questions
Who is the temple dedicated to?
It is dedicated to Thien Hau, the Vietnamese name for Mazu, the Chinese Goddess of the Sea.
When was the temple built?
It was first erected around 1760 by the Cantonese community.
What can I see on the roof?
The roof features small porcelain figurines and dioramas depicting scenes from a 19th-century Chinese city.
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