Pagoda or Temple? The Main Difference: Ultimate Guide
20-06-2025
A video proposing the top 10 temples and pagodas worth visiting in Vietnam.
Pagoda or Temple? Differentiating “Religion” and “Belief” Through Vietnam’s Spiritual Architecture
Do you ever get confused when naming Vietnam’s spiritual buildings? Sometimes it’s a “pagoda,” other times a “temple,” a “dinh,” or a “mieu”… Are they all the same? In reality, “pagodas” and “temples” represent two profoundly distinct concepts in Vietnamese spiritual culture and religion, clearly reflecting the difference between a systematic “religion” and a traditional “folk belief.”
Let’s explore their fundamental differences and discover why the lines between them can sometimes be so blurred in this S-shaped country.
OUTLINE:
Temples (Đền): Sanctuaries of Folk Beliefs – Dedicated to worshipping national heroes, human deities, and natural forces.
Pagodas (Chùa): Centers of Buddhism – Places for Buddhist worship, monastic practice, and propagating the Dharma.
The Complexity of Temples and Pagodas in Vietnam – Exploring how their functions often blur due to unique cultural syncretism.
Vietnamese Temple and Pagoda Architecture: Unique Compared to Other Countries – Highlighting distinctive architectural styles and integration with nature.
Vietnamese Pagoda Architecture: Key characteristics like size, curved roofs, and material usage.
Vietnamese Temple Architecture: Focus on community integration, diverse deities, and folk symbolism.
Famous Pagodas and Temples in Vietnam (Categorized by Region) – A curated list of prominent spiritual sites.
Northern Vietnam: Noteworthy pagodas and temples in the North.
Central Vietnam: Significant spiritual landmarks in the Central region.
Southern Vietnam: Important pagodas and temples found in the South.
NOW, LET’S DELVE INTO THE DETAILS:
A) Temples: Sanctuaries of Folk Beliefs
Temples are spiritual structures deeply rooted in the folk or traditional beliefs of the Vietnamese people. They are places for worshipping national heroes, human deities, or natural saints (river gods, mountain gods, tree spirits…). People often visit temples to express their reverence, offer prayers, and hope for good fortune for themselves and their families.
Nature: Reflects belief in the power, wisdom, and supernatural authority of figures who contributed to the nation or community, or personified natural forces.
Purpose: To honor, commemorate achievements, and seek blessings for favorable weather, national peace, prosperity, health, and more.
NGOC SON TEMPLE IN HANOI, VIETNAM
Note: To learn more about the Major Religions in Vietnam, Please click here!
B) Pagodas: Centers of Buddhism
Conversely, pagodas are places of official worship and religious activity for Buddhism (spiritually analogous to a Christian church or a Muslim mosque). Pagodas house Buddha statues, including the Buddha himself, Avalokiteśvara (Quan Thế Âm), and various Buddhist dignitaries in hierarchical order. Buddhism, with its millennia-long history and vast system of doctrines, is one of the largest and most significant religions globally.
Nature: A place for monastic practice, propagating the Dharma, and disseminating Buddhist teachings.
Purpose: To pray for the deceased, confess sins, listen to sermons, meditate, and guide people toward enlightenment, compassion, joy, and equanimity.
TRAN QUOC BUDDIST PAGODATRAN QUOC PAGODA IN HANOI, VIETNAM
Note: If you wonder about the Differences between Religion & Belief, Please click here!
C) The Complexity of Temples and Pagodas in Vietnam
Theoretically, the difference between temples and pagodas is quite distinct. However, in practice in Vietnam, the lines between them can be blurred, creating a unique characteristic in its spiritual culture. Many pagodas or temples exhibit a mixture in the arrangement of altars, combining traditional beliefs, folk beliefs, and Buddhist worship.
Typical Examples:
Tran Quoc Pagoda (Hanoi): Besides altars dedicated to the Buddha, the pagoda also houses altars for the Mother Goddesses (Mother Goddess worship) and deceased abbots.
Phu Tay Ho (West Lake Temple) (Hanoi): This is essentially a temple, featuring altars for Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh, the Golden Turtle deity, the Triple Gate Mother Goddesses, and the Jade Emperor… clearly demonstrating folk beliefs and deity worship.
Many other ancient pagodas in Vietnam also often have separate altars for Duc Ong (a revered male deity) or Thanh Hien (esteemed mandarins or meritorious individuals).
Whether religious or not, Vietnamese people often visit both pagodas and temples for sightseeing, to pray for peace, and to hope for the best. This is evidence of the deep cultural syncretism and flexibility in Vietnamese spiritual life.
D) Vietnamese Temple and Pagoda Architecture: Unique Compared to Other Countries
Vietnamese temple and pagoda architecture, while influenced by Indian Buddhism and Chinese architecture, has developed its own distinctive features, clearly reflecting the local cultural identity and climate.
Vietnamese Pagoda Architecture:
Compared to pagodas in China, Japan, Thailand, or Cambodia, Vietnamese pagodas have several unique characteristics:
Size and Scale: Vietnamese pagodas are generally of moderate size, not as grand or monumental as some pagodas in China or Thailand. This creates a more intimate and friendly atmosphere for visitors.
Integration with Nature: Vietnamese pagodas are often built in harmony with the surrounding natural landscape, utilizing hills, mountains, and rivers. Their courtyards are spacious, often featuring ancient trees and rock gardens, creating a serene space that blends with heaven and earth.
Curved Roofs and Upturned Eaves (Đầu Đao): Vietnamese pagoda roofs have a gentle slope, and their corners often curve upwards like a “curved blade” or “dragon boat,” creating an elegant and graceful appearance. Dragon, phoenix, or other spiritual animal motifs often adorn these upturned eaves. This differs from the heavier, straighter roofs often found in some other countries (e.g., China).
