Sapa Stone Church

Church in Sapa

Church Of Sa Pa
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95

Sapa was part of France’s colonial empire from 1893 to 1954, though it was occupied by Japanese forces from 1940 to 1945. The Stone Church (Nhà Thờ Đá Sapa) is one of three significant buildings from the French colonial era that remain intact, the others being what is now the Hoang Lien Hotel and the main Sapa Tourism Information Centre.

During the French colonial period, Sapa was remote and difficult to access, located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level and over 300 km by road from Hanoi. Due to these challenges, the French did little to develop the town, which is why there is a scarcity of European-style architecture in Sapa.

Sapa’s Historic Stone Church

The Stone Church in Sapa was built in 1902 with basic materials, contrasting sharply with the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral constructed 25 years earlier with imported materials from France. The 500 sqm church is made of roughly hewn stone blocks held together by a mortar of sand, lime, and molasses, with ceilings constructed from iron, straw, and lime. Despite its humble materials, the church is impressive, featuring a 20-meter tall bell tower that houses a 500 kg bell.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sapa

For much of its early history, Sapa’s Stone Church saw little religious activity. Services began in 1935 but were halted by the Japanese invasion in 1940. Worship resumed in 1946 but ceased again in 1954 when the country split into North and South, ending French colonial rule in Sapa.

The communist government of North Vietnam initially took a hard line against religious worship, especially non-Mahayana Buddhist practices. In 1995, local authorities relaxed these restrictions, removed the rice stored in the church, and began restoration efforts.

Inside Sapa’s Stone Church

The interior of the Stone Church starkly contrasts with its rugged exterior. The inside features a striking use of white, yellow, and brown tones from varnished wood. The church also boasts 32 stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Bible, making it one of the better churches in small regional towns in Southeast Asia and a worthwhile visit.

The Public Area in Front of the Stone Church

Sapa’s Stone Church attracts a congregation mainly from the minority ethnic groups that make up the province’s population, particularly the Hmong. The church is located on the main town square in Sapa, a venue for various activities, most famously the Saturday night Love Markets.

Traditionally, hill tribes gathered in Sapa, the largest town in the province, so young people could meet potential spouses from other villages, as marrying within one’s village is often taboo in Vietnamese hill tribe cultures. Young men would play flutes to express interest, and young women would respond by staying for the entire recital and offering a gift. While the tradition of finding a spouse at Love Markets has declined, the event still takes place weekly, now largely for the entertainment of tourists who sometimes tip the performers.

The Sapa Stone Church appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Sapa!

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Visiting Sapa Stone Church

Hours:

06:00 to 20:30


Price:

Free

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