The Jaded Empress Chronicles

A s triking pagoda complex sprawling across some 6,000 square-metres, alongside the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal in District Three (read all about this historic canal area on my chronicle,   here  )  Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm, or Vinh Nghiem Pagoda,  is Ho Chi Minh City's  biggest Mahāyāna Buddhist pagoda.   Mahāyāna Buddhism is V ietnam’s most predominant religion, rooted in Chinese Mahayana traditions developed with a distinctly Vietnamese twist.  Inaugurated 1971, Vinh Nghiem is also one of the city’s youngest pagodas, apparently the first in Vietnam constructed in traditional architectural style (based on the design of its 11th Century namesake in Bac Giang Province), infused with modern elements - most noticeably, concrete. And with construction funded by the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, Vĩnh Nghiêm unusually for Vietnam incorporates Japanese and Zen architectural influences, reminiscent of Buddhist religious sites in Japan....

A fter my list of fave cafés in Ho Chi Minh City (which, of course, you’ve already read, but if not, click  here  ), I now present my Top Five Favourite Dining Hangouts in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)! Just like the city's cafés, I could rant on about how beloved old haunts have fallen by the wayside, but life is too short and instead, I’ll take Adriana Grande’s mindset – "Thank U, next!" – and share some new / rediscovered finds. Unlike other bloggers and 'influencer's' (whatever that means), who launch into excruciating detail about every mouthful and think they know it all about the food / city they’re writing about (in many cases, not), this Jaded Empress doesn’t profess to being an expert. I just like what I like and will do my darnest to explain why, down to the table arrangements. Vietnam may be a challenging place to live, but these five old / new establishments make me appreciate I’m lucky to be here and able to dine in these establishments. Pho H...