Entrance courtyard of Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Porcelain dragons and figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends on the roof of Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The pink tissue paper prayer flags, contain the names of people who have made donations for the upkeep of the temple, Chua Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Vietnam

Smoking conical incense coils and urns at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Conical incense coils hanging on wires below the roof at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

A family lighting conical incense coils and sticks at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The roof is decorated with small delicately fashioned porcelain figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends. Lanterns and wooden models of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance.Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu (The Pagoda of the Lady Thien Hau) is a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in the Cho Lon (Chinatown) district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is dedicated to Thiên Hậu, the Lady of the Sea (“Tian Hou” as transcribed from the Chinese), who is also known as “Mazu”.

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010