Viet-Nam Buddhist Center — Attraction in Houston

High quality Buddhist temple facility gracing Texas and beyond. Beautiful Quan Yin tall statue by bridge. Often Quan Yin appears prominently in monastery gardens and temple grounds to bless, to protect and to keep everyone happy and productive in practice. Quan Âm, Quán Thế Âm, Quán Tự Tại is Vietnamese name for this female form that is derived of Avalokitesvara. Everywhere in Buddhism Avalokitesvara, Kanon in Japanese, is present helping with missions arising from Eternal Buddha, also Gotama Buddha's original spirit as he may direct. Vietnam Buddhist Center is refined among Buddhist holy places in America and in the west. Several great spiritual presences bestow uplifting support through this unfolded lotus of physical construction. It is explained in Lotus Sutra, Buddhist scripture, that there is no place where Quan Yin does not make her presence known. Many guarantees of specific help to those who walk the path of Dhamma are detailed in Lotus Sutra and Avalokitesvara is recognized for very amazing long term service. The form of Quan Yin, Kanzeon in Japanese, is verified to be sourced from Avalokitesvara and the scriptural promises do convey through her many names, she is also a full being in her own right and many have come to know her dearly. When you come to Houston, it is better to come to visit here at the Vietnam Buddhist Center than to go spend more money than you planned at the Galleria giant mall complex! Here you will gain peace,...

This temple is very serene and beautiful. We visited on a Monday afternoon, there was ample parking, and admissions was free.

The gardens are well kept and lovely--even though it is the winter season so not much flowering, but I will try and return in the spring.

One thing I personally did not like inside the main temple hall were the 2 rows of chairs. I understand it provides extra seating but 1 row would've sufficed. It seemed as though I was in a Church or courtroom, because the rows of chairs look like pews. Instead, there should be additional floor cushions.

The gift shop was quaint and had lots of items to browse. I purchased some red envelopes($1 each). Also, the shop workers were very kind and enthusiastic--great service!!

Bathrooms are very well-kept and clean, they are located outside and behind the main worship hall.

Lastly, this temple a great combination for both mediations and ceremony as well as for festivals. The Dharma Hall is a function area that hosts lunches, and festivals such as Lunar New Year and Midautumn.

9/10, would...

With an unpresuming entrance on a wide, sparely used road, this Buddhist temple offers a nostalgic reprieve from the business of suburban Houston, even if one is not necessarily Buddhist or religious at all.

Inside, the temple grounds is impressively big, and many of the old buildings are being rebuilt/renovated to give it a fresh look. However, classic monuments like the impressively tall Ling Ung Pagoda can be seen from far way while driving.

For those looking for a hidden gem in Houston, I highly recommend visiting Sunday afternoon, or morning (if you're not at church). The temple sells its own vegetarian food at a price cheaper than any vegetarian establishment I've been to, even in Chinatown. Plus, the people and vendors there are very friendly and most can speak conversational level English, so there is no need to be...