Nha Trang Cathedral has Mass at 4:45 and 17:00 on weekdays, and at 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30 and 18:30 on Sunday. A parish page dated 28/08/2021 gives these times, and an undated diocesan table agrees. Visitor hours outside Mass are not published.
The diocese’s undated table of Mass times for Nha Trang churches gives the same times, with Blessed Sacrament adoration at 15:00 on Sunday. The parish page counts 2 Masses on weekdays and 5 on Sunday, plus an hour of adoration at 15:00.
Visiting outside Mass
Visitor hours and a dress code are not published. See the “Not confirmed” box.
What to see at Nha Trang Cathedral
Build dates
Construction officially began on 03/09/1928. The church was inaugurated on 14/03/1933, on the feast of Saint Joan of Arc.
Sources disagree on the finish.
Wikipedia says the church was consecrated on 14 May 1933 as Christ the King. It says the bell tower was completed on 3 December 1935. Viet Nam News says the work was completed by December 1941.
The long stone side of the cathedral and its bell tower.
Architecture and interior
Wikipedia calls it the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nha Trang. VnExpress gives the official name as the Cathedral of Christ the King, though locals use simpler names. It gives the years of the priest Louis Vallet, who started the project, as 1869 to 1945.
Wikipedia says the present cathedral was built in the Gothic Revival style in 1928 as the parish church. Viet Nam News calls it the largest church in Nha Trang. It says the church has a total area of 4,500 sq m.
The hill setting means the church can be seen from much of the city. Viet Nam News says it is also known locally as Da (Stone) church, Nui (Mountain) church, Nha Trang church or Nga Sau church.
Wikipedia says the cathedral has a remarkable number of stained glass windows depicting saints. They include French saints such as St Joan of Arc. The diocese says the church was inaugurated on her feast day.
Viet Nam News says the interior shows hints of Vietnamese influence. It names a pink backlight on the tabernacle and neon lights, including a white neon halo above the statue of Mary. The chancel is large and airy, with a high free arch that is full of light in the early morning.
Bells and tower
Wikipedia says a bell given by a Catholic in Saigon was blessed on 29 July 1934. Viet Nam News says the three bronze bells in the tower are original and still work. It says a large crucifix tops the tower.
The town it was built for
Around 1885 Nha Trang was only a few scattered fishing hamlets, and the few hundred Catholics lived in Cho Moi parish. The French set up their administration in 1886, which allowed the Pasteur Institute (1895) and the Oceanography Institute (1923) to be built. In 1924 King Khai Dinh issued an edict establishing Nha Trang town.
How the church came about
A small temporary chapel was first put up on the seafront, on the site that is now the Bishop’s Residence at 22 Tran Phu. The French priest Louis Vallet, who looked after the Cho Moi parishioners, set out to found a parish in Nha Trang. The first step was to build a church.
The hill and the bell tower
VnExpress (20/11/2013) says building began on a small rocky spur called Nui Bong, which gave the church its Mountain name. About 500 mine shell casings were used to level the hilltop. The church stands 12 m above sea level in the city centre.
The tall central bell tower holds 3 bells. The same article says the church follows Western Catholic church architecture. Louis Vallet, the priest behind the church, has his grave at the foot of the hill.
From parish church to cathedral
The Nha Trang Diocese was created on 05/07/1957, split from the Quy Nhon Diocese. Its first bishop was Marcel Piquet Loi. The diocese was raised to a cathedral diocese on 24/11/1960, and the church has been called the Cathedral since then.
The bishop usually celebrates Mass here on major feasts such as Christmas and Easter. The parish’s patron feast is Christ the King. Louis Vallet served as parish priest in 1928-1937 and again in 1939-1945.
The parish today
The parish has about 3,000 parishioners, divided into 9 sub-communities. That is about 6% of the population of 8 wards, which together hold over 50,000 people. Numbers grew fastest in 1958-1964, when 2,530 people were baptised.
After the 1954 Geneva Accords more northern Catholics settled in Nha Trang, and in 1956 part of the community became Bac Thanh parish. Phuoc Hai followed in 1960 and Phuoc Hoa in 1972. In 1974 Fatima parish, later renamed Hoa Thuan, was split off from the Cathedral parish.
The Cathedral parish now covers about 10 km2. Its eastern edge is Nha Trang Beach, from Le Loi to Ly Tu Trong Street. The parish has 4 choirs.
