Ka Don Church in Don Duong District in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has come in second place at the 6th International Prize for Sacred Architecture.
Ka Don Church in Don Duong district (Source: facebook of the church)
Hanoi (VNA)🎶 – Ka Don Church in Don Duong District in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has come in second place at the 6th International Prize for Sacred Architecture.
The prize was announced recently in Pavia City in Italy and the award ceremony will take place in the city on October 4, the day the Feast of St Francis of Assisi is celebrated.
Ka Don Church was designed by architect couple Vu Thi Thu Huong and Nguyen Tuan Dung in accordance with the ideas of priest Giuse Nguyen Duc Ngoc.
While the couple, from the Technical University of Berlin, were writing their dissertation on architecture design, they met priest Ngoc. The priest told them he wished to build a church around a simple design, stripping back on colour and decoration.
The church, which took four years to build, was completed last July. The church portrays a closer relationship with nature by opening spaces outwards and by using simple local materials like pine wood and red tiles.
The church’s design is similar to the architecture of the Churu ethnic group in the province. The group’s population numbers some 15,000 people. The interior of the church was designed according to the Churu people’s traditional designs.
The church keeps a low height and it therefore merges with surrounding mountains and hills. The bell tower is the only part of the church high enough to be visible to local residents.
The wood-framed glass wall system allows interaction between those inside and outside the church during worship by the faithful.
Vietnamese architects Huong and Dung received support from architect Finn Geipel, professor Klaus Zillich, professor Rainer Mertes and professor Eddy Widjaja.
The International Prize for Sacred Architecture is held by the Frate Sole Foundation, which was created with the aim of stimulating awareness of the need for excellent churches and with the intention of giving active encouragement to their construction.
The first prize in the sixth competition went to the church of San Sebastian in Spain, while the new Saint Trinitatis Church in Germany came in third place, after the Vietnamese entry.
The competition is held once every four years. The last time, the first prize was awarded to architect Cristian Undurraga for the church built in Chile in 2012.-VNA
Ka Don Church in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has won second prize at the 6th International Prize for Sacred Architecture for Christian Religious Buildings worldwide.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
Ka Don Church in Don Duong district (Source: facebook of the church)
