Christianity had been imported into Vietnam over the past few hundred years. Many churches with unique architecture and historical stories were built in Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City) in the period.
Therefore, the famous churches are destinations you should visit when discovering Ho Chi Minh City. Here are the top 5 most beautiful churches in Saigon you should come and admire. Because these churches have a long history with unique architecture which will capture travelers’ hearts.
1. Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral (Nhà thờ Đức Bà)
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Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, located right in the heart of the city, is one of the cultural symbols of Ho Chi Minh City. The Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon was designed by combining the crystallization between post-Roman (Romanesque) and Gothic architecture. The special thing about the church is that all materials were imported from France.
The church was built from 1877 to 1880 by French colonists. It has a total length of 91m, a width of 35.5m, the central dome height is 21m, and the two bell towers on both sides are nearly 57m high.
The two white tops on the bell towers were built in 1984 and became the highest place in the city. It was considered Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral as the Saigon landmark at that time.
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Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. Source: Internet
2. Tan Dinh Church (Nhà thờ Tân Định)
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Tan Dinh Church (another name: the Pink Church) was built from 1870 to 1876, following Gothic architecture with details in mixed Roman and Baroque styles. The church’s central nave is cream white with a high dome and two rows of Gothic columns leading to the main altar made from Italian marble, creating an elegant holy space.
This place attracts domestic and foreign tourists by its striking pink color, which covers all of the buildings, creating a different feature from most Catholic buildings in Vietnam.
3. Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon (Đại chủng viện Thánh Giuse Sài Gòn)
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Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon was founded and built by a French priest Wilbaux in 1863 and was one of the first French architectural works in Saigon. The seminary is the oldest Catholic structure in Saigon. It is also one of the largest Catholic priest training centers in Vietnam. The place was a large complex, including the grand seminary, St. Paul’s Church, St. Paul’s Seminary, the chapel, and the monastery. After 1975, a part of the complex was separated and turned into Saigon University, built a residential cluster, and Nguyen Huu Canh Road.
Besides the beautiful architecture, the Grand Seminary has a unique Traditional House displaying more than 2000 antiques, such as sculptures from the Champa or Nguyen dynasties, relics of Christianity martyrs (such as bones, swords, chains, etc.), religious and folk art paintings, 19th-century Vietnamese houseware such as cabinets, tables, folding screens, brass incense burner. If you want to know deeply about Vietnamese history, this is an ideal place!
Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon. Source: Internet
4. Huyen Sy Church (Nhà thờ Huyện Sỹ)
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Huyen Sy Church, also known as Chợ Đũi church, was constructed in 1902 – 1905. The church is bold in the neo-Gothic style for a small French church and is one of the rare works using Bien Hoa granite in the facades, base, and columns in the central dome. The kind of stone is too solid to make decorative elements as traditional. Thanks to the solidity, the stone gives the church stability and solemnity.
In the church was the mausoleum of Huyen Sy, who donated one-seventh of his family inheritance to build the church. Mr. Huyen Sy’s real name (1841 – 1900) is Philippe Lê Phát Đạt. He was a wealthy man in South Vietnam in the late 19th century. He was the grandfather of Empress Nam Phuong (Vietnam’s Last Empress). In 1920, after his wife passed away, he was reburied alongside his wife in the axial memorial chapel behind the chancel. The tomb is elaborately carved from the finest marble and features full-length effigies of the couple.
5. Cho Quan Church (Nhà thờ Chợ Quán)
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Inaugurated in 1896, Cho Quan Church (Official name: Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is the oldest church in Ho Chi Minh City and belongs to Cho Quan Parish. It was constructed in 1722 and rebuilt many times due to the devastation of wars. The church architecture combined Gothic and Roman styles showing high doors and windows, semicircular peaks, and moderate roof tilt that make a simple and peaceful look.
Specifically, the church bell tower is an enormous work. From its top, you can watch the whole view of District 5. Every morning, the church bell rings long to create peace in the parish.
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Source: Internet
Let’s find and book a flight from Ho Chi Minh to Singapore before traveling to get a reasonable price and enjoy multiple offers!
The article above summarizes the main points of the five most beautiful churches in Ho Chi Minh City. You can come here to learn about culture, visit or find a place to make your heart calm.
