Beauty of abandoned church in Nam Dinh province

This Church is known locally as Trai Tim Church (literally the Church of the 'heart'). It has been abandoned since 1995 in Xuong Dien Parish, Hai Ly commune, Hai Hau district, the northern province of Nam Dinh. The former church in Xuong Dien perish remains just a frame with a bell tower. However, it is truly gorgeous. The flickering sun at dawn created a unique view for the mossy church which matched well with the beauty of the ocean. It is also a favorite site for couples to take wedding photos. The ancient church is best seen at dawn and dusk. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The church was named St. Maria Madalena Church, and built in 1943 Xuong Dien Parish in Hai Ly commune, Hai Hau district, the northern province of Nam Dinh. The site attracts many tourists and photographers as it is a beautiful spot where the sky, sea, sun, wind and sand converge. The architecture of this church was designed meticulously, beautifully and concretely with soft arches, high pillars that support the entire architecture. The best time to take photos of the church is around 5am or 6pm, during sunrise or sunset. It is a favorite site for couples to take breathtaking wedding photos. (Photo: Vietnam+)

About 120 km from Hanoi, Trai Tim Church is now a popular destination for visitors to Hai Hau. Trai Tim church in Xuong Dien parish was built in 1927. In 2005, a hurricane swept away the fishing villages of Xuong Dien and Van Ly in Xuong Dien parish and destroyed Trai Tim church. What survived were the church’s frame and its bell tower which now stands in water when the tide rises. The church is known by locals as the ruined church. To protect the area, Nam Dinh province built a strong dyke system, turning Xuong Dien into a tourist attraction. (Photo: Vietnam+)

On the beach of Nam Dinh lays a church that stopped receiving parishioners years ago yet now is a go-to place for snappers. The church was named St. Maria Madalena Church, and built in 1943 Xuong Dien Parish in Hai Ly commune, Hai Hau district, the northern province of Nam Dinh. Having been damaged by coastal erosion and hit by a storm in 2005, the church was largely collapsed and abandoned since then, however, has become an attraction to visitors. It is also a favorite site for couples to take wedding photos. The ancient church is best seen at dawn and dusk. (Photo: Vietnam+)

In 2005, a hurricane swept away the fishing villages of Xuong Dien and Van Ly in Xuong Dien parish and destroyed Trai Tim church. What survived were the church’s frame and its bell tower which now stands in water when the tide rises. As it could be seen from a far distance, the bell tower of the ruined ‘Trai Tim’ church is dubbed as a lighthouse for fishermen going on offshore fishing trips in Xuong Dien parish, Ly Hai commune, Hai Hau district, northern Nam Dinh province. Also, the bell has become an intimate check-in venues for visitors to Nam Dinh province. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Only a bell tower of the then Church of Heart stands after the storm in 2005 in Ly Hai commune, Hai Hau district of the northen province of Nam Dinh. The bell has become an intimate check-in venues for visitors to Nam Dinh province. As it could be seen from a far distance, the bell tower of the ruined church is dubbed as a lighthouse for fishermen going on offshore fishing trips in Xuong Dien parish, Ly Hai commune, Hai Hau district, northern Nam Dinh province. the local government has made efforts to conserve the church, particularly its bell tower, in a bid to raise public awareness about environmental protection and recognize the local people’s merit in preventing coastal erosion. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Time and global warming have taken their toll, local Christian followers have made several attempts to move the church inland to protect it from rising sea levels. Also to protect the area, Nam Dinh provincial government has built a strong dyke system, turning Xuong Dien into a tourist attraction. The local government has made efforts to conserve the church, particularly its bell tower, in a bid to raise public awareness about environmental protection and recognize the local people’s merit in preventing coastal erosion. Hai Hau district has completed a master plan to build the 20-hectare Hai Ly beach into a relic of climate change and an eco-marine tourist site. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Wall patterns in the Church of Heart in Ly Hai commune, Hai Hau district, northern Nam Dinh province have been seriously eroded as exposing to sea breezes. Traces of coastal erosion can be seen on the old walls of the church. However, sophisticated patterns on a ruined wall of the church remain beautiful. In 2005, a hurricane swept away the fishing villages of Xuong Dien and Van Ly in Xuong Dien parish and destroyed Trai Tim church. What survived were the church’s frame and its bell tower which now stands in water when the tide rises. The church is known by locals as the ruined church. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The former church in Xuong Dien perish remains just a frame with a bell tower but is truly gorgeous. As it could be seen from a far distance, the bell tower of the ruined ‘Trai Tim’ church is dubbed as a lighthouse for fishermen going on offshore fishing trips in Xuong Dien parish, Ly Hai commune, Hai Hau district, northern Nam Dinh province. The flickering sun at dawn created a unique view for the mossy church which matched well with the beauty of the ocean. The old church is now a popular destination for visitors to Hai Hau. It is also a favorite site for couples to take wedding photos. The ancient church is best seen at dawn and dusk. (Photo: Vietnam+)

The abandoned ‘Trai Tim’ Church (the Church of the Heart) in Xuong Dien Parish in Hai Ly commune, Hai Hau district, the northern province of Nam Dinh looks impressive when being seen from a distance. It is a go-to place for snappers. The local government has made efforts to conserve the church, particularly its bell tower, in a bid to raise public awareness about environmental protection and recognize the local people’s merit in preventing coastal erosion. Hai Hau district’s government has completed a master plan to build the 20-hectare Hai Ly beach into a relic of climate change and an eco-marine tourist site. (Photo: Vietnam+)