When Saigon delivers it sure does deliver!! Tan Dinh Church has so much charm and is a must-see when exploring the landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City.

Tan Dinh Church famously known as the “Pink church” is a relic to be seen. It is the second biggest church in Ho Chi Minh City, after Notre Dame Cathedral. It certainly has an important story in Saigon’s history. Unfortunately, some might just see it as a cool image to put on Instagram. However…there is actually a lot more interest to this landmark than that!
It was built in 19870 in the French Colonial Era of Vietnam. It is a Roman-style church that has bold Gothic and Renaissance features. Fun fact: the church was not always pink, according to Tim Doling, a historian based in Ho Chi Minh City. It was not until 1957 that the church was painted in its current amazing pink colour. Through all my research I have not actually discovered why they painted it pink? I would love to know!

Above all, the charm of its history lies in that in 1877, Father Donatien Éveillard invited the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres to set up an orphanage and boarding school beside the church.
Further more, the facility housed over 300 young people over three years. A little later they added a publishing house to the cathedral grounds. This is where disadvantaged children could learn the publishing trade. At the time of the father’s death in 1882, he was buried beneath the nave of Tan Dinh Church to commemorate the love the community of Ho Chi Minh has for him.
To find out more about must-see landmarks in Ho Chi Minh be sure to visit here.
Getting there:
Address: Nhà thờ Tân Định, 289 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Telephone: 84 (0) 8 3829 0093
E-mail: vovananh@hcm.fpt.vn
Website: http://www.giaoxutandinh.net/
Opening hours: By permission of Father Võ Văn Ánh, from 8 am-11 am, 2 pm-4.30 pm Tuesday – Saturday