Cathedral of Christ the King, Nha Trang, Vietnam

the altar and stained glass windows of Christ the King Cathedral in Nha Trang, Vietnam

The Cathedral of Christ the King is one of the most popular sites in Vietnam's premier beach resort town

Nha Trang is a coastal resort town in southern Vietnam. It is situated about halfway between Da Nang and Saigon, and is famous, particularly among Russian and European tourists, for its perfect sandy beaches. Nha Trang is a fairly small town. It has a few attractions, such as an ancient ruin from the Cham civilization, a marine museum and aquarium, and a water park. Overall, the beach, sun, and sea are the main draws.



One of the biggest sites to visit in Nha Trang is its incredible cathedral. The Cathedral of Christ the King is the seat of the bishop of Nha Trang. The Diocese of Nha Trang is a part of the Arch Diocese of Hue, serving south-central Vietnamese Catholics.

Cathedral of Christ the King, Nha Trang, Vietnam

The Cathedral of Christ the King looks like some medieval European village church. It's tall clock tower soars above a stained glass rose window, and the vaulted ceilings give the cathedral an open, airy feel. The numerous stained glass windows let bright tropical sunlight fill the cathedral.

vaulted ceiling inside Nha Trang Cathedral

I entered the church on a sweltering summer day. It's always hot in Nha Trang, but the stone interior of the cathedral and the cool sea breeze blowing through made it feel quite comfortable. Above, a statue of Jesus Christ stood, arms outstretched as if welcoming the parishioners, in front of a beautifully colorful rose window, very much like something out of a classical European church.

the rose window and statue of Jesus at Nha Trang Cathedral

I wasn't alone in the cathedral, though. As I was admiring the interior, a dozen or so families filed in, along with their children and the parish priest. I took a seat in a pew, along with a few other curious tourists and visitors.

There's a small Catholic school attached to the cathedral, and the children who entered with their families, were the students of that school. The priest gave the children a very short message in Vietnamese, then offered each one of them a blessing.

a blessing at the cathedral

Outside, I stopped to visit the tomb of a Vietnamese archbishop who is buried in a small Marian grotto at the cathedral. A spiral of incense was lit, and burned slowly in remembrance.

archbishop's tomb

Travel tip: While in Nha Trang, don't miss a visit to the Po Nagar Ruins. The Cham civilization lived in southern Vietnam for thousands of years, and Po Nagar, though small, is an amazing historical site.

Visiting the Nha Trang Cathedral

The Cathedral of Christ the King in Nha Trang, Vietnam is within walking distance of the town center, although it's probably easiest to take a taxi or a Grab car.

1 Thái Nguyên, Phước Tân, Thành phố Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa 650000, Vietnam