What are the 7 oldest churches in Saigon?

1. Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon

The St. Joseph Seminary in Saigon was built in 1863 by Father Wilbaux and the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Today, it is located at 6 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1. Previously, it was a large complex including the seminary, St. Paul's Church, St. Paul's Seminary, chapel, monastery, etc., and was last renovated in 1960.

The church is now a place where religious services are often held for foreign parishioners in the city. The exhibition hall has three floors containing rooms storing antiques, ancient books, relics of the martyrs (such as the bones of saints, swords, chains...), sculptures, and religious and folk art paintings.

2. Tan Dinh Church (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Tan Dinh)

Tan Dinh Church was started in 1870 and inaugurated in 1876. The overall architectural style is Romanesque. Since 1957, the church has been painted a pale pink both inside and out, earning it the nickname "the pink church". Despite undergoing numerous renovations and expansions during various events, Tan Dinh Church has not lost its original architectural features.

The main tower of the church is 52.6 meters high, topped by a 3-meter-tall bronze cross. The two side towers feature lamp posts and numerous ornate windows with unique patterns, all intricately interconnected. The interior is quite grand, with two rows of columns in Gothic style leading to the main altar made of Italian marble. The left-hand row of columns houses pedestals for statues of female saints, while the right-hand row features pedestals for statues of male saints. Notably, the church also houses five bell towers, with a total weight of 5.5 tons.

3. Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon)

Begun in 1863 and completed in 1880, the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is the result of a blend of Gothic and French architecture. Formerly the cathedral of the Indochina diocese, it is now one of the largest cathedrals in Vietnam.

Notably, all the building materials were imported from France, including the unplastered orange-red bricks, which retain their original color to this day. The two pointed spires on the bell tower, added in 1984, were once the tallest in the city and are considered by tourists as a landmark identifying Saigon from afar. Currently, the church is still undergoing restoration.

4. Cho Quan Church (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

The Cho Quan Church (Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5) had a simple architecture when it was first built, consisting only of a small chapel and an altar inside. The church, built in the Gothic style, was destroyed and rebuilt several times in 1727, 1733, 1793, 1862, and 1882. Over a century, the church suffered damage from wars and unrest, requiring numerous reconstructions. In 1882, on the old site, Father Hamm decided to build a new, spacious, and sturdy church, which stands to this day.

The church features Gothic architecture with a red tiled roof. Construction took 14 years to complete, with further additions made later. The total area of ​​the church grounds is approximately 16,000 square meters.

5. Father Tam Church (St. Francis Xavier Parish Church)

The Cha Tam Church was built between 1900 and 1902 for the Chinese Catholic community in the Cholon area to attend services, using Chinese characters and language from ancient times to the present day. The church's unique feature is its architecture, a blend of European Gothic and Chinese styles. The entrance gate is immediately noticeable with its pointed roof, all inscribed with Chinese characters. This design follows the three-arched gate style, a common architectural feature in palaces and temples.

Stepping inside reveals the European Gothic style in the cathedral's entrance. However, most of the decorative patterns and motifs are influenced by Chinese culture and architecture. The columns are painted red, a familiar feature in Chinese religion. In the center is a crucifixion of Jesus, and beside it is a gilded willow branch inscribed with Chinese characters.

6. Chi Hoa Church

According to the History of Chi Hoa Parish, Chi Hoa Church was built around 1890 and inaugurated in 1903. The building features a French Gothic architectural style similar to Huyen Sy and Tan Dinh churches, but Chi Hoa Church appears simpler and less ornate. Initially, the parish was called Thanh Hoa, but it was renamed Chi Hoa in 1910.

Chi Hoa Church, also known as Chi Hoa Nam, affirms the religious practices and customs of the South, and to this day, the way of performing rituals, reciting prayers, and conducting religious activities remains very unique, very Southern, very Saigon.

7. Huyen Sy Church

Huyen Sy Church, also known as Cho Dui Church, was founded in 1859. The church was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Le Phat Dat, also known as Huyen Sy, who contributed one-seventh of their fortune. Construction began in 1902 according to the design of Father Bouttier and was inaugurated in 1905. Huyen Sy Church is located on a high and spacious plot of land, more than one acre in size, at the corner of Frère Louis Street (now Nguyen Trai Street) and Frère Guilleraut Street (now Ton That Tung Street).

Initially, the church was named Cho Dui Church, as it belonged to the Cho Dui parish. However, it was popularly known as Huyen Sy Church, which gradually became its official name. The main bell tower is 57 meters high, including the height of the cross and the Gallic rooster.

Bi Le