Diệu Đế Temple
Diệu Đế Temple, also known as Chùa Diệu Đế, is a Buddhist temple in Hue, Vietnam. It is named after the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.
In the 19th century, Emperor Thiệu Trị made it a national pagoda with close support from the Nguyễn dynasty. The temple sits beside the Dong Ba canal. Its gates face southwest, and across the canal is the Dong Ba gate of Hue’s citadel.
The temple is noted for its four low towers around the main gate. The main hall has a statue of the Buddha, with two Bodhisattvas on either side.
In the 1960s, the temple became a center of Buddhist activism and anti-war protests. Buddhists criticized the government of President Ngô Đình Diệm, which favored Catholics and treated Buddhists unfairly.
On August 21, 1963, government troops raided Buddhist pagodas to arrest dissident monks. Outside Diệu Đế Pagoda, protesters clashed with soldiers at a bridge. After several hours, the army pushed through and control was restored. About 30 protesters were killed and hundreds wounded, with many arrested.
After Diệm was overthrown and killed, the temple continued to be a center for anti-American and anti-war protests. In 1966, during more unrest, police and the army stormed the temple, and many monks and protesters were arrested.
Today, Diệu Đế remains an important religious site and a symbol of Hue’s history.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:10 (CET).