Dragon Bridge
Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang Cathedral
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Photo: ndoduc, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Facade from the street any time; grounds and interior unofficially Mon–Sat about 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–16:30; Sunday for Mass only
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 20 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Admission
- Free, no tickets; donations optional
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Grounds and interior
- Unofficial: Mon–Sat about 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–16:30, closed over lunch; some guides say 8:00–11:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Sunday
- Effectively closed to sightseeing — services run from early morning to evening
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Weekday Mass
- 5:00 and 17:15, per the parish’s own notices
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Sunday Mass
- Unofficial: 5:15, 8:00, 10:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:30
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - English Mass
- Unofficial: Sunday 10:00; some guides say 9:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Way in
- The Trần Phú front gate is often locked — use the back gate on Yên Bái street
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 156 Trần Phú; in Grab, ‘Nhà thờ Con Gà’ or ‘Nhà thờ Chính tòa Đà Nẵng’
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered, hats off inside
- Payment
- Nothing to pay; bring small VND notes if you want to donate
Key facts
Freeto enter the grounds and the church; no tickets are sold
3 sourcesi
Da Nang tourism portallocalvietnam.comvietnamtourism.com1923construction began; the church was blessed on 14 September 1924
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipediavietnamtourism.com≈ 70 mheight of the church with its bell tower and spire; some guides say 80 m
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipediayouindanang.com‘Con Gà’‘Rooster Church’ — the local nickname, from the weathercock on the spire
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipedia1963became the cathedral of the Diocese of Da Nang
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese WikipediaSacred Heartthe church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Vietnamese WikipediaWikidata Q10800905Lourdes grottoa Virgin Mary grotto behind the church modelled on Lourdes, blessed in 1940
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipediavietnamtourism.comLouis Valletthe priest who initiated and designed the church
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipedialocalvietnam.comGothic Revivalpointed windows and arches, soaring lines and a cross-shaped floor plan
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese Wikipedia156 Trần Phúaddress in the centre, on the west bank of the Han River
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Da Nang tourism portalVietnamese WikipediaWhat are Da Nang Cathedral’s opening hours?
The parish doesn’t publish visiting hours. Unofficially, the grounds and church open Monday to Saturday roughly 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–16:30; some guides say 8:00–11:00, and one lists 6:00–19:00 every day. The facade is visible from the street at any hour, so the outside shot is always possible.
The courtyard is open more often than the church itself. The doors aren’t opened to visitors every day, and the surest way to see the interior is to attend Mass: sit quietly at the back and stay to the end. Popping in for a quick look and photos during a service isn’t on — wait outside instead.
On Sundays the cathedral is busy with services from dawn to evening, so there is effectively no sightseeing window. Christmas, Easter and Tết change the schedule and bring crowds. The current timetable is usually pinned to the board by the entrance.
Da Nang Cathedral mass times
Mass is said daily, in Vietnamese. According to the parish’s own notices, weekday Masses are at 5:00 and 17:15, with an extra early service on some feast days. The evening Mass is the easiest way to see the interior with the doors open and the lights on.
Sunday is the busiest day. Unofficially, Masses are at 5:15, 8:00, 10:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 18:30; older guides list 5:00, 6:30 and 16:30. Check the board at the entrance.
English Mass is listed by localvietnam.com for Sundays at 10:00, while other guides give 9:00 or 10:00. It is once a week, so if the English service matters to you, confirm the time at the gate the day before.
Can you go inside Da Nang Cathedral?
Yes, but not reliably. The courtyard, statues and grotto are usually open on weekday mornings and afternoons through the Yên Bái gate. The church doors are opened for sightseers only some of the time, so treat the interior as a bonus. Turning up for the 17:15 weekday Mass is the one way to be sure you get in.
Inside, it is simple rather than grand: pointed arches, a wooden ceiling and stained-glass windows with Bible scenes. If you have seen Europe’s great cathedrals, the outside is the real draw here.