Materials: Traditional materials such as wood (ironwood, bamboo), tiles (tube tiles, yin-yang tiles), fired bricks, and laterite are commonly used, creating a rustic, humble, and enduring beauty.
Diverse Floor Plans: Vietnamese pagodas employ various floor plans, such as the “Đinh” (丁) shape, “Công” (工) shape, “Tam” (三) shape, or the “Nội Công Ngoại Quốc” style. However, generally, the arrangement of structures is not overly complex, focusing on the main axis and important altars.
Syncretism in Worship: The most unique aspect is that many Vietnamese pagodas not only house Buddhist altars but also include altars for various deities, Mother Goddesses, or Ancestors. This blend is rare in other Buddhist countries, where pagodas are typically exclusively dedicated to the worship of Buddha.
Vietnamese Temple Architecture:
Vietnamese temples bear a strong imprint of indigenous beliefs and differ significantly from temple types in other cultures (e.g., Japanese Shinto shrines or Indian Hindu temples).
Community Integration: Temples and communal houses (đình làng) are central to the cultural and spiritual life of village communities. Their architecture often aims for spaciousness, with large courtyards for holding festivals and village meetings.
Diverse Deities: The objects of worship in Vietnamese temples are highly diverse, primarily including the Village Guardian Deities (Thành hoàng làng), national heroes (such as the Hùng Kings, Trần Hưng Đạo), or natural deities (mountain gods, river gods, Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh). This contrasts with temples in some other countries that exclusively worship a specific deity.
Sculpture and Decoration: Temple decorations often focus on symbolic imagery from folk culture such as dragons, phoenixes,麒麟 (lân), turtles (quy), floral motifs, clouds, and scenes of daily life. These figures are typically sculpted in stucco or intricately carved in wood.
Open Spaces: Temple architecture often opens up to nature, not being overly enclosed or mysterious. Temple grounds are usually spacious, featuring ponds or ancient trees, creating an airy environment for community activities.
Harmony with Landscape: Temples are often built in beautiful locations, blending seamlessly with the natural scenery such as riverside, on hills, or amidst villages.
Note: To explore all types of Altars in Vietnam, Please click here!
Famous Pagodas and Temples in Vietnam (Categorized by Region)
To help you explore, here is a list of some famous pagodas and temples in Vietnam:
Northern Vietnam:
Famous Pagodas:
Huong Pagoda (Hanoi): A complex of pagodas, temples, and caves scattered across the Huong Son mountain range, famous for its Huong Pagoda Festival in spring.
Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh): The largest pagoda complex in Southeast Asia, holding numerous records for Buddha statues and architecture.
Yen Tu Pagoda (Quang Ninh): The center of Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism, closely associated with King Tran Nhan Tong.
One Pillar Pagoda (Hanoi): A unique architectural symbol of the capital.
Keo Pagoda (Thai Binh): An ancient pagoda with distinctive architecture, famous for its three-story bell tower.
Thay Pagoda (Hanoi): Associated with Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh.
Famous Temples:
Hung Temple (Phu Tho): The place of worship for the Hung Kings, the origin of the Vietnamese people.
Tran Temple (Nam Dinh): Dedicated to the Tran Dynasty kings, associated with the Khai An (Seal Opening) ceremony at the beginning of the year.
Soc Temple (Hanoi): Dedicated to Saint Giong, one of the Four Immortals.
Quan Thanh Temple (Hanoi): Dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vu, one of the Four Guardians of Thang Long.
Phu Tay Ho (Hanoi): Dedicated to Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh, one of the Four Immortals.
Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy (Hanoi): A complex dedicated to Confucius and renowned scholars, Vietnam’s first university.
Central Vietnam:
Famous Pagodas:
Thien Mu Pagoda (Hue): An ancient pagoda, a symbol of the imperial city of Hue, famous for its Phuoc Duyen Tower.
Linh Ung Pagoda (Da Nang): There are several Linh Ung pagodas in Da Nang; the most prominent is Linh Ung Pagoda at But Beach (Son Tra Peninsula) with the tallest statue of Avalokiteśvara (Quan Am) in Vietnam.
Cau Pagoda (Hoi An): A uniquely designed pagoda bridging a small stream, a symbol of Hoi An.
Famous Temples:
Dien Hon Chen (Hue): Dedicated to Thien Y A Na Holy Mother.
Po Nagar Cham Towers (Nha Trang): An ancient Cham Pa architectural complex, dedicated to the goddess Po Ina Nagar.
Temple of King Quang Trung (Hue/Binh Dinh): Dedicated to the national hero Quang Trung – Nguyen Hue.
Southern Vietnam:
Famous Pagodas:
Vinh Trang Pagoda (Tien Giang): A large pagoda with unique Asian-European blended architecture.
Buu Long Pagoda (HCMC): Famous for its Thai architecture and impressive stupa.
Xa Loi Pagoda (HCMC): The first modern architectural pagoda in HCMC.
Thien Hau Pagoda (HCMC): A Chinese pagoda with distinctive architecture, dedicated to Thien Hau Holy Mother.
Khmer Pagodas (Soc Trang, Tra Vinh): Numerous Khmer pagodas with characteristic architecture, curved roofs, and pointed spires.
Famous Temples:
Ba Chua Xu Temple Nui Sam (An Giang): The largest spiritual center in the Mekong Delta, dedicated to Ba Chua Xu.
Temple of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan (HCMC/Vung Tau): Dedicated to Saint Tran.
Temple of Nguyen Huu Canh (HCMC): Dedicated to the meritorious general who helped expand the Nguyen lords’ territory in the South.
Cao Dai Holy See (Tay Ninh): A unique architectural complex of Caodaism.
