Hanoi Attractions:#1 Cua Bac Church
Cua Bac Church is a Roman Catholic church and an important attraction in Hanoi, Vietnam. Originally Christened the Church of Martyrs it was built in 1932 by the French colonial rulers of the then Indochina. This important religious building is one of a triumvirate of important churches in Hanoi. The others being Ham Long Church and of course St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
In November, 2006, the Cua Bac Catholic Church became the venue of joint worship service of the Vietnamese Catholics and Protestants with participation of the United States President George W. Bush, who was on an official visit to Vietnam.
Religion in Vietnam is given much freedom and people have the right to freedom of religious expression. The country has a long association with many religions even though it remains mainly secular. In the early 1930’s Ernest Hébrand, a French Architect, started to redesign Hanoi. Part of his plans for a new look city was the building of a Roman Catholic church at the Northern Gate of the city. The church was originally called The Church of Martyrs, but locals soon started called it after the name of the gate, Cua Bac.
Architecturally, Cua Bac Church has strong art deco influences whilst at the same time it incorporates some traditional Vietnamese elements, particularly the roof. The church occupies a good sized plot of land and the green space around it again nods in the direction of Asian design. It really is one of the best churches in Vietnam and one of the major attractions in Hanoi.
In 2006 The Cua Bac Church was chosen as the venue for an important event in which the then President of the United States, George W. Bush, took part. It was a joint congregation of Vietnamese Protestants and Catholics. After the service President Bush exclaimed, “Laura and I just had a moment to converse with God in a church here in Hanoi. We were touched by the simplicity and the beauty of the moment. We appreciate very much the congregation for allowing us to come and worship with them.”
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