Visit Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam

Visit Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam

The Thien Mu Pagoda just outside Hue was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960's. The Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the must see Tourist sight in Hue and is home to the Austin motorcar made famous by Thich Quang Duc's self immolation in 1963.

Surprisingly, it also became a focus of protest in the 1980s when someone was murdered near the Pagoda and anti-communist demonstration was started right here in Thien Mu Pagoda , closing traffic around Phu Xuan Bridge. Monks were arrested and accused of disturbing the traffic and public order. Things have calmed down and a small group of monks, novices and nuns now live at Pagoda.

Behind the main sanctuary of the Thien Mu Pagoda is the Austin Motorcar which transported the Monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self immolation.

Self immolation of monk Thich Quang Duc

Thich Quang Duc travelled to Ho Chi Minh City and publicly burned himself to death to protest the polocies of President Ngo Dinh Diem. A famous photograph of his act was printed on the front page of newspapers all around the world. Thich Quang Duc's death soon inspired a numbers of others self-immolation.

Photo by Wikipedia

Many westerners were shocked less by the suicides than by reaction of Tran Le Xuan, known as Madame Nhu, the President's notorious sister in law, who happily proclaimed the self-immolations a 'barbecue party' and have said, Let them burn and we shall clap our hands. Her statements greatly added to the already substantial public disgust with  Diem's regim; the US press labelled Madame Nhu the ' Iron Butterfly ' and ' Dragon Lady ' . In November, both President Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu (Madame Nhu's husband) were assassinated by Diem's own military. Madame Nhu was out side the Vietnam at the time.

A memorial to Monk Thich Quang Duc can be found at the intersection of D Nguyen Dinh Chieu and D Cach Mang Thang Tam, around the corner from the Xa Loi Pagoda, in Ho Chi Minh City, South Vietnam. many Vietnam Tours providers have include visiting Xa Loi Pagoda. travelers, also, planning a trip ( Visa to vietnam, flight etc) Vietnam,  for vacation or tourism purpose will visit many places , we encourage them to visit the memorial as well.