Whether you are religious or not, churches are nice destinations to learn more about the local culture. Let’s have a look at the 6 most beautiful churches in Vietnam from South to North to add to your checklist.
1. Notre Dame Cathedral (Ho Chi Minh City)
Address: 1 Cong Xa Paris, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, or Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, is one of Vietnam’s oldest churches and also an icon of Ho Chi Minh City. The construction started in 1877 and completed 3 years later. Every day tour in Ho Chi Minh City would be incomplete without a glance at this signature construction.
There are no modern buildings in Ho Chi Minh can compare to Notre Dame Cathedral
The architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral is a combination of Romanian and Gothique style. It is one of the unique constructions that does not have separating fences or grounds, which helps it perfectly blends in the streets of the city. The structure has a capacity of 1,200 people and is adorned with an impressive total of 52 stained glass window pictures.
Note: The Cathedral is now under a massive renovation which is expected to be finished by 2023.
Every detail of the cathedral remind us of the ancient architecture
2. Tan Dinh Church (Ho Chi Minh City)
Address: 289 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Standing in the center of the city, Tan Dinh Church is a structure that makes every head turn when passing by thanks to its unique exterior.
Tan Dinh Church from outside
Its construction process completed in 1876, but this hundred-year-old building does not misfit among the metropolitan surrounding at all. While the classical architecture coming from the integration of Romanian and Baroque design resembles some other churches in Vietnam, Tan Dinh Church stands out by its hot pink coat. The golden and white details create a harmonious beauty for this sacred place.
The decoration inside Tan Dinh Church during Christmas
See The Best Churches in Ho Chi Minh City for other great destinations that you might want to take a look at.
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3. Christ the King Cathedral (Khanh Hoa Province)
Address: 1 Thai Nguyen, Phuoc Tan Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province
This majestic cathedral in Nha Trang was built in 1928 and officially established in 1941. Due to the mountainous terrain that it was constructed on, people had to use up to 500 mines to flatten the surface. Additionally, the cathedral looks like the ancient Greek buildings that were entirely built from rocks from afar. This explains why besides its official name, Christ the King Cathedral is usually called as Mountain Cathedral (Nhà thờ Núi) or Rock Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đá) by the local.
Christ the King Cathedral, or Mountain Cathedral
The interior would give you an ancient and solemn yet pleasant atmosphere through the archaic layout and beautiful decorators as medieval stained glass and arched windows.
4. Domain de Marie Church (Lam Dong Province)
Address:1 Ngo Quyen, Ward 6, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province
Consecrated since 1944, the church is also known as Mai Anh Church, which is named after the hill that it stands on.
Domain de Marie Church in pastel pink
The surrounding of the church is full of pretty flowers of this thousand-flower city. It was designed in the antique European style, adding several remarkable characters of the local’s housing. Since the day it was created, it has worn a soft pink covering that goes well with the tranquil vibe of Dalat.
5. Phu Cam Cathedral (Thua Thien-Hue Province)
Address: 1 Doan Huu Trung, Phuoc Vinh, Hue City, Thua Thien-Hue Province
The cathedral we see nowadays was built after the Hue Diocese became Archdiocese in 1960. The whole process took almost 40 years: from 1963 to 2000, due to continuous changes in Vietnamese politics.
Phu Cam Cathedral has a unique design
Although the modern architectural style is dominant, we can also spot some Western art and Eastern philosophy congruously harmonize.
6. St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Hanoi)
Address: 40 Nha Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
If Ho Chi Minh City has Notre Dame Cathedral as a symbol of Catholicism, Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam would have St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
Officially opened right on Christmas 1888, the cathedral has been called as “Big Church” (Nhà thờ Lớn) by the citizens partly due to its impressive scale compared to other local buildings at that time. The structure of this cathedral follows the neo-Gothic architecture, creating the antique and romantic vibe.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral has witnessed centuries of ups and downs in Hanoi
Summary of The Most Beautiful Churches in Vietnam
Churches in Vietnam are not only sacred places to worshippers but also fascinating attractions for tourists. Their beauty is the combination of different styles and art, both local and global. Visiting these places is not only a spiritual enrichment but also a chance to learn about ancient architectures in Vietnam.
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