What better start on the weekend to pay visits to pagodas and take in their atmosphere. Parking the motorbike in the courtyard and see people walking slowly without any haste is a welcomed relief from the traffic mayhem that goes on outside. First stop is the Jade Emperor Pagoda on 73 Mai Thi Luu street. Beautiful sunshine outside, however, once you move inside, the light falls off fast and even at a high ISO setting you will worry about potential camera shake and a tripod is highly recommended. Despite the technical challenge, it is possible to photograph handheld.
By the courtyard entrance of the Jade Emperor Pagoda
By the courtyard wall of the Jade Emperor Pagoda
Inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda
Inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda
Inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda
Close by, on 34 Vo Thi Sau street, we find the Tran Hung Dao Temple, and the parking attendants indicate the parking area for the motorbike that is right next to one of the offering furnaces. It doesn’t take long before the bike is completely covered in thin layer of white ash. Another challenge is light, or rather the lack of available light coming in to the temple, taking handheld photography to a higher level of steadiness exercise.
Detail from Tran Hung Dao Temple
Detail from Tran Hung Dao Temple
Final stop before lunchtime, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda on 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghi street. On the premises there is a great vegetarian restaurant, Viet Chay, perfect place to end the half day tour.
Detail from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
Detail from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
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