There are more than 300 churches in Ho Chi Minh city which include over 200 Catholic churches, 87 Protestant churches, and several churches belonging to other religions. Ho Chi Minh City is home to people of many different religions, and visiting famous Saigon churches is one way to learn more about the city's religious diversity and the role that religion plays in the local community.
Churches in Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City are the best places for those who are Christian or Catholic coming to pray, attend mass, admire the impressive architecture, or participate in other religious rituals or ceremonies.
I - Top famous catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh City
1 - Catholic churches in District 1
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Sai Gon
Source: Kenh14
Located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City, the cathedral was established between 1863 and 1880 by French colonists who initially named it the church of Saigon (French: l'Église de Saïgon).
The architecture of this catholic church in Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam was influenced by both Roman and Gothic styles. It has a maximum capacity of nearly 1.200 people. On the front of this cathedral is a huge campus standing an Our Lady of Peace statue which weighs up to 8 tonnes. Besides, it has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58m (190 feet) containing six bronze bells with a total weight of 28.85 metric tonnes.
- Address: No.1 Cong Xa Paris Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- Official name: Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon)
- Mass schedule:
+ Monday - Saturday: 5:30am, 5:30pm
+ Sunday: 5:30am, 6:45am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 4pm, 5:15pm, 6:30pm
Huyen Sy Catholic Church in Saigon
The cathedral was constructed in 1902 and is well-known as one of the oldest churches in Ho Chi Minh city at present. Its architecture follows Neo-Gothic structure style and includes an impressive huge campus. Its total length is about 40m which was divided into 4 parts. The front side of the cathedral was covered with vast granite following Neo-Gothic style.
- Address: No.01 Ton That Tung Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Official name: Église Saint-Philippe
- Mass schedule:
+ Weekday: 5am, 5:30pm
+ Sunday: 5am, 6:30am, 8am, 9:30am, 4:30pm, 6pm, 7:30pm
Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon
This beautiful Saigon church was constructed in 1863 by Father Wilbaux and the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon was also influenced by the Gothic structure style. Nowadays, it has become a popular place for foreign Catholics to come to observe and carry out rituals. Inside the church building, there were three floors displaying old antiques, sculptures, religious and folk arts.
- Address: No.6 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
- Official name: Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon
2 - Catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh city district 3
Source: Internet
Built during the French colonial period in the 1870s and completed on 16 December 1876, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina, Tan Dinh is a Roman Catholic church in Saigon. The architecture of the cathedral is mainly neo-Romanesque, however, it also contains some neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance elements. Furthermore, the whole cathedral has been painted pastel-pink both inside and outside since 1957, therefore, it has been well known with the nickname "the pink church". Its interior is also alternatively impressive, especially two giant rows of columns decorated with Gothic style that lead to the main altar.
- Address: No.289 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ward 8, District 3
- Official name: Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 5am, 6:15am, 7:30am, 9am, 4pm, 5:30pm, 7pm
+ Weekday: 5am, 6:15am, 5:30pm, 7pm
Giao Xu Vuon Xoai Church
This is one of the most famous churches in Ho Chi Minh City District 3. The cathedral was founded in 1947 by Sai Gon archbishop Jean Cassaigne. Its original name was “Giao Diem Vuon Xoai So Rac” which has been used for a very long time.
The church is a large building with the capacity of 800 people. It has floors for the sake of activities of the parish and of other foreign congregations. In the campus, there is a bell tower and Mother Lavang statue, under which is a basement that serves as a mortuary where people in misery are brought to hold funerals.
- Address: No.413 Le Van Sy Street, Ward 12, District 3
- Mass schedule:
Weekday: 5am and 5:30pm
Saturday: 5am, 5:30pm, 7pm
Sunday: 5am, 6:30am, 8am , 4pm, 5:30pm, 7pm
Ky Dong Church - one of the oldest churches in Ho Chi Minh city
In the 60s of the 20th century, there were a number of Catholics living in this area which is quite far from the existing Saigon churches in Tan Dinh or Cho Dui. As a result, Tan Dinh archbishop had asked Redemptorist Monastery for permission to found a new parish. After several years of preparation, it was officially established in 1963 and became one of the newest parishes up to now.
This famous church in Saigon has neoclassical architecture with triangle-shaped designs combined with circled doorway arches. Between two main arches are the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The space inside is airy, the holy place is simple but still solemn. On one side of the church, there is a small store selling different goods such as books, souvenirs and especially candles of a variety of shapes and colors.
- Address: No.38 Ky Dong Street, Ward 9, District 3
- Official names: The resurrected Jesus Saigon or The Mother’s Savior Church
- Mass schedule
+ Sunday: 5am, 6:30am, 8am, 10am, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm, 8pm
+ Weekday: 5am, 6am, 6pm
+ Saturday: 5am, 6am, 2pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
3 - Catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh city district 5
Cho Quan Church
Source: VnExpress
Being the oldest church in Ho Chi Minh City, the cathedral had suffered a lot of destruction during the Indochina War and Vietnam War. As a result, it was rebuilt several times in 1727, 1733, 1793, 1862, 1882 and the final version which existed until now was reconstructed in 1896. The cathedral was influenced heavily by Romanesque style with the significant yellow pastel. Its structure follows the ancient architecture which includes 5 parts starting from the bell tower to the basilica. Stands right after those parts is a series of six great domes held by giant columns which create a separated main altar with others.
