Long Son Pagoda
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang Cathedral
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Photo: Hoangvantoanajc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free, no tickets; donations optional
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Grounds in the daytime, closed roughly 11:30–14:00 (unofficial); Mass Mon–Sat 4:45 and 17:00, Sun 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30, 18:30
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Weekday Mass
- 4:45 and 17:00; Saturday evening is the Sunday vigil Mass
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Sunday Mass
- 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30, 18:30; Eucharistic Adoration at 15:00
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Grounds
- Daytime, roughly 5:30–17:00; the gate shuts for lunch around 11:30–14:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 31A Thái Nguyên, Nha Trang — guides also give "1 Thái Nguyên"
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; keep quiet inside
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Language
- Services are in Vietnamese
Key facts
1933consecrated on 14 May to Christ the King, on the feast of St Joan of Arc
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaDiocese of Nha Trang website3 Sep 1928construction began on a rocky hill about 12 m high
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Vietnamese WikipediaVietnam Airlines guideLocal Vietnam guideDiocese of Nha Trang website38 mheight of the bell tower and cross above the street, with a four-faced clock
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Vietnamese WikipediaVietnam Airlines guideLocal Vietnam guideLouis Valletthe French priest (1869–1945) who built the church and is buried at the foot of the hill
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaDiocese of Nha Trang website1935the bell tower was finished on 3 December; the bell was blessed in July 1934
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaLocal Vietnam guide1960the church became the cathedral of the Diocese of Nha Trang
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaDiocese of Nha Trang website36 × 20 mthe footprint of the cathedral, about 720 m²
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Vietnam Airlines guideNasha Planeta (720 m²)Stained glasssaints including Joan of Arc and John Vianney, plus scenes from the life of Jesus
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English WikipediaVietnam Airlines guide53 stepson the footpath up the hill, finished in 1929
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Vietnamese Wikipedia≈ 1.2 kmfrom Tram Huong Tower on the beachfront; the station is right behind the church
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WikidataOpenStreetMapMass times and opening hours
Mass times come from the parish page on the Diocese of Nha Trang's website. Weekdays: 4:45 and 17:00, with the Sunday vigil Mass on Saturday evening. Sundays: 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30 and 18:30. The 15:00 slot on Sunday is Eucharistic Adoration, not a Mass, although many travel guides list it as one. Services are in Vietnamese, and anyone can slip in quietly at the back.
The parish doesn't publish visiting hours, and guides disagree. Vietnam Airlines and Local Vietnam say the grounds open about 5:30–17:00 on weekdays, and 5:00–7:00 plus 11:00–16:30 on Sundays; Nasha Planeta gives 8:00–11:15 and 14:00–16:15. They agree that the main gate shuts for the priests' lunch break, roughly 11:30–14:00. The main doors often open only for Mass, with a side door used for visitors in the daytime — so if seeing the interior matters, come for Mass or 15–20 minutes before it.
What is Nha Trang Cathedral?
Its proper name is Christ the King Cathedral (Nhà thờ Chánh tòa Kitô Vua), the mother church of the Diocese of Nha Trang and a working parish with daily Mass. Locals call it Nhà thờ Núi, the "Mountain Church", or Nhà thờ Đá, the "Stone Church". Russian-language guides know it as St Mary's, after the large white statue of the Virgin at the bottom of the hill — it's the same building.
It was the project of Louis Vallet, a French priest of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Work began on 3 September 1928; the top of a small rocky hill had to be blasted flat first. The church was consecrated on 14 May 1933, and the clock tower was completed in 1935. Vallet served the parish until his death in 1945 and is buried at the foot of the hill, beside the road up to the church.
The style is Gothic Revival: pointed arches, stained glass, heavy grey walls and a 38 m square bell tower topped by a cross. As for the "stone" nickname, sources split. Some describe stone blocks; Vietnam Airlines and Local Vietnam say the walls are mostly reinforced concrete and brick finished to look like stone, with real stone only in the foundations and paths.
How to get to Nha Trang 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
- Long Son Pagoda is about 17 min away on foot.
- Dam Market is about 19 min away on foot.
- Tram Huong Tower is about 24 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Tram Huong Tower on the Tran Phu beachfront it's about 1.2 km west in a straight line. Walk 15–20 minutes inland along Thai Nguyen street; the cathedral sits on its hill by the Ngã Sáu roundabout.
- By Grab or taxi it's a 5-minute ride. Search for "Nhà thờ Núi" or "Nha Trang Cathedral". Grab shows the fare before you book and takes cash or a linked foreign card.
- From Nha Trang railway station it's a few minutes' walk — the station is directly behind the cathedral on Thai Nguyen street.
- At street level is the Ave Maria square with the white statue of the Virgin. A stone staircase and a driveway lead up the hill; motorbikes can ride into the courtyard, cars park below.
- At the top, walk around the church, look inside through whichever door is open and take in the view from the edge of the courtyard.
- From here it's about 1 km to Long Son Pagoda and its white Buddha, or about 1 km to Dam Market — five minutes by Grab.
What to see
- The clock tower — 38 m including the cross, visible across much of the city. Its bell was blessed in 1934.
- The stained glass — the highlight inside: saints including Joan of Arc and John Vianney, and scenes from the life of Jesus. Best on a sunny day.
- The nave — pointed arches and columns in the French Gothic Revival manner, cool and quiet.
- Ave Maria square at the foot of the hill, with the white statue of the Virgin Mary. Opened in 2011, it hosts the big outdoor Masses, including Christmas Eve.
