Discover the century-old church with the tallest bell tower in the West

After nearly 100 years of construction, Cai Be Church still retains the unique beauty of Roman architecture and is a tourist highlight in Cai Be.

Cai Be Church is located right at the Cai Be River junction in Cai Be Town, Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province (now Cai Be Commune, Dong Thap). The building stands out in the middle of the bustling river area and is considered one of the churches with beautiful architecture, impressive location and the highest bell tower among the churches in the Mekong Delta.

The church was built in the period 1929 - 1932, in the Roman architectural style with reinforced concrete and cast stone. Although nearly a century has passed, the building still retains its elegant, ancient beauty.

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The church is 55m long, 16m wide, with a roof height of 14m and a horizontal wing width of 26m. The ground plan is cross-shaped, consisting of the main room and two side rooms, creating a harmonious balance. The facade of the building gradually narrows as it goes up, with the highlight being the bell tower in the middle.

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The main door, windows and the canopy patterns on the side doors are all very elaborately crafted. The eaves blend harmoniously with the beauty of the windows. Every small detail is meticulously crafted and aesthetically pleasing. All are seamlessly and delicately combined, exuding a solemn, ancient look.

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The exterior of the church has elaborate and impressive decorations and embossed patterns.

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The church's special highlight is the bell tower, one of the tallest in the Mekong Delta. The 52m high bell tower is decorated with many small towers around it. Inside the tower is a large set of 5 bells, the largest of which has a diameter of 1.35m. The total weight of this set of bells is up to 4,500kg. Each bell has an intricate carving on its surface. When rung, the bell's sound can be heard several kilometers away.

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The top of the tower has a 2.3m high terracotta statue of the Virgin Mary, adding to the majesty of the building.

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After nearly a hundred years since its construction, the church began to show signs of time, and many areas outside the church were covered with moss and faded. These things made the church even more beautiful and ancient.

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The spacious church grounds include three main items: the statue of the Virgin Mary, a cluster of statues depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, and the statue of the Child Jesus. All blend together to create a sacred space, both quiet and intimate, attracting not only parishioners but also visitors from near and far.

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Nowadays, Cai Be has houses built close together, painting a familiar and simple village picture along with the unique architecture of Cai Be church. This will certainly be one of the interesting attractions for tourists when visiting Dong Thap .

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-pha-nha-tho-tram-tuoi-co-thap-chuong-cao-nhat-mien-tay-185250829143655128.htm