The temples are one of the most well-known attractions, in which the travelers can have a detailed look at well-preserved architecture, intricate carving and experience the unique culture of the local during their special holidays.
Here is the list of top famous temples of Vietnam. Although you need not pay any fee for your visiting, donations are still warmly welcomed. However, on paying a visit to those destinations, you are required to take off your shoes before going into the prayer halls and dress up appropriately as well.

Cao Dai Temple (Tay Ninh Province)

12:00 PM is an ideal time for visitors to visit this famous Cao Dai Temple of Tay Ninh Province, which is about 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City.
This temple was built in 1933 and completed in 1974. However, it was not inaugurated until 1955. The main building of this temple is 140 meters in length and 40 meters in width along with two bell towers, which are 25 meters high; Tam Dai, which is 36 meters in height; Cuu Trung Dai and Bat Quy Dai, which are both 30 meters high.



When coming to Cao Dai Temple, you should choose the prayer session, which is 12:00 PM at noon, to observe this solemn and unique atmosphere. A significant note is that to enter the temple, you must take off your shoes and must not take the photograph of the “Divine eye”, however, it is acceptable to take photographs of the sessions or the scenery from the upstairs balcony.



On the 9^th of January and the full moon day of August in Lunar Calendar, the Cao Dai Temple has two important ceremonies. Not only do the Cao Dai adherents but also visitors from every corner of the country come here to enjoy the happy atmosphere of the Fruits Festival and the Full Moon Festival. These festivals are both the most interesting ones of Tay Ninh Province during the year.

See more Cao Dai Temple here

Address: Long Thanh Bac town, Hoa Thanh District, Tay Ninh Province.

Temple of Literature Hanoi

If you have the opportunity to travel to Ha Noi, you should not forget to visit the Temple of Literature, which hosts the Imperial Academy. It also was the first university in Vietnam.

The temple was built in October 1070 at the time of Ly Thanh Tong Emperor. After that, in 1076, Ly Nhan Tong Emperor built the Imperial Academy, which is behind the Temple of Literature.
In the early year, this academy was dedicated to the nobles and sons of mandarins. Later, the excellent residents could be the students of the Imperial Academy as well.



The Temple of Literature also includes the teaching area and stele of doctors on the stone turtles. Those are one of the only stelae in the world that depict the name of the doctors, who were successful at the royal exams during the period of 300 years (from 1442 to 1779). Furthermore, These stelae have the information of the exams and the reason of education in each dynasty and the merits of those doctors for the development of the country.

Because of those reasons, this temple has such a strong impression with the residents at that time and the posterity. On the other hand, the script on the stele also includes the date of erecting, the name of the scriptwriter and the stele erecter.

Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District
Opening time:

• 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from November to March.
• 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM from April to October.
• Close on Sunday.

Admission fee: 30 000 VND/person

Van Thuy Tu Temple (Mui Ne, Binh Thuan Province)

Van Thuy Tu Temple is the most famous destination for tourists traveling to Phan Thiet city. This is the place that exhibits the largest whale’s skeleton of Vietnam and even the Southeast Asia.

The temple was built in 1762 and was famous for its uniqueness. Van Thuy Tu Temple also stores many valuable historic and cultural artifacts, which are directly relevant to the founding and development of the fishing industry in Binh Thuan Province and the Southern Central of Vietnam.
This temple includes 24 valuable titles of Nguyen Emperors because many generals of Nguyen dynasty was helped by the whale. On the other hand, you can also find many Han – Nom cultural vestiges, horizontal lacquered board, parallel sentences and the bronze bell, which are more than 140 years old at this temple.




Address: 54 Ngu Ong, Duc Thang, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province.
Opening time: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission fee:

• Adult: 10 000 VND
• Child: 5 000 VND
• If you go in groups, the temple will offer you the tour guide (free).

Quan Cong Temple (Hoi An Ancient Town)

Quan Cong Temple, which is also known as Quan Thanh Temple, is a temple that worships Quan Van Truong General. He was very famous for his justice, loyalty, integrity and sincerity in the Three Kingdoms period. The temple is highlighted with the colorful combination of green, yellow and red along with well-preserved patterns. Quan Cong Temple is a featured architecture of talented Chinese artists in creating such skillful sculptures and patterns.    

This temple was built in 1653 and refurbished many times. Just as other ancient architectures of Hoi An Ancient Town, Quan Cong Temple is still well-preserved, regardless of many times of restoring. The temple is recognized as a National Cultural and Historic Heritage.



Nowadays, Quan Cong Temple festivals, which are held twice a year, attract a great number of tourists and adherents. These festivals take place in the temple on 13^th January and 24^th June of the Lunar Calendar.

Address: Hoi An Ancient Town’s center, 24 Tran Phu Street.
Opening time: daily

Thien Hau Temple (Hung Yen Province)

Thien Hau Temple is one of the rare ancient architectures of the Chinese at Hien Street that is fully-preserved until today. With the aim of remaining and spreading the beauty of this temple to the residents, the governments of Hung Yen Province has restored the construction to make it much more gorgeous and attractive.
Thien Hau Temple was built by 40 families, which come from Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian of China, in 1640. The temple includes a lot of Chinese features such as the three gates, the roof structure, the pillar structure, etc. All of the patterns and designs were made in China, then, they were delivered to Vietnam for constructing.



Thien Hau Temple is dedicated to Lam Tuc Mac. Legend has it that when she was born, her body has a pleasant fragrant and lighting halo. By the time she grew up, the whole country was in an extreme famine. Then, she discovered a new alternative food, thanks to this; the residents could overcome the disasters. Moreover, she also explored a kind of cooking oil, which could help people survive through the long period time of the famine.



On the other hand, she helped many fishermen, who got into trouble in the sea. Due to those merits, the people worshiped her and called her “The god of the sea”. The temple of Thien Hau can also be found in some coastal cities of Vietnam as well.

In addition to the main hall, which is devoted to honoring Lam Tuc Mac, the two other sides of the main hall are the altars of her parents and brother as well as those who supported in building the temple.



Every year, Thien Hau Temple holds the festival on 23^rd March (her birthday) and 9^th September of the Lunar New Year (the day she died). This temple is recognized as a National Cultural and Historic Heritage in 1990.

See more about Thien Hau Temple

Address: 56, Nguyen Trung Truc Street, Hung Yen Province.