“Have you ever seen a church painted pink?” you might ask. It may sound strange, but the Nhà thờ Giáo xủ Tấn Lộc in Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant shade of pink, both inside and out. This is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the second-largest church in the city. And while the grand Notre-Dame Basilica in District 1 is known to be the cathedral of this metropolitan archdiocese, the Tấn Lộc Church holds its own significance in the city’s history and architecture.
The church was built during the French colonial period in the 1870s and completed in 1876. It has always been a place of worship for Catholics, but it has also been a center for community life. The church is known for its beautiful architecture, a blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles, and its stunning stained glass windows. It’s said the original wooden chapel was too small for the ever-growing congregation. The parish, known for its prosperity, secured land and built the current church. Soon after the completion of the church, an orphanage and boarding school, later known as Sainte Enfance Tan Dinh, was established beside it.
The church is not only a beautiful structure but also a symbol of resilience. It has survived various turbulent periods in Vietnam’s history, standing tall as a beacon of faith and hope. The pink paint, applied during a major refurbishing effort in 1957, has become an iconic feature and has earned it the nickname “the pink church”. Whether you are a Catholic or not, a visit to the Nhà thờ Giáo xủ Tấn Lộc is a must-do, a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Ho Chi Minh City.