The Pink Church: a short history
In Vietnamese it is Nhà thờ Chính tòa Đà Nẵng, but locals mostly call it Nhà thờ Con Gà, the ‘Rooster Church’, after the weathercock on top of the spire. It is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Work began in 1923, initiated and designed by the priest Louis Vallet, and the church was blessed on 14 September 1924. It has been the cathedral of the Diocese of Da Nang since 1963. The style is Gothic Revival: pointed windows and arches, upward-reaching lines and a single tall bell tower, about 70 m to the tip of the spire.
The pink is why most people come with a camera. Nobody has documented where the colour came from — the ‘leftover paint’ story is just a story, and the facade has been repainted over the decades. Today it is a busy parish with daily Mass, baptisms and weddings.
What to see at the Pink Church
- The pink facade and bell tower — the main event. You only fit it all in from the opposite side of Trần Phú street.
- The rooster weathercock on the spire that gave the church its nickname; easiest to pick out from the street with a zoom.
- Statues of Saints Peter and Paul in front of the facade, plus white figures around the courtyard.
- The Lourdes grotto behind the church, blessed in 1940 — the quietest corner, where people pray and leave flowers.
- The interior — pointed arches, a wooden ceiling and stained glass that glows best on a sunny morning.
- The shady courtyard with benches and flower beds — a good spot to cool off before Han Market.
Is Da Nang Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, if you are in the centre: it is free, takes 20–30 minutes (about an hour with Mass), sits 300 m from Han Market and about 1 km from the Dragon Bridge, so it slots neatly into a west-bank walk. Don’t make a special trip from My Khe Beach just for it — the interior is modest and the doors are often shut.
Payment is not an issue here: there is nothing to buy, and donations are in cash. Around the market and on the street, cash in Vietnamese dong is king; foreign cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, and Grab takes cash or a card linked in the app.
How to get to Da Nang Cathedral
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Dragon Bridge is about 17 min away on foot.
- Museum of Cham Sculpture is about 14 min away on foot.
- Love Lock Bridge is about 24 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the west end of the Dragon Bridge — about 1 km north, 12–15 minutes on foot: follow Bạch Đằng along the Han River, then cut one block inland to Trần Phú. Walking north on Trần Phú, the cathedral is on your left.
- From Han Market — about 300 m south along Trần Phú, 3–5 minutes on foot.
- From My Khe Beach — 3–4 km across the Dragon Bridge, 10–15 minutes by Grab or taxi. Grab takes cash or a linked foreign card.
- In Grab, enter ‘Nhà thờ Con Gà’ or ‘Nhà thờ Chính tòa Đà Nẵng’. If the Trần Phú gate is shut, ask to be dropped on Yên Bái street, by the back gate.
- From Da Nang International Airport (DAD) — about 3 km, 10–15 minutes by Grab or taxi.
- From the cathedral, the Dragon Bridge and the Museum of Cham Sculpture at its west end are 10–15 minutes’ walk south.
Cathedral, Lady Buddha or Marble Mountains?
| Da Nang Cathedralyou are here | Catholic cathedral from 1923 | Free | Unofficially Mon–Sat 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–16:30, plus Mass | 20–30 minutes | In the centre, by Han Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Buddha | 67 m Guanyin statue at Linh Ung Pagoda | Free | Daily; halls until about 17:30 | About an hour | 10 km, about 20 minutes by Grab |
| Marble Mountains | Five limestone hills with caves and pagodas | 40,000 VND, lift 15,000 VND one way | Daily around 7:00–17:30 | 2–3 hours | 8 km south-east |
Lady Buddha and Marble Mountains details are from their YesGo pages. The cathedral is a quick stop in town; for temples with sea views, head to Son Tra or the Marble Mountains.
