A mid-twentieth-century Catholic cathedral in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, built to serve the newly established Diocese of Ban Mê Thuột and the spiritual life of the Dak Lak region.
At a glance
The Sacred Heart Cathedral stands in Buôn Má Thuột, capital of Dak Lak province, as the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ban Mê Thuột. Completed in 1958, it accommodates 1,200 worshippers and reflects the expansion of Catholic infrastructure in mid-twentieth-century Vietnam.
History
Construction began in 1957 and concluded the following year. The cathedral was established as the mother church of the Diocese of Ban Mê Thuột, which Pope Paul VI created in 1967 through the bull Qui Dei benignitate. Today it serves under the pastoral oversight of Bishop Vincent Nguyễn Văn Bản and remains central to Catholic life in the Central Highlands.
What you see
The cathedral is designed in the Roman or Latin rite tradition. Its interior arrangement provides seating for 1,200 faithful, reflecting the scale of Catholic worship intended for the diocese.
Cultural significance
The Sacred Heart Cathedral represents the institutional presence of Roman Catholicism in Vietnam’s highlands region during a transformative period in the Church’s post-war organization. As the diocesan cathedral, it holds liturgical and spiritual importance for the Catholic community of Dak Lak province.
Key facts
- Location: 2 Phan Chu Trinh, Buôn Má Thuột, Dak Lak province, Vietnam
- Coordinates: 12.68056°N, 108.04506°E
- Built: 1957–1958
- Capacity: 1,200 seats
- Diocese created: 1967 by Pope Paul VI
Practical information & getting there
The cathedral is located at 2 Phan Chu Trinh in Buôn Má Thuột, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. As an active Catholic cathedral, visitors are welcome to attend Mass or visit during posted visiting hours. Check locally for current information.
Sources & resources
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