The Ancient Stone Church of Sapa in the mountainous city at midnight looks like a symbol of Sapa town in particular and of the Northwest in general. This church is immersed in the breath of forests and mountains of the Northwest and any visitors on their tours with local Vietnam travel agency who come to Sapa always want to take a photo.
The History of the Ancient Stone Church
This Stone Church was built in 1895 by the French and it is also the most ancient architecture that the French left in Sa Pa, Lao Cai. This church is located in the middle of the town center, in front of a wide stadium. Moreover, it is located in a beautiful position with the back is Ham Rong Mountain. From this church, visitors can admire two other architectural works that were built by the French: the House of Bridge (now Hoang Lien Hotel) and the former district committee (now the headquarters of the Lao Cai Tourism Information Center).
The special architecture of Stone Church
The old church has another name, the Holy Rosary of Mary church. According to some records, the church was built with the main face facing the east, the direction of the sunrise. Someone explains that it is the direction to receive the light of God.
The church was built from hewed stones, according to Roman Gothic architecture. The stone’s moldings are a mixture of sand, lime, and molasses. The wall of the crucifix is designed to make the viewers feel as if the stalactites are flowing down. Previously, the roof was made of lime straw, now it is replaced with new tile. The total area of the church is over 6000m2.
The bell tower, which is located at the end of the church, was built in the west means the birthplace of Christ. There is a big bell here which is 1.5m high and 500kg weight. It was cast in 1932.
The total area includes the main church, the parish, the house of the monk, the field, the angel house, the front yard, and the Holy Garden. The parish is built in parallel with the church’s five compartments. Especially, in the angel’s house, there is a basement and three upper stories a place to cure sick people, overnight travelers, sanitation facilities, and a kitchen. The garden contains two tombs and five-hundred-year-old Khao Vang trees, four of which grow on rocks.
Popular activities in Stone Church of Sapa people
For many years, Sapa Stone Church has been a place which takes place many traditional cultural activities of the ethnic minority groups. Every day, ethnic groups gather here to trade and exchange goods in the big yard in front of the church. This is also the place where Saturday night every week, the couple gathers to play in the love market, a traditional custom of the ethnic group, very romantic and also filled with the breath of the Northwest. Inside the church, every night there are a lot of prayers coming here to pray for peace or bumper harvests.
