Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City

Jade Emperor Pagoda, also called Ngoc Hoang Pagoda and "Phước Hải Tự" in Vietnamese, is located in District 1, the central city of Ho Chi Minh City.

This ancient temple, spanning over 2,000m2, was meticulously built in 1892 and took 16 years to complete. It is a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage, attracting hundreds of visitors and worshippers daily.

The Ngoc Hoang Pagoda is a well-known place to pray for having a new child. Many people believe they will get lucky to have pregnant of a baby when wishing at the temple.

The area where Buddhists pray to get a bay is on the left of the main hall with a sign of the Golden Goddess (Kim Hoa Thanh Mau) and 12 midwives.

When praying, a person in the temple gives the prayer a red thread to wear on the wrist and wishes. If you pray for a son, you will hang the thread on the right after wishing. If you want to have a girl, hang it on the left.

The temple's reputation as a place where prayers for fertility are answered remains mysterious. Whether true or false, this belief adds an air of intrigue and curiosity to the temple, making it a fascinating place to visit and learn about.

Another unique aspect of this temple is its worship. While other pagodas in Vietnam often worship Buddhist statues, this temple worships the statue of the Jade Emperor in the central area. This practice adds to the cultural diversity and intrigue of Vietnam.

Many people believe that the Jade Emperor has the top rank in heaven. Praying for him can help life and business develop better. This purpose was also the original target when a Chinese businessman built the pagoda in 1892.

So, plenty of Buddhist beliefs come to this pagoda to pray for smooth business and lucky life. The spiritual belief still lives firmly in the minds of the local people in Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda is still a preferred destination during the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month.

Typically, every year, on the 9th of the first lunar month, the pagoda organizes a Jade Emperor ceremony, a big festival in the first days of the new year for prayers to wish good luck.