Duc Vien Buddhist Community Pagoda

This is the most beautiful place here, however there are some people here who is a bit rude. I don’t know the rules of the temple because it is my first time here so I got scolded at for charging my phone. I don’t want to make a scene but to that women this is a Buddhist temple please be respectful to others on how you use your tone of voice.

This temple is awesome and super clean. My cousins and I want here for Tet, Lunar New Year and had a great time. Awesome food, nice and friendly people — exactly what one needs to start off the new lunar year.

What a picturesque and serene temple! I feel so peaceful whenever I come here, particularly during the «TET & LUNAR» New Year where I say a prayer of gratitude.
Their garden here is just adorable. It is not huge, but oh so peaceful. The temple inside is heavenly. A great place to tune out from everything, especially today when technology can overwhelm the things that matters most. There isn’t much parking here, but you can find plenty nearby. Do take great care when crossing the street from the other side as cars in both directions, travels fast!
When you find yourself overwhelmed, or need to tune out from technology; you might want to consider visiting Duc Vien Buddhist Community Pagoda. This might be a place for you to achieve a sense of balance in your life. Or quite possibly, a place for you to find peacefulness. Best yet, step inside the temple so that you can listen to your own heartbeat and «breath of life,» and find your own path to enlightenment!
Until then, Cheers!

I’m a regular at this community help. I help cook, clean, organize, support, and all manner of things only because I know how much this temple provides for it’s surrounding community and other ongoing patrons. I started coming here as a little boy and enjoyed how much it has changed over the years, and now I enjoy giving back when I have the time. This place proves a serene atmosphere and a place to get your mind off things. They also have 2 youth retreats that help guide young members of our community in the ways of practicing Buddhism and educating them on moral values. There is also a highly sought after Vietnamese school here on weekends.

For such a small space, this temple is perhaps the most picturesque in the area.
It has a very large garden area, plus the grounds and the outside of the temple are very nice and well maintained. It definitely has an authentic, Asian Buddhist temple-​y feel to it.
Inside, the prayer room is very spacious and large. It certainly doesn’t reek of incense on most days when I come (except maybe for the beginning of the Lunar New Year). I haven’t tried the food here yet, but I’m bound to sooner or later since I have a thing for vegetarian food at temples!
Only downside to this place is the parking, which there is little of. If you plan to come on a weekend or even the night before Lunar New Year, prepare to park on the street.

My partner and I just got married at Chua Duc Vien in June. The monks were all so friendly and held a beautiful ceremony for us. The temple can seat up to 250 guests! The ceremony can be held in both Vietnamese & English– ours ended up being entirely in Vietnamese.
I’m really grateful that I was able to get married at Chua Duc Vien. It brings back many fond memories of my childhood.

I used to come here when I was a little kid and it’s amazing to see how this small space has grown into the serene temple that it is now with lush grounds. It can get pretty crowded on religious holidays though. I always try to wander in at random times. It’s a tranquil oasis in the middle of a bustling city!

Favorite tranquil place to meditate! The only thing I dislike about this place is the parking!

This is a gorgeous temple. There is a large garden area, nice shop area, good vegetarian food, and a spacious indoor prayer venue. No incense burning indoors. Everyone seems welcome to visit in peace.
This temple was very busy during Lunar New Year. But I have to add: if you’re visiting temple, at least pretend you understand the basic principles; in other words, quit being so damn rude with all the pushing, cutting, and overall unfriendliness!

After closing my Wells Fargo account, I made my way towards ESSJ (East Side San Jose) because I knew if I prolonged my trek then I would have difficulty finding parking and/​or etc. because the area is always and I mean ALWAYS congested. I generally don’t have any business let alone chill in the area but I chose Bravo! House of Enchiladas for brunch last Saturday because I was determined to have it so to beat the road headaches, I was in the area an hour prior to my brunch date w/​Cristal C. so I decided to visit this temple.
My family and I used to go to this temple quite frequently before Chua An Lac came about. My grandpa’s urn was stored here; now he’s in Vietnam but his picture is at Chua Giac Minh. I don’t know why my family kept on moving him but my dad, aunt, and cousin (their urns) are at Chua An Lac. Coming here brought back a lot of childhood memories, both good and bad. I shrugged off the bad memories and smiled as I came across statues and figurines of Quan The Am Bo Tat and the such. I don’t have the exact description of who so and so is/​was and what they do but I do believe that I was saved. My right arm was supposed to be amputated, surgeons didn’t think I’d get my vocal chords back, my hair… the list is endless but I am here today and beaming w/​life.
This was my kiddo’s first visit at this temple. I let him roam a bit but carried him after he wouldn’t stop running amuck. We walked inside the temple where their daily service was being held. I couldn’t really pray per se but I did sit down in the back and listened and chanted along w/​the rest whilst my kiddo was on my lap. It’s like he knew where we were at because he wasn’t being his usual crazy and noisy self.
After a short while, I got up and began to walk out. I want to return soon.
Parking here sucks and I don’t remember the taste and quality of the foods (all vegetarian) that’s available on Sundays only (cash only). If you want a serene environment to let your mind wander or to simply walk around the little garden that they have that’s pretty much open to the public, come here.