Local name
The church is known on Maps as “Nhà thờ Núi” (Nha tho Nui, the Mountain Church). The diocese calls it the Cathedral (Nhà thờ Chính Tòa).
In the grounds
White statues and a small grotto shrine stand in the church grounds. VnExpress (20/11/2013) says photographers and film-makers like the church, and couples have wedding photos taken there.
Who it suits (and who should skip it)
Mass-goers: Sunday has 5 Masses, so you can pick an early or evening one.
Early risers: weekday Mass starts at 4:45.
Evening visitors: weekday Mass is at 17:00 and Sunday evening Mass at 18:30.
Photographers: the church is popular with photographers, and couples have wedding photos taken there.
Architecture fans: the church is Gothic Revival, with stained glass of saints.
Early light seekers: the chancel is full of light in the early morning, per Viet Nam News.
Visitors who only want photos: skip it if you need confirmed opening hours, because none are published.
Visitors who want exhibits or a ticketed tour: skip it, because no source lists either.
A grotto shrine in the church grounds.
How to get to Nha Trang Cathedral
The diocese gives the address as 31A Thai Nguyen, Nha Trang. Maps shows it at 01 Thai Nguyen.
By taxi
Xanh SM lists its Nha Trang taxi opening fare for the first 2 km at 29,500 VND. It lists 18,000 VND per km from the next km up to km 12. Xanh SM says the table is for reference only and may change.
By bus
VinWonders lists a reference fare of VND 7,000 per trip for the 6 inner-city bus routes. Route 7 runs Quyet Thang bus station - Quang Trung - Thai Nguyen - Tram Thanh, 5:15 - 19:15.
The climb up
Viet Nam News (undated) says two paths lead up from the centre. One is a 53-step stone staircase from Thai Nguyen Street. The other is a stone pathway from the city square that leads to the yard behind the church.
From the train station
Nha Trang railway station is at 17 Thai Nguyen, on the same street. Xanh SM says bus route 07 has a stop on Thai Nguyen Street, a short walk from the station.
Angel statues at the gate, with the city in the background.
When to go and how long
Go during a listed Mass if you want to be sure the church is open. The Sunday adoration hour at 15:00 is the only non-Mass service listed.
No source states how long a visit takes.
Rain is the main weather risk. The Nha Trang station averages 17.6 rainy days in October and 18.0 in November, against 4.1 in March. VinWonders calls October to December the rainy season, with mostly light sudden rain.
VnExpress reported in 2013 that the church was open to visitors every day from 8:00. That article is old, so check at the gate.
1Pick a MassChoose a weekday Mass at 4:45 or 17:00, or a Sunday Mass at 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30 or 18:30.
2Go to the cathedralThe diocese gives the address as 31A Thai Nguyen, Nha Trang.
Not confirmed: Visitor hours outside Mass are unknown, so ask at the gate before you plan a visit between services. The dress code is unknown, so dress modestly as a precaution.
Common questions
What is the Nha Trang Cathedral called locally?
Locally it is Nha tho Nui, the Mountain Church. The diocese calls it the Cathedral (Nha tho Chinh Toa).
When was Nha Trang Cathedral built?
Construction officially began on 03/09/1928 and the church was inaugurated on 14/03/1933.
Does the bishop say Mass here?
The bishop usually celebrates Mass at the Cathedral on major feasts such as Christmas and Easter.
Is there Mass on Saturday?
The parish page dated 28/08/2021 notes that the Saturday afternoon Mass counts as the Sunday Mass.
Is there anything on Sunday afternoon besides Mass?
The diocesan table lists Blessed Sacrament adoration at 15:00 on Sunday.
Why is it called the Mountain Church?
VnExpress (20/11/2013) says building began on a small rocky spur called Nui Bong, which gave the church its Mountain name.
How many bells does the tower have?
VnExpress (20/11/2013) says the tall central bell tower holds 3 bells.
Who was the priest behind the church?
The French priest Louis Vallet, parish priest in 1928-1937 and again 1939-1945. His grave lies at the foot of the hill.
Can I walk in outside Mass times?
No official visitor hours are published, and Google Maps shows no opening hours. Ask at the gate.
How do I walk up to the church?
Viet Nam News (undated) names a 53-step stone staircase from Thai Nguyen Street and a stone path from the city square to the yard behind the church.
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