Basilica of Immaculate Conception in Phu Nhai (also known as Phu Nhai Church, Phu Nhai Shrine) is a neo-Gothic Roman Catholic basilica belonging to the Diocese of Bui Chu, located in Phu Nhai, Xuan Truong, Nam Đinh, Vietnam.
The original Phu Nhai Church was built of wood and thatched by parish priest Emmanuel Riano Hoa in 1866, shortly after Emperor Tu Duc signed the Edict of Tolerance, ending nearly three centuries of Catholic persecution in Vietnam.
In 1881, Bishop Hoa and priest Barquerô Ninh built the second church in an East Asian style with two bell towers.
In 1916, Bishop Pierre Munagori Trung and Priest Moreno built the third church in Gothic style. It was consecrated in 1922 but was severely damaged by a major storm on June 24, 1929.
In 1930, in order to raise funds for the construction of the church, the diocesan superior organized a national lottery. After many historical events, the church was rebuilt, completed and consecrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1933.
After being damaged during the war, the church was restored by Bishop Joseph Hoang Van Tiem, starting on March 17, 2003 and completed on September 26, 2004, to its current appearance.
In 2008, Phu Nhai Church was elevated as a Minor Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. This becomes one of the four minor basilicas in Vietnam.
The original church was built in the Gothic style with a strong Spanish influence. It was later rebuilt in the French Gothic style. The church measures 80 meters long, 27 meters wide, and 30 meters high. The two bell towers are 44 meters high and house four bells that were cast in France and weigh 2,000 kg, 1,200 kg, 600 kg, and 100 kg, respectively
The façade of the church, from the outside in, on the right side is a statue of Saint Dominic, 17 meters high, with the statue itself measuring 2.3 meters high. On the left side is the Mausoleum, which houses the remains of 83 martyrs from the Phu Nhai parish, and is 15 meters high.
Surrounding the church are reliefs depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Visitors who climb to the top of the bell towers of Phu Nhai Church will be rewarded with panoramic views of Xuan Truong district.
Mass Schedules
Weekdays:
Sundays:
Traveling with us in the meaning of “CONNECT and SHARE”, you will see how life becomes special to catholic communities and it is a great chance to understand more about Vietnamese culture and catholic stories through the real local catholics.
Ho Thi Suong Lan
0161000885230
Vietcombank – Hue
Viet Orchid Travel Co., Ltd.
16 Doan Huu Trung, Phuoc Vinh Ward, Hue City,
Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam.
(+84) 914 544 660 – 234 3623 896
Fax: 0234 3935 621
