Saigon’s Hidden Gems: A River of Faith, Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

While Ho Chi Minh City is nowadays associated with its glitzy modern buildings, the waterway that flows through Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Channel into the Saigon River is its soulful older sister.

Herein lies a trail of spiritual sanctuaries that tell the story of Saigon’s diverse identities. From Catholic churches to Buddhist stupas and monasteries, this is where where the roar of motorbikes fade into the rhythmic chanting of riverside pagodas under the shade of century-old tamarind trees.

This guide will walk you through the key sites which can be visited while you are exploring this destination. Hence, without further ado…

Built in the year of 1876, Tan Dinh is the second largest church in the city after the famous Notre Dame. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this church only received its iconic “strawberry” color in 1957. Today, it is one of the most attractive spiritual sites in the District 3.

The main tower comes with a high bronze cross that measures 3 meters! The dome is covered with tiles in the shape of fish scales and adorned with statues of angels. Statues of female saints are lined up to the left, while male saints are lined on the right side. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).