Domaine de Marie Church Dalat 2026: Pink Church Guide

Domaine de Marie Church (Nhà thờ Domaine de Marie), Da Lat’s famous “pink church”, is a Catholic church and convent on Mai Anh hill, 1 Ngo Quyen Street, about 1.5 km west of Xuan Huong Lake. Begun in 1940 and run by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, it blends French and Central Highlands styles. Entry is free.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal and free to enter. Visitors are generally welcome about 7:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00; the church interior closes during Mass, so avoid Sunday mornings if you want to go inside.

Why Domaine de Marie Church is worth seeing:

The pink church: rose-pink walls and dark roofs make it one of Da Lat’s most photographed buildings.
East meets West: a French design whose steep roofs echo the communal stilt houses (nhà rông) of the Central Highlands.
Colonial history: the tomb of Suzanne Humbert, wife of Governor-General Jean Decoux, lies here.
A living convent: nuns run a kindergarten and help disadvantaged young people.
Handicraft shop: buy embroidery and knitwear made by the nuns and the people they support.

Domaine de Marie Church at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Nhà thờ Domaine de Marie (Nhà thờ Mai Anh, Lãnh Địa Đức Bà)
Location	1 Ngo Quyen Street, Mai Anh hill, Cam Ly – Da Lat Ward, Lam Dong province
Distance	About 1.5 km west of Xuan Huong Lake (5 minutes by car)
Built	From 1940; church inaugurated in 1942, Virgin Mary statue 1943
Known for	Pink walls, French–Highlands architecture, Virgin Mary statue, nuns’ handicraft shop
Opening hours	Generally 7:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00; closed to sightseers during Mass
Entrance fee	Free (donations welcome)
Time needed	30–45 minutes
Best time	Weekday mornings; cherry-blossom season (late December–February)
Nearby	Bao Dai Palace, Xuan Huong Lake, Da Lat Market, Dalat Railway Station
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Domaine de Marie Church Worth Visiting?

Yes, as a short stop. The church is beautiful, free and close to the centre, and its garden setting on a pine hill is peaceful. It is not a large complex, so 30–45 minutes is enough. Combine it with Bao Dai Palace or the market rather than making a special trip.

Best for: photographers, architecture lovers, couples, anyone curious about Da Lat’s French heritage.
Skip if: you have already seen many churches and are short on time.
Short on time: photograph the facade and statue, step inside if open, and visit the shop in about 20 minutes.

History of Domaine de Marie Church

Construction of the Domaine de Marie began in 1940, when Da Lat was the summer administrative capital of French Indochina. The Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul arrived in 1941, and the church was inaugurated in November 1942. Suzanne Humbert, wife of Governor-General Jean Decoux, was a key benefactor; after she died in a road accident in 1944, she was buried here, and her tomb lies behind the church.

The 3 m statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a globe, designed by the French architect Jonchère in 1943, is said to have a gently Vietnamese face. After 1954 the parish grew as Catholic families moved south. Today the convent still runs a kindergarten and supports local children and young women with disabilities.

What to See at Domaine de Marie Church

1. The pink facade

The triangular facade with rows of small arched windows and rose-pink walls is the main photo spot, best seen from the lawn below the steps.

2. The Highlands-style roofs

The steep, overlapping roofs recall the tall communal houses of the Central Highlands’ ethnic groups, a deliberate nod to local culture.

3. The Virgin Mary statue

At the front of the grounds, the 3 m statue of Mary on a globe (1943) overlooks the city.

4. The church interior

Inside is a simple, bright nave with a calm, prayerful atmosphere. Enter quietly and only outside Mass times.

5. Madame Decoux’s tomb

Behind the church is the tomb of Suzanne Humbert (Madame Decoux), a small but evocative link to the colonial era.

6. The handicraft shop

The convent shop sells knitted clothes, embroidered pictures and souvenirs made by the nuns and the people they help; purchases support their charitable work.

Domaine de Marie Church Opening Hours and Mass (2026)

Item	Details	Notes
Entry	Free	Donation box inside
Morning visiting	About 7:00–11:00	Quietest on weekdays
Afternoon visiting	About 14:00–17:00	Grounds may close at midday
Mass	Weekday and Sunday Masses	Interior closed to sightseers during services
Handicraft shop	During visiting hours	Cash is easiest

The church is a working parish and convent of the Diocese of Da Lat with no ticket office; hours can change for religious events, so check locally.

Etiquette at Domaine de Marie Church

Cover shoulders and knees, and remove hats inside the church.
Keep quiet and do not walk around during services.
Do not enter the convent’s private areas or the kindergarten.
Avoid using flash or tripods inside; be discreet when photographing people praying.

How to Get to Domaine de Marie Church

From	How	Time
Xuan Huong Lake	Taxi, Grab or a 20–25-minute walk via Phan Dinh Phung / Ngo Quyen	About 5 minutes by car
Da Lat Market	Taxi or walk	About 5 minutes by car
Bao Dai Palace III	Taxi or Grab	About 5–10 minutes
Dalat Railway Station	Taxi	About 10 minutes
Lien Khuong Airport	Taxi	About 40 minutes

Getting-around tips are in our Dalat transportation guide.

Best Time to Visit Domaine de Marie Church

When	What to expect
Weekday mornings	Quiet, good light on the pink facade
Late December–February	Cherry blossoms and Christmas decorations
Christmas Eve	Festive Mass and crowds; interior very busy
Sunday mornings	Mass; interior closed to sightseers
Rainy season afternoons	Showers likely; visit in the morning

Local Expert Tips for Domaine de Marie Church

These tips come from years of arranging Da Lat tours for international travellers.

Avoid 11:00–14:00, when the church may be closed.
Bring small cash for the donation box and the handicraft shop.
Combine with Bao Dai Palace III and the market in one half day.
Do not confuse it with the Da Lat Cathedral (“Chicken Church”) on Tran Phu Street, also worth a quick look.
Stay nearby using our Dalat hotel area guide.

Domaine de Marie Church vs Da Lat Cathedral

	Domaine de Marie Church	Da Lat Cathedral (Chicken Church)
Location	Mai Anh hill, Ngo Quyen Street	Tran Phu Street, near the lake
Look	Pink walls, Highlands-style roofs	Yellow walls, bell tower topped by a rooster
Setting	Garden convent on a hill	Busy city street
Entry	Free	Free
Time needed	30–45 minutes	15–20 minutes

Our view: Domaine de Marie is the more photogenic and peaceful of the two; see the cathedral in passing on the way to Xuan Huong Lake.

Nearby Attractions

Bao Dai Palace: the last emperor’s summer residence.
Xuan Huong Lake: the heart of Da Lat.
Dalat Railway Station: Art Deco station and vintage train.
Valley of Love: gardens and lake north of the city.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery: Zen monastery by Tuyen Lam Lake.

Sightseeing in Da Lat for First-Time Visitors: Where Domaine de Marie Church Fits

Domaine de Marie fits neatly into a heritage loop with Bao Dai Palace, the railway station and the night market. Read our Dalat travel tips and sample local dishes from our Dalat food guide.

Plan your trip with our Da Lat travel guide and Da Lat tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.