Amid the modern buildings of downtown Da Nang, a pink Gothic cathedral stands out immediately: Da Nang Cathedral, known to visitors as the Pink Church.
- What: Da Nang Cathedral, the "Pink Church"
- Where: Downtown Da Nang, Vietnam
- Built: More than a century ago, during the French colonial period
- English Mass: Sundays, 10 a.m.
Catholicism in a Buddhist-majority country
Buddhism is Vietnam's largest organized religion, but Catholicism comes next. For Filipinos flocking to Da Nang, the Pink Church is a familiar sight right in the heart of the city.
The cathedral is a Catholic landmark built more than a century ago during the French colonial period. It is easy to spot, with its pink walls, tall spire and the famous rooster at the top.
A living parish, not just a tour stop
Tour groups regularly stop at the cathedral, but on a Sunday visitors see another side of the church. It is not simply a tourist attraction. It is a living Catholic community, with the faithful gathering for Mass and filling the church.
There is even an English Mass on Sunday at 10 in the morning.
A familiar feeling far from home
For Filipino Catholics visiting Da Nang, thousands of kilometers from home, the Pink Church can feel surprisingly familiar.
Video and photos: BNNO Travel.