Dong Nai: Discovering a 7-meter Christmas cave made from thousands of details.

A magnificent Christmas project.

In early December, the Christmas spirit permeated the Our Lady of Mount Cúi Pilgrimage Center in Thống Nhất commune, Đồng Nai province. This place became a popular destination for parishioners and tourists thanks to the appearance of a nativity scene model, over 7 meters long, created from thousands of exquisitely handcrafted details.

The project is impressive not only for its scale but also for the meticulous attention to detail, vividly recreating the story of Jesus' birth in the stable of Bethlehem. From the ancient streets and bustling markets to the daily life of the people, everything is depicted authentically.

A panoramic view of the more than 7-meter-long Nativity scene at the Our Lady of Mount Cúi Pilgrimage Center in Đồng Nai. — The Nativity scene model is attracting a large number of visitors in Dong Nai.

A work of art born from 10 years of dedication.

The creator of this unique work is Nguyen Minh Thien (born in 1993, residing in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai province). To create this large-scale artwork, he spent nearly 10 years collecting thousands of statue details and decorative accessories from various sources, mostly ordered from abroad.

Thiện shared: "Each small statue tells a story. Only when I have enough scenes do I dare to start working on a large-scale nativity scene."

Small details such as houses, trees, and people are arranged to create depth in the space. — The multi-layered perspective creates a vibrant miniature "Belem ancient city".

While the statues themselves are the result of a collecting process, the scenery—from rocky mountains and streams to streets and markets—is entirely his own creation. He uses simple materials like foam, terracotta, and paint to cut, sculpt, and create surprisingly realistic miniature scenes. Each layer of stone, ancient wall, or fruit stall showcases his skill and patience.

A miniature market scene featuring handcrafted vegetable stalls. — The stalls in the market are meticulously crafted, giving a realistic feel.

Tell the Christmas story through vivid images.

The Nativity scene is divided into several segments, recounting the Christmas story in a coherent manner. Visitors can follow the story from the angel's announcement to the Virgin Mary, the dream for Saint Joseph, the journey to find shelter, to the moment of Jesus' birth in the stable.

The scene of Jesus' birth in a stable is central to the model. — The central scene depicts the moment of the birth of the infant Jesus.

Besides the main story, the model also recreates social life at the time with scenes of villagers working and trading, earthen roofs, and red-hot ovens. “Compared to last year, this year's nativity scene is 2 meters longer and includes many new miniature scenes. I want viewers to not only see the moment of the birth of the Baby Jesus, but also feel the social life, culture, and people of that time,” Thiện said.

The small statues depict the trading activities and daily life of the people. — Scenes of the people's daily lives are vividly recreated.

A must-visit destination during the festival season.

Surprisingly, Thien has never received any formal training in fine arts or architecture. Everything stems from his passion and self-taught spirit. For him, this project is not just a work of art, but also a spiritual gift to everyone this Christmas season.

Since its completion, the nativity scene has become a unique "check-in" spot in Dong Nai. When the lighting system is turned on in the evening, the entire model becomes dazzling and magical. Representatives from the Our Lady of Mount Cui Pilgrimage Center consider this one of the most impressive nativity scene models ever displayed here and expect to attract a large number of visitors throughout this year's festival season.