Giac Lam Temple built in 1744 is the oldest Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City, and as such was listed as an Important Historic Site by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture in 1988. Statues of mythical dragons are believed to protect temples in the area. Inside, this richly decorated shrine consists of three areas: the banquet hall, the hymn hall, and the dining hall. This large and sprawling institution houses beautiful images of Buddha in various incarnations, along with several Taoist deities. Each has its own altar, and all the wooden pillars are decorated with Chinese characters in red and gold.