Apart from Hoa people community, the Christians appeared at this land pretty early…

For MOINK20, district 1, Saigon is the center, where lots of famous attractions situate. But the most antique place of Saigon must be district 5, with its long history, as well as the relics, those are still hiding inside the district itself. Today, I will take you through both district 1 and 5, with the focus is Catholic.

The great father and his chapel

Back to the year 1777, the time when Lord Nguyen Phuc Anh (or Nguyen Anh – later emperor Gia Long) was still having many difficulties fighting against emperor Quang Trung. It was when he met father Pierre Pigneau de Behaine, and received crucial assistance from this men in political-martial issues. Later on, Nguyen Anh built a chapel for father Behaine to teach the lord’s son – prince Nguyen Phuc Canh. Today, that chapel is considered the oldest house of Saigon.

01/05/2018, we arrived at the Saigon papal states’ building on Nguyen Dinh Chieu St.. The chapel i’m talking about is located inside the building area.

The grand papal building
The chapel, which is more than 200 years old, received its latest reservation in 2011. The special nha ruong architecture style of middle Vietnam is significant: with no nail, the house was built up by calculating exactly the size of wooden pillars, and assemble them altogether
The pillars stand silently in the yard
Dual dragon and Catholic cross – the symbol of old imperial and religious 

For this is not a tourist attraction, it is unknown by most Vietnamese as well. So the next time you come to Saigon, look closely on Nguyen Dinh Chieu St., and you’ll see this oldest house of the city.

The most famous church 

Yes, you’re right.

It is, no doubt, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon.

Officially begun in 1877, this cathedral took 3 years to complete. With the well-known gothic style, and 100% of its material were imported from France, this can be considered the most famous and beautiful Catholic site at Saigon. Currently, the cathedral is under reservation, from 2017 to 2020
Many years before, in front of the cathedral stood the statue of father Behaine and prince Canh. But it had been pulled down in 1945. Nowadays, you can see the statue Mother of Peace 

Inside the place are sections, and each keeps statues, words, and even tombs. MOINK20, many years ago, was allowed to wander deep inside the cathedral, and I had seen god’s bones in one of those sections.

The significant orange-ish of the place comes from bricks that can not be molded
The two bell-towers of the cathedral
These features of this grand holy place has existed for a long time, and will continue to appear much longer

The first church of Saigon

Being extremely popular cause the above cathedral false assumption as the first church ever appeared in Saigon.

Today, MOINK20 will rectify that rumour.

7/2018, on Trần Bình Trọng St, district 5.

Beyond us stood the Cho Quan church – the biggest church in Cho Quan neighborhood, district 5.

Being completed in 1896, however, the smaller versions of Cho Quan church had been existed since the 1720, make it the oldest church in Saigon
Since taking photograph is prohibited here, this is the last picture of Cho Quan church that we have. Inside, you can see a combination of gothic and baroque statues, corners…

And last but not least, the brilliant scholar of Vietnam

Years before, the famous highschool Le Hong Phong was named Petrus Ký.

So, who is this person, Petrus Ký?

For your information, his Vietnamese name is Truong Vinh Ky – the person who was considered “the only scholar of Indochina, and even China” in XIX century. He published more than 100 works of all fields, and was believed to be fluent at 26 languages.

After leaving Cho Quan church, we went to Tran Binh Trong – Tran Hung Dao intersection. a small tomb located there.

Despite receiving western education since young age, and being a Christian, but he still built his tomb gate in tradition Vietnamese tam quan (three gates) style. He himself always wore ao dai and left his hair grew long
“Knowledge is the living source for whoever possesses it” is carved on his tomb. Having built in 1889, it has both East-Western style
“Please be mercy, my dear pals”
His statue in the tomb
Currently, this is the Rest-in-peace place of Mr. Ky and his family. Nearby the tomb stands his old house

When I arrived, the whole place is very noisy. Inside the tomb yard is a…eatery. Behind it is the church’s cemetery, mixed with residents’ houses. Other noises from cars, roosters…contributed in the destruction of this respectful person’s grave.

Ending

The same thing to the article of Hoa people: I still haven’t found out everything about Saigon’s catholic community. But there’s still plenty of time, and MOINK20 will return soon.

Khanh Tr.