- Statues along the drive and in the courtyard — the twelve apostles, Christ the King and other saints, added in the 1990s.
- The columbarium wall along the driveway, with niches holding parishioners' ashes. It's a place of remembrance — don't sit on it or pose right up against it.
- Louis Vallet's grave at the foot of the hill, to the right of the road up.
How long do you need, and when should you go?
About 30 minutes covers the climb, a walk around the church, a look inside and the view. Allow an hour if you want to sit in on Mass. Go before 11:00 or after 14:00, when the gate is open; the façade catches the best light in the afternoon.
For atmosphere, come on Sunday morning or for the 17:00 weekday Mass, when the church is full and the choir and bell are going. Christmas and Easter, when the bishop celebrates, are beautiful but extremely crowded.
Is Nha Trang Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, as a short stop. It's free, central and on the way to Long Son Pagoda and Dam Market, and the tower and stained glass are genuinely handsome.
The YesGo take: don't make a special trip for it. It's a 20–40 minute visit, the interior is plainer than Saigon's Notre-Dame Cathedral, and in the daytime you may find the main doors shut. It works best as the first stop of a morning loop — cathedral, then a walk to the white Buddha, then the market.
Nha Trang Cathedral or Long Son Pagoda?
| Nha Trang Cathedralyou are here | Catholic cathedral, 1928–1933 | Free | Surest at Mass; side door in the daytime | A short staircase up the hill | About 30 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Son Pagoda | Buddhist temple from 1886 with a white Buddha | Free | Main hall in the daytime, shoes off | 152–193 steps to the Buddha | About an hour |
They're about 1 km apart, so it's easy to see both in one morning.
Before you go: checklist
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Temples and churches in Nha Trang: compare and choose
Places of worship in Nha Trang rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Nha Trang Cathedralyou are here | 44 | 30 min | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Son Pagoda | 41 | 1 h | Free | 17 min walk |
| Po Nagar Cham Towers | 37 | 1 h | 30,000 VND, children free | 38 min walk |
Beachfront, cathedral and white Buddha in half a day
Walk from Tram Huong Tower to the hilltop cathedral, continue to Long Son Pagoda and its white Buddha, reach Dam Market by lunchtime, then cross the river to the Po Nagar towers. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Tram Huong Tower20 min · Free
- 20 min walk from the previous stopNha Trang Cathedralyou are here30 min · Free
- 17 min walk from the previous stopLong Son Pagoda1 h · Free
- 22 min walk from the previous stopDam Market1 h · Free entry
- 21 min walk from the previous stopPo Nagar Cham Towers1 h · 30,000 VND, children free
5 places · about 5 h 10 min with walks · 80 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Dam Market
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Tram Huong Tower
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Po Nagar Cham Towers
Nha Trang, Vietnam
How to do it right
- Time your visit for the 17:00 weekday Mass or a Sunday morning service — that's when the main doors are open and the choir sings.
- The classic shot of the façade and tower is from Ave Maria square below; the city view is from the edge of the courtyard at the top.
- Carry a light scarf or shirt to throw on if you've come straight from the beach.
- Bring small notes in dong for a donation and the Grab ride on.
- Walk on to Long Son Pagoda, about 1 km away, or take a Grab to the Po Nagar towers.
Questions
What are the Mass times at Nha Trang Cathedral?
According to the diocese: 4:45 and 17:00 on weekdays, and 5:00, 7:00, 9:30, 16:30 and 18:30 on Sundays. Services are in Vietnamese.
What are Nha Trang Cathedral's opening hours?
There are no official visiting hours. The grounds are generally open in the daytime, with the gate shut roughly 11:30–14:00. The surest way to see inside is to come for Mass.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Entry is free and donations are optional. If someone at the gate demands a fee, you don't have to pay.
Where is Nha Trang Cathedral?
On a small hill in the city centre at 31A Thái Nguyên, right by the railway station — about 1.2 km from Tram Huong Tower on the beachfront.
How do I get there from the beach?
Walk 15–20 minutes inland along Thai Nguyen street, or take a 5-minute Grab to "Nhà thờ Núi".
What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees. Beachwear, shorts and vests aren't appropriate, especially inside.
How long do you need at the cathedral?
About 30 minutes for the grounds, the interior and the view; around an hour if you attend Mass.
Is it really made of stone?
It's nicknamed the Stone Church, but sources disagree: some describe stone blocks, others say the walls are mostly reinforced concrete and brick, with stone only in the foundations.
Is Nha Trang Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes as a short, free stop on the way to Long Son Pagoda and Dam Market. Don't plan a special trip — it takes 20–40 minutes and the interior is fairly plain.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Diocese of Nha Trang website — Chánh Tòa parish page: address, Mass times, Eucharistic Adoration, history, Ave Maria square
- English Wikipedia — Christ the King Cathedral, Nha Trang: consecration, Louis Vallet, cathedral status since 1960, stained glass, bell and tower
- Vietnamese Wikipedia — Nhà thờ Núi Nha Trang: start of works, tower height, footpath, statues, columbarium, Louis Vallet's grave
- Vietnam Airlines travel guide — history, dimensions, tower height, building materials, visiting hours, lunch closure, gate fee
- Local Vietnam travel guide (19.05.2026) — history, building materials, visiting hours, lunch closure, donations, dress code
- MIA.vn — history; main doors open for Mass, side door for daytime visitors
- Nasha Planeta (20.10.2026) — visiting hours, gate fee, parking, floor area
- Wikidata Q2942901; OpenStreetMap — coordinates of the cathedral and Tram Huong Tower, distances
- YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cash, cards and Grab
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