The stone church and Muong Hoa valley in Sapa tourist town, the northern
mountainous province of Lao Cai, have been submitted to the Vietnam
Record Organisation (VietKing) to seek recognition as Vietnam’s records.
Accordingly, the stone church has been nominated
as one of the five best-known over 100-year-old churches and the
valley, one of the five most beautiful and largest valleys in the
country.
According to the Top Vietnam book’s proposal posted
on VietKing’s website, kyluc.vn, the stone church was built in the
early 20 th century on an area of 6,000sq.m with Roman Gothic
architectural style, which is clearly seen in its pyramid-shaped roof,
bell tower and dome.
Situated in the centre of the resort town, the church has a 20m bell tower with a 500-kg bell.
The
four other nominated churches are the Hanoi Cathedral, built in 1887,
Phu Nhai Church in Nam Dinh northern province (1886), Phat
Diem Church in Ninh Binh northern province (1875-1899) and
the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City (1863-1865).
Meanwhile,
the Muong Hoa valley, home to many ethnic minorities, has beautiful
terraced fields. In particular, hundreds of stones of all sizes with
unique carving patterns are found here, which draw the interests of both
domestic and foreign researchers.
Together with Muong
Hoa valley, Muong Thanh (in Dien Bien province), A Sao (in Thua Thien –
Hue province), Mai Chau (in Hoa Binh province), and Love (in Da Lat
City, Lam Dong province) have been nominated as the five most beautiful
and largest valleys in Vietnam.-VNA