Unspoiled beauty in coastal 'Fallen church', northen Vietnam
With unique architecture and pristine beauty, the Fallen church, in Nam Dinh province is a must-see destination in northern Vietnam. Given its close proximity to the sea, the Fallen church will surely offer churchgoers an unforgettable experience.
The Fallen church, known as "Nhà thờ đổ Hải Lý" in Vietnamese, is also called the "Heart church". It was built in 1943 and designed by a French architect.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
In 1966, the sea began to encroach on land for more than 1km. Following the invasion, the village that stretched along Xuong Dien beach disappeared.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
Some outstanding constructions with intricate architectures had been "swallowed" by the sea waves through times. Only the Fallen Church, which is dedicated to St. Maria Madalena is still standing there. However, the construction is not as intact as it used to be.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
The church's stereobate has been invaded by seawater, which ruined the original architect.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
Local authorities and residents have built embankments around Fallen church in a bid to conserve the culture-rich construction. The church is now a hot check-in place for visitors and locals alike.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
However, as the church has deteriorated and partly collapsed, the entire area is now surrounded by fences, preventing visitors from approaching.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
The roof of the remaining church bell tower viewed from above.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
Architectural patterns inside the church have been worn away. The bricks are exposed through time.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
There have been many eateries sprouting these days to serve tourists' needs.
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
(Photo: Thoi Dai)
The fence enveloping Fallen Church is pretty high.
The vestiges of the once magnificent and splendid church still remain.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to keep the nation’s border closed to foreign holidaymakers citing the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.
Vietnam and Japan have mutually agreed to implement an expedited arrival procedure, allowing certain groups from one country to enter another without undergoing mandatory 14-day ...
The northern city of Nam Dinh is known as the home to many beauitful Roman Catholic churches. However, there is an abandoned Church in Nam Dinh province, being swallowed by the sea, yet still attracted many tourists.
In the global tourism landscape, cuisine is becoming a special "language" for countries to define their image and win over tourists. With its rich and distinctive culinary traditions, Vietnam has a great opportunity to transform its culinary culture into a national asset.
During the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday of the Year of the Fire Horse 2026, Vietnam’s tourism sector welcomed approximately 14 million visitors, marking a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The spring tourism landscape recorded balanced growth in both domestic and international arrivals, spreading from major urban centers to numerous localities and generating momentum toward the sector’s 2026 growth targets.
According to the French online newspaper Journal du Net (JDN), Vietnam is emerging as one of the world’s most affordable destinations, particularly attractive to Europeans seeking a place to live or enjoy an extended stay.
In the early days of the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, Da Nang consecutively welcomed international cruise ships carrying nearly 4,200 European and American visitors for sightseeing tours. The arrivals created a vibrant atmosphere from the very beginning of the year and signaled a promising start to the city’s marine tourism season.
The year 2025 marked an impressive growth milestone for Vietnam’s tourism sector, as the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached an all-time high, increasing by more than 20% compared to 2024 and far exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels.
During the New Year’s Day holiday of 2026 (from January 1 to January 4), Vietnam’s tourism sector is estimated to have welcomed and served approximately 3.5 million visitors.
In 2025, Vietnam’s tourism sector has not only achieved a full recovery but has set historic records, emerging as a primary engine for socio-economic growth.
Multimedia
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel
Travel