Xa Loi Pagoda became a flashpoint in 1963 when President Ngo Dinh Diem's government, facing growing Buddhist-led protests over religious discrimination, ordered a night raid on the pagoda, arresting hundreds of monks and nuns sheltering there. The raid, following the self-immolation of monk Thich Quang Duc earlier that year, drew international condemnation and hastened the coup that toppled Diem's government in November 1963. The pagoda today functions as an active temple and houses a Buddhist relic, its role in 20th-century political history less publicized than its calm courtyards suggest.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | 7:00am-11:00am and 2:00pm-5:00pm daily |
| Address | 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City |
Why it matters
Site of the August 1963 police raid on Buddhist monks that intensified the crisis leading to the fall of the Diem government
Site facts
- Built
- 1956
- Style
- 1950s Vietnamese Buddhist temple architecture
Location
89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Ward 7, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
10.7823, 106.6889 View on map
Highlights
- Seven-story pagoda tower
- Site of the August 1963 raid on Buddhist monks
- Buddha relic housed within the main hall
Tips for visiting
- Dress modestly
- Visit within posted hours as it closes midday and by early evening
When to visit
Morning between 7:00am and 11:00am
Accessibility
Ground-level courtyard is relatively flat.
Frequently asked questions
What triggered the 1963 raid?
Escalating tension after the self-immolation of monk Thich Quang Duc and continued Buddhist protests against the Diem government's religious policies led to the government ordering the raid.