Xa Loi Pagoda

This seven-tier pagoda is revered as the home of a Buddha relic and a Buddhist publishing centre. Built in 1956, the pagoda was the centre of opposition in 1963 when 400 monks and nuns were arrested for civil disobedience. Thich Quang Duc, one of the monks to protest by self-immolation, has a memorial nearby. Check out the 32m-tall bell tower, the largest in Vietnam.  Xa Loi Pagoda lies in Saigon's District 3 on a plot of 2500 square metres. A large statue of Gautama Buddha dominates the shrine. Xa Loi Pagoda served as the HQ of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association until 1981. The temple's name derives from the Vietnamese translation for 'sarira' - Buddhist relics. Check out the koi pond and lovely views across the Saigon River.