Thien Hau Temple in Ho Chi Minh City

The Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City built the Thien Hau temple in the 18th century. The locals often come to pray for peace.

Thien Hau is a holy lady and the patron god of fishermen and seafarers. She is also especially respected in Buddhism and Taoism in East Asian countries.

The Thien Hau temple, a marvel of Chinese architectural style, retains its original design from the 18th century. The intricate details, such as the dragons and yin-yang tiles on the roof, are a sight to behold, adding to the temple's allure.

The most impressive thing at the temple is the round incense hanging on the ceiling. Visitors can buy these incense sticks and write their wishes on paper. Then, the temple worker will hang incense with the wishes inside, and the guests burn it to send prayers to whom and where they go.

Besides, the two rows of temple corridors are covered with bright pink papers bearing the sponsors' names and merits, making the corridors eye-catching and a popular location for many photographers.

At Lunar New Year, or on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, local people and visitors often visit this Thien Hau pagoda to wish good luck.

Some people pray for fortune, grace, and talent; others wish for their blessing, peace, and tranquillity for family and relatives.

A few guests come here to wish for children, but there are better destinations than this. To pray for children, the local people visit Jade Emperor Pagoda.

During the busy praying day, aromatic smoke melts into nothingness. It flies in the wind, carrying wishes from the heart of prayers.

Typically, the 23rd of the third lunar month is an essential date for worshipping the holy lady of Thien Hau, and many people participate in this big event.