Impressive church covered in sweet, fresh pink color
Tan Dinh Church, or the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is likened to a pink castle standing out on the bustling Hai Ba Trung Street. This is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city, started in 1870 and completed on December 16, 1876, nearly 150 years ago.
Tan Dinh Church is located at 289 Hai Ba Trung, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
The church as a whole is a combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles, with a touch of Baroque in the decorations. In 1929, the church was renovated, the sanctuary was expanded and a 52.6 m high tower was built. In December 1976, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, the church was restored again, the sanctuary was raised higher, and the bell tower was repainted. The pink paint and white decorative patterns make the entire structure stand out against the blue sky, creating a splendid and fresh look.
Gothic style combined with Roman, mixed with a bit of Baroque in the exterior decorations of the church.
From the front of the church, you can see the main tower and two side towers. On top of the tower is an octagonal spire with a 3-meter-high bronze cross. There are 5 bells in the tower, weighing a total of 5.5 tons. On both sides of the side towers are lamp towers, with many ventilation holes and patterns that create a solid look. The two corridors have domes, covered with fish-scale tiles, round windows with decorative flowers and leaves, and very delicate angel statues.
On top of the 52.6 m high main tower is a 3 m high bronze cross. Inside are five bells, with a total weight of 5.5 tons.
Stained glass work on church windows.
The altars in the cathedral are made of precious stones shipped from Italy.
The interior of the church is quite impressive with two rows of Gothic columns leading to the main altar. Together with the facade, these two rows of columns are considered the most beautiful features of the entire architectural work. The left side columns have statues of female saints, the right side has statues of male saints. The rest of the altars in the church are made of precious stones shipped from Italy.
Honored in American travel magazine CNTraveler
In mid-2020, the American travel magazine CNTraveler published a list of “top 10 most beautiful pink destinations in the world” and Tan Dinh Church with its unique architectural style and impressive colors was honored to be included in this ranking. In 2019, District 3 of the city was voted by global magazine Time Out at position 18/20 “most wonderful neighborhoods in the world in 2019”. One of the factors that helped District 3 achieve this title is the scenic spots here that many tourists check in, including the pink Tan Dinh Church.
Up to now, this place has become an "attractive" coordinate for international tourists and city residents to check-in and take artistic photos thanks to its sweet and fresh pink tones.
CHRISTMAS 2021 Program:
As every year, Tan Dinh Church celebrates Christmas on December 24 and 25, 2021.
- On December 24, Christmas Eve Mass I, II and III will be held in 3 time slots: 5:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- On December 25, Christmas Mass is held at 6:15, 17:30 and 19:00.
