The woman stuck some long incense sticks

Woman sticking some long incense stick — Woman putting long, thin incense sticks in censer

Tucked away in a corner of Cholon, Wen Ling Hui Guan is a venerable temple established by the local Chinese-Vietnamese community. Stepping into its courtyard, one is immediately struck by the distinctive density of traditional Chinese architecture — intricately carved lanterns hanging from the eaves, Chinese characters etched into stone walls, and above all, the striking row of altars lining the main hall.

The deities enshrined here are not limited to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Mazu, the sea goddess, the God of Wealth, local earth deities — an eclectic blend of Buddhist and Taoist figures coexist under the same roof. Each altar is equipped with an incense burner, and visitors pause before them in quiet devotion.

The woman in the photo is one such worshipper. She stood carefully in front of an altar, holding a bundle of long incense sticks in both hands. Unlike the short incense typically seen in Japanese temples, many of the ones here measure over thirty centimeters. The smoke from her incense rose gently, catching the light as it curled upward — a faint, shimmering dance suspended in the stillness of the air.

Quan Am Temple on Google Map

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