Hai Ly – Hai Hau – Nam Dinh church with its wild beauty, unique and novel architecture has attracted many visitors. Let’s find out together now!
Hai Ly Church
Why is it named Hai Ly church?
As a son of Hai Hau, everyone must have heard the name “Falling Church”. A very strange name, evoking curiosity for many people. Also because of curiosity, Hai Ly Church has attracted many tourists and young people to visit. But posting after it is a beautiful and profound historical story that not everyone knows why it is called the Falling Church.
The ruined church (abandoned churches) was originally the church of Saint Mary Magdalene.
It is known that the fallen church also has another name called “Church of the Heart” built in 1943 and designed by a French architect.
According to recorded history, in 1996, the sea began to encroach on the mainland more than 1km long. That encroachment caused the village stretching along Xuong Dien beach to disappear. Some large structures on the sea such as churches have been knocked down by the waves. But only the church of St. Maria Madalena is still there, not destroyed by the waves, but it is not as intact as before.
Located in Hai Ly commune, Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province, the church is the ruined work that people here still call. Because the inside of the church has been invaded by the sea, demolished and devastated, only the outer skeleton remains with the foundation mixed with sea sand.
Originally, the architecture of the church was designed very elaborately, beautifully and firmly with soft and flexible arched doors. The tall pillars support the entire structure. If you’ve ever visited the church, and looked closely at it, you’ll surely see that every wall is detailed with patterns expressing religion as well as the desire for a beautiful and happy life.
But due to the waves of the sea, it has been destroying and eroding the church’s architecture. The motifs and architecture