Been going to this temple for as long as I could remember! I absolutely love how peaceful it is here and calming everything is. Growing up, my mom and I have always donated to this temple with every visit. I love seeing how much improvement occurs each time I visit (once every few months).
On to my absolute favorite bonus of any temple is the FOOD. I don’t know about y’all but I LOVE FOOD FROM THE TEMPLE! Vegan, a little pricey but amazing. Always always support pagodas and what people do for them by buying their food. My favorites are the egg rolls, sesame balls, chow mein & mam thai. Oh and the bun rieu and bun (bo) hue chay is to die for. You must try these dishes and wonder how delicious can vegan food get!?!
On Sunday’s, they also serve lunch for FREE. Ah, the yummy veggies and soups. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Parking can be tricky during peak hours so I advise you to go early! On Sundays — after 10am once the Sunday school students are in class and before noon because that’s when they get out of class.

This temple has come a long way since the 80s. I use to drive down this street as I have family who live in this area. I came here after a decade-​long absence over the holiday since I had some family in town from Texas, some of whom are Buddhist. The temple is beautiful with so many cultural relics. I really love the map of Vietnam, carved out of stone as well as the statues of various Buddhist gods. They serve vegetarian Bun Bo Hue here which I have yet to try. Do remember to light an incense and say a prayer. And don’t forget: all religions lead to the same destination.

One of my favorite temples that is close to home. I haven’t tried any of the vegetarian food yet sadly. There is also a store where you can buy various stuff such as Buddhist statues, blessed beads, and air fresheners. I got an air freshener that’s a golden fish, because I had a dream about a talking fish ha. I think it’s good luck.
This place is small, but I love the statues outside. Just pick up some incense, light it up, and pray at the various statues. Inside the temple is also very nice, make sure to take off your shoes before you enter!

Love the renovation & the vegetarian food there. The one thing that would stop me from giving this lovely pagoda a 5-​star review is the crappy, extremely limited parking spaces!

I went there in the early late 80’s and early 90’s when they were running schools out of sheds. They allowed a teacher (thay Minh) in the system and destroyed what little confidence I have. I’m 29 now and I get anxiety attacks when I attempt to speak what little Vietnamese I’ve learned from the school. I’m pretty much scarred for life. On the other hand, the temple itself is beautiful. So yeah, you kids don’t know how lucky you guys have it now.
–Peace

i used to run rampant amongst the stray animals they had here YEARS ago, before it even became a «pagoda»… back in those days, it was nothing but a building erected from tarps and add-​on tent structures… [think of it like an old-​bum shanty town…] — but through those humble beginnings, this temple has certainly evolved into one of the prettiest temples i have ever seen…
i revisit every year, whenever i can just to remind myself that there are other religions out there, [im agnostic] — and to appreciate the pure beauty of culture and details of this place. [i love the gigantic fish carving at the side of the building…]
i laugh at how many of the lady priests there will pull me to the side and lecture me as to how i should learn to love everything equally and show mercy to even the smallest of creatures — how i could help myself lead a better life by showing compassion to an ant… but i sit and listen with awe, respect and admiration for their convictions and beliefs. then of course, they get to the entertaining topic of reading me my fortune, and trying to second guess my future and «love» life… heh.
i also used to do community service here with my old scout troop, serving vegetarian food to the public on certain days of the month to those who observe or practice the religion — or just to those who are curious and interested in broadening their horizons.
its bursting at the seams when chinese new years comes about, but thats when you will see everyone come together, light some fire crackers to ward off evil spirits and get away with wearing the traditional vietnamese attire in public without getting the weird looks…
i just wish they had a better system of parking, but i guess thats just something thats hard to overcome if youre located in the middle of a heavily trafficked area.