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All aflutter in Ho Chi Minh City

Also known as the Tortoise Pagoda, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is one of the most important Taoist shrines in the Vietnamese city. Worshippers flock to the sanctuary, just a short walk from Ben Thanh Market, to pray and make votive offerings of flowers and candles. Inside, the temple’s narrow, dimly lit and smoky hallways have a slightly surreal atmosphere, while the outside is a riot of colour and activity: pigeons flutter, incense wafts and people come and go beneath the bunting. It’s a vibrant contrast to the subdued sanctity of the temple’s interior.