Before you go
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Temples and churches in Da Nang
Places of worship in Da Nang rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.
| Da Nang Cathedralyou are here | 44 | 20 min | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Buddha | 35 | 1 h | Free | 6.8 km |
| Marble Mountains | 27 | 2 h | 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND | 8.2 km |
| Ba Na Hills | 21 | 4 h | 1,000,000 VND; kids 800,000 VND | 25.7 km |
Central Da Nang into the evening: cathedral, museum and two bridges
The Pink Church in the afternoon or before evening Mass, then the Cham museum, and the Dragon Bridge and Love Bridge on the east bank in time for the show. Add them to your route — YesGo works out the timing and walks.
- Da Nang Cathedralyou are here20 min · Free
- 13 min walk from the previous stopMuseum of Cham Sculpture1 h · 60,000 VND
- 8 min walk from the previous stopDragon Bridge30 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopLove Lock Bridge20 min · Free
4 places · about 2 h 37 min with walks · 27 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Museum of Cham Sculpture
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Love Lock Bridge
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My Khe Beach
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How to do it right
- Come on a weekday morning: the gate is open, the light is soft and it is quiet.
- Don’t plan a visit between 11:30 and 13:30 or on Sunday — outside views and Mass only.
- Front gate locked? Walk round the block to Yên Bái street.
- To be sure of seeing the interior, come for the 17:15 weekday Mass and stay to the end.
- The classic shot is from the far pavement of Trần Phú.
- There are no tickets — anyone selling them at the gate isn’t from the church.
- Han Market is 3–5 minutes north; save the evening for the Dragon Bridge.
Questions
Where is Da Nang Cathedral?
At 156 Trần Phú in the centre, on the west bank of the Han River. Han Market is 300 m north and the Dragon Bridge about 1 km south.
Is Da Nang Cathedral free?
Yes. There are no tickets; donations are optional, in cash.
What are Da Nang Cathedral’s opening hours?
No official visiting hours are posted. Unofficially, the grounds and church open Monday to Saturday about 8:00–11:30 and 13:30–16:30. The facade is visible from the street at any time.
Can you go inside the Pink Church?
Sometimes. The doors aren’t opened to visitors every day; the surest way in is to attend Mass — 5:00 or 17:15 on weekdays — and stay until the end.
What time is Mass at Da Nang Cathedral?
Weekdays at 5:00 and 17:15 according to the parish. On Sundays, unofficially 5:15, 8:00, 10:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 18:30.
Is there an English Mass in Da Nang?
Guides list one at the cathedral on Sundays, at 10:00 (some say 9:00). Confirm at the gate.
Which gate do you use?
The back gate on Yên Bái street, parallel to Trần Phú. The front gate on Trần Phú is often locked outside services.
What should I wear to Da Nang Cathedral?
Cover shoulders and knees and take your hat off inside. No shawls are provided.
Why is it called the Rooster Church?
Because of the rooster weathercock on the spire. In Vietnamese it is Nhà thờ Con Gà, the name drivers know best.
Is Da Nang Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, as a short free stop in the centre next to Han Market. It isn’t worth a special trip from the beach.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Da Nang tourism portal (danangfantasticity.com, Da Nang Department of Tourism) — 1923, about 70 m, rooster weathercock, Lourdes grotto, cathedral since 1963, address, free entry
- Da Nang Cathedral parish website (giaoxuchinhtoadanang.org) — notices with weekday Mass times
- Vietnamese Wikipedia: Nhà thờ chính tòa Đà Nẵng — construction and blessing dates, Louis Vallet, dedication, statues, grotto, address
- Wikidata Q10800905 — dedication, coordinates
- localvietnam.com — visiting hours, Yên Bái gate, Sunday and English Mass, dress
- vietnamtourism.com — visiting hours, Sundays, photo spots, distances to Han Market and the Dragon Bridge, 70 vs 80 m height, origin of the colour
- vinpearl.com — weekday and Sunday Mass
- youindanang.com — dates, bell tower height, warning about ‘ticket’ sellers
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