So Kien Basilica in Ha Nam province

So Kien basilica covers an area of 9ha (Photo: VNP/VNA)

Located in Kien Khe, Thanh Liem district, So Kien church used to be a cathedral of the Hanoi archdiocese and is one of four basilicas in Vietnam (Photo: VNP/VNA)

The church was built in 1877 under the direction of Bishop Puginier Phuoc (1835-1892) and inaugurated in 1883. So Kien has Gothic architecture with the main church, the Bishop’s house and the friary (Photo: VNP/VNA)

The church is 67m long, 31m wide and 23m high with four rows of pillars and has 5 globes. It can accommodate 4,000-5,000 people. Built on a large lagoon, its floor is made of ironwood to prevent the foundation from sinking (Photo: VNP/VNA)

Inside the church (Photo: VNP/VNA)

The church has Gothic architecture (Photo: VNP/VNA)

Lacquered altar inside the church (Photo: VNP/VNA)

The stained-glass door of the church (Photo: VNP/VNA)

Unique arches of the basilica (Photo: VNP/VNA)

Delicate patterns carved on the staircase partition (Photo: VNP/VNA)

So Kien, an imposing construction (Photo: VNP/VNA)

A ceremony at the church (Photo: VNP/VNA)