Tan Dinh Church, Ho Chi Minh City Overview

Tan Dinh Church, popularly known in the neighborhood as 'The Pink Church,' is one of the ancient Roman Catholic Churches in Ho Chi Minh City. Located at the busy Hai Ba Trung, it portrays astounding architecture. Tan Dinh Church is well known for its Sunday Mass. You can also drop by Tan Dinh Market if you love to shop and explore food choices.

Church visit brings us peace and this church exactly does the same. You can make your schedule much more interesting by visiting the places in and around for a wholesome experience. Tan Dinh Church is close to the Le Van Tam Park which is only a five minutes walk away from the church area.

Architecture of Tan Dinh Church

Widely praised for its appearance, this pastel pink church reflects ancient Roman architecture with a bit of Gothic touch. Tan Dinh Church has a nave and a tall barrel-vaulted roof covered with false ceilings. It also features a triforium and a shallow arched upper gallery. Extended on either side from the nave near the entrance of the church are two Chapels, one dedicated to Mary and Joseph and the other one to St Theresa. A U-shaped rear extension was later added to the structure to increase the seating space on either side of the altar. Basically, Tan Dinh Church reflects the Renaissance touch.

History of Tan Dinh Church

The Tan Dinh Church in Saigon (presently called as Ho Chi Minh City) was constructed in the 19th century during the French Colonisation in Vietnam, under the supervision of Father Donatien Eveillard. The Church was inaugurated in 1876, soon after which the Sisters of Saint Paul De Chartres set up a school and an orphanage next to the church in 1877, on accepting the invitation of Father Eveillard who eventually passed away in 1883. The Great Man’s tomb can be found in the Church even today. In the early 1890s, the church and the school buildings were reconstructed for the first time under the supervision of his successor, Father Louis-Eugene Louvet since the old buildings needed some refurbishment. After a couple of periodical refurbishments, Tan Dinh Church was painted in the iconic pink in 1949.

Tan Dinh Church Mass Timings

Mass is conducted twice a day from Monday to Saturday and four times during Sundays. Note that the Mass at this church happens in the native language. Please find the Mass timings below. Monday to Saturday - between 5:00 AM and 6:15 AM, 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM Sunday - between 5:00 AM and 6:15 AM, 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM

How to Reach Tan Dinh Church

Tan Dinh Church is located at District 3 of Ho Chi Minh. The best way to reach here is to hire a local taxi. Also, it is a ten minutes drive from the Saigon Railway Station if you are travelling from other places in Vietnam or Cambodia. You can also use the Bus services and the closest Bus Stop to Tan Dinh Church is Cho Tan Dinh.

Tips for Visiting Tan Dinh Church

There is no particular dress code followed to visit this church. However, the visitors are advised to maintain a decent dress code keeping in mind that this is a place of religious interest.

Please check with the closing times of the Church during the day and also with the mass timings as a first step to making the most of your visit at the Tan Dinh Church. The church might be crowded on Sundays. Try to arrive early on Sundays or choose a weekday for your visit.

Though the church does not have an entry fee, it is good to have some change in hand. You can also make use of the nearby cafeterias for a quick bite before or after the visit.