Untold story of a 100-year-old church on the back of turtle-shaped rock
The old church in Dong Chiem village (An Phu, My Duc, Hanoi) was built over 100 years ago on a rocky ledge.
 |
| Dong Chiem Church (An Phu, My Duc, Hanoi) was built over 100 years ago. According to Mr. Luong - a Cell Secretary of Dong Chiem village said that in the past, the land on which the church was located was a rocky ledge. The builder of this church was a French who went to Vietnam to indoctrinate. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| The church is surrounded by rocky mountains, from which one can admire the whole scene of Dong Chiem village. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| Those built a century ago, the church is well-preserved and shows no sign of degradation. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| This photo shows the main gate of the church. According to Luong, the gate was originally made only from stone. In recent years, regional Christian contributed to repair and rebuild the stars. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| When seen from afar, the church and its stone base look like a turtle floating on the water surface. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| As said by the elderly in the village, the adhesive that was used to build the church was a mix of sugarcane syrup and additives. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| The church architecture is a combination of French style and Indochina details. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| On the doorstep of the church lies a couple of "nghê" - one of Vietnam's folk animals, which normally only appears in temples or pagodas. It is unclear why statues of this animal were built before Dong Chiem church. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| According to the church's priest, the couple of "nghê" serves as a decorative detail and a sign of cultural interference. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 |
| The church is recently chosen by young couple as a location to take wedding photos, Mr. Nguyen Manh Ngu, Vice Chairman of An Phu People's Committee said. (Photo: Vietnamnet) |
 | 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 ... |
 | A Serbian writes a great inspiring novel in Vietnamese after 4 years of learning The Serbian Marko Nikolíc is the first foreigner to publish a novel in Vietnamese, marking a milestone with his first publication of “Phố Nhà Thờ" ... |
 | The hottest "Harry Potter"church in Nam Dinh The nearly hundred-year-old church in Nam Dinh province has recently become an interesting tourist destination for explorers. |
Tags:
Related Stories
Handbook
How To Get Around And The Best Spots To View The 80th National Day Parade Rehearsal
Hotel bookings along the parade route are rising sharply. What do travelers need to know when coming to Hanoi for the rehearsal and National Day parade?
August 23, 2025 | 07:55
National
Vietnam News Today (Aug. 18): Vietnam at 80 – From War-torn Nation to Global Symbol of Peace, Development
Vietnam News Today (Aug. 18): Bhutan King’s Vietnam visit to step up bilateral ties; Vietnam at 80 – From war-torn nation to global symbol of peace, development: Former Israeli official; Vietnam’s public security force honored with noble decorations from Laos, Cuba; Tropical depression hits northwest waters of Hoang Sa special zone.
August 18, 2025 | 07:00
Recommended
Travel
Building 80th National Achievement Exhibition Tour on National Day
On August 11, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism sent document No. 1796/CDLQGVN-LH to travel businesses across the country on the construction of a tour "Exhibition of National Achievements on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day".
August 14, 2025 | 08:36
Travel
Bai Dinh Pagoda Recognized by TripAdvisor as “Outstanding Destination”
Bai Dinh Pagoda has been honored by TripAdvisor - the world’s leading and most reputable travel platform - with the prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award - Outstanding Destination along with a special “Blue Check” verification. Bai Dinh is the only destination on the list to hold this verified status on TripAdvisor.
August 13, 2025 | 07:00
Travel
RoK Press Names Da Nang Among Top Summer Destinations for 2025
Da Nang is the only destination in Vietnam to make the list of the most popular international destinations for travelers from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in summer 2025, especially among young people, thanks to its wide range of exciting experiences and affordable prices.
August 10, 2025 | 07:00
Travel
Vietnam Welcomes 12.23 Million International Visitors in 7 Months
Favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion campaigns, and celebrations of major national holidays have contributed to a growing number of international tourists visiting Vietnam.
August 08, 2025 | 08:57
Travel
Foreign Media Highlights Vietnam's Historical Sites for Travelers
Ahead of Vietnam’s upcoming 80th National Day celebration (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), National Geographic (NG) has recommended eight notable historical sites across Vietnam, offering international readers a meaningful and immersive cultural experience.
August 08, 2025 | 08:42
Travel
Quang Tri Welcomes Bollywood Film Crew Shoot Scenes At Natural Caves
On July 30, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Tri province held a welcoming ceremony at Dong Hoi Airport to greet and present flowers to members of an Indian Bollywood film crew. The team arrived in Vietnam to film scenes for their upcoming film, SILAA, and chose Quang Tri as one of their filming locations.
August 03, 2025 | 14:17
Travel
Mui Ne Among Southeast Asia's Leading Water Sports Destinations
Mui Ne, with unique terrain and natural conditions, recently earned it the distinction of "Southeast Asia's Leading Water Sport Destination," according to National Geographic Traveller.
August 02, 2025 | 09:03
Travel
Hanoi Named Among the World’s Greatest Cities
British newspaper The Telegraph has just released its list of the world’s greatest cities, based on votes from 20,000 readers, and proudly named Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, among them.
August 01, 2025 | 15:13