- Address: 120 Tran Binh Trong Street, Ward 2, District 5
- Official name: église du Sacré Cœur de Jésus
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 5am, 6:30am, 8am, 4:30pm, 6pm
+ Weekday: 5am, 7:30am
Cha Tam Church
Among top most famous churches in Ho Chi Minh city, Cha Tam is a worth-visiting one with its exotic architecture & history. The building of the cathedral was initiated in 1900 after the ritual performed by Archbishop of Saigon Mossard and finished two years later. The dedication of the cathedral chapel proceeded solemnly in January 1902. The church is marked Gothic architectural style like most churches in Western countries, however, there are some Chinese elements integrated in the design. For example, the entrance is in three-gate style; the name of the church is written in Chinese; the roof is yin and yang tiled; lotus is pinned at the top,...
- Address: No.25 Hoc Lac Street, Ward 14, District 5
- Official name: Saint Phanxicô Xaviê Church
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 5:30am, 7am, 8:30am, 4pm, 5am
+ Saturday: 5:30am, 6:30pm, 7:30pm
+ Weekday: 5:30am, 5:30pm
Saint Jeanne d'Arc Church
Source: Vietnamtripadvice
Saint Jeanne d'Arc Church was constructed from 1922 to 1928 and named after its patron saint - Jeanne d'Arc. The cathedral has a Gothic outlook which is similar to most of the churches in Ho Chi Minh city. It has an impressive frontside with four great bell towers. Along two sides of the cathedral were decorated with arched windows, colorful glasses, and patterned embellishments. The interior of the cathedral is mainly covered with yellow pastel mixed with delicate decoration creating a harmonious atmosphere.
- Address: 116A Hung Vuong street, Ward 9, District 5
- Official name: L'église Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 5am, 7am, 9am, 4pm
+ Weekday: 5am, 5pm
4 - Catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh city in other districts
Chi Hoa Church (Tan Binh District)
The Cathedral was built under the permission of Father Mossard (Mão) in 1890. Its whole foundation area of 600 acres was donated by Huyen Sy Le Phat Dat.
Chi Hoa Saigon church has Roman architecture with 3 main works: church gate, La Vang Mother Square and Temple. The gate is of three-entrance style which is simple, steady but gentle. La Vang Our Lady Square is a large space with the mother’s monument standing beside the Child Jesus with a benevolent face. And the temple is where the statue of Saint Jesus is placed in the middle with the statue of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph on either side.
- Address: 149 Banh Van Tran Street, Ward 7, Tan Binh District
- Official name: Our Lady of the Rosary Church
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 5am, 6:30am, 8am, 9:30am, 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm
+ Weekday: 5am, 5:30pm
Hanh Thong Tay Church (Go Vap District)
Hanh Thong Tay church is amongst the most famous churches in Ho Chi Minh city that was founded after Mr. Le Phat An left a considerable amount of money to construct. Mr. Le Phat An. The cathedral was built due to a different architecture - Byzantine style while most churches in Vietnam are influenced by the Gothic style. Its prototype is the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna city, Italy. The church is 4m long, 14m wide. The height of the roof is 16m and that of the arch is 20m. At first, the bell tower was 30m high with a pointed shape, then it was reduced to 19.5m.
In front of the building, above the entrance door is the statue of Saint Denis. Besides, on either side of this Saigon church are the monuments of Mr. and Mrs Le An Phat. The interior space is complicatedly ornamented with the arched, golden foil roof. The highest point hangs a mosaic picture in Byzantine style depicting the scene when Jesus was dying on the Cross. Apart from that, the roof is also filled with paintings of other saints.
- Address: No.7B Quang Trung Street, Ward 11, Go Vap District
- Official name: Saint Giuse Church
- Mass schedule:
+ Weekday: 4:45am, 5:30pm
+ Sunday: 5am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 7pm
II - Top famous protestant churches in Ho Chi Minh city
Nguyen Tri Phuong Church
Source: Wikipedia
The church was built in 1953 and has gone through a number of ups and downs during its history of formation and development. Nguyen Tri Phuong Church shares the same characteristics with other Protestant churches in Ho Chi Minh city which are modernly designed. The outlook of the church is made up of a mixture of white paint and green glass. The interior is simple, no pictures, no art, just a huge Cross - the symbol of Jesus’s pity and lines of seats for Catholics to come.
- Address: No.314 Ngo Quyen Street, Ward 8, District 10
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 7am, 7:15am, 6:15pm, 6:30pm
+ Wednesday: evening
Sai Gon Protestant Church
There are several protestant churches in Ho Chi Minh city, but the church located in Tran Hung Dao Street, District 1 is probably the most majestic. This is also where the office of the Protestant Congregation in Southeast Vietnam is located.
It has one ground floor and one upstairs. The front wall is constructed much higher and on the top is a big Cross, the symbol of the denomination. The space inside, like other churches has lines of seats, but at the holy place hangs only a Cross, nothing otherwise.
- Address: No.155 Tran Hung Dao Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1
- Mass schedule:
+ Sunday: 7:15am, 8:30am, 2:20pm, 3pm, 5:30pm
+ Monday: 6pm
+ Tuesday: 7pm, 7:30pm
+ Wednesday: 5:30pm, 7pm
+ Thursday: 7pm
+ Saturday: 7pm
Those are the top most famous catholic & protestant churches in Saigon that are all featured by its impressive architecture & history. Visiting churches in Ho Chi Minh City is as part of a spiritual journey or to find a sense of inner peace and calm.
— Quan Nguyen
