Huyện Sỹ Church: A Historical and Cultural Site in District 1

Huyện Sỹ Church (officially named Saint Philip the Apostle Church) is a Catholic church over 100 years old, located at No. 1 Tôn Thất Tùng Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It serves the Chợ Đũi parish under the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City.

History

The church was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Lê Phát Đạt—commonly known as Huyện Sỹ—who also contributed one-seventh of their fortune, worth over 300,000 Indochinese silver piastres at the time. Construction began in 1902 based on a design by Father Bouttier and was completed in 1905. The church stands on a hilltop plot of more than one hectare, at the corner of Frère Louis Street (now Nguyễn Trãi Street) and Frère Guilleraut Street (now Tôn Thất Tùng Street).

Initially known as Chợ Đũi Church (after the parish), it also carried the name of Saint Philip the Apostle, Huyện Sỹ’s patron saint. Over time, it became popularly known as Huyện Sỹ Church, the name by which it is still commonly referred to today.

Grounds

Huyện Sỹ Church is regarded as having one of the most spacious and airy grounds in Saigon. In front of the church stands a statue of Vietnamese martyr Saint Matthêu Lê Văn Gẫm. Near the main gate are monuments to the Guardian Angel and Saint Joseph.

To the left of the church is a Lourdes Grotto, built in 1960 in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes. On 11 February each year, parish priests celebrate Mass here, especially praying for the sick.

To the right of the church is Calvary Hill, featuring a large Crucifixion statue erected in 1974 during Father Gioan Baotixita Dương Hoàng Thanh’s tenure.

Architecture

The church measures 40 metres in length and 18 metres in width, divided into four naves. The original plan featured five naves (about 50 metres), but one was removed to fund repairs for the then-damaged Chí Hòa temporary church. Chí Hòa Church remains today, having been renovated multiple times.

Huyện Sỹ Church’s façade and main columns are clad in Biên Hòa granite and built in Gothic style. The sanctuary features pointed arches for structural support, with many stained-glass windows imported from Italy. Numerous statues of saints line the interior, and above the main door stands a marble statue of Saint Philip holding a Resurrection cross.

The bell tower, topped with a wind vane shaped like a rooster—a common motif in European church architecture—rises to 57 metres, including the cross and rooster. Inside are four bells cast in France in 1905. The two larger bells (1.05m in diameter) were donated by Huyện Sỹ’s son and daughter-in-law, Mr. Gioan Baotixita Lê Phát Thanh and Mrs. Anna Đỗ Thị Thao. The smaller ones (0.95m diameter), likely gifted by Huyện Sỹ himself, bear no inscription.

Burial Site

Huyện Sỹ died in 1900, before the church was completed. When his wife, Mrs. Huỳnh Thị Tài, passed away in 1920, both were buried in the apse behind the sanctuary.

On the left is a marble tomb topped with a full-body statue of Huyện Sỹ resting on two intricately carved pillows, wearing a traditional áo dài and khăn đóng. Opposite is the statue of his wife in similar attire, resting in the same pose. Also present are busts of their son and daughter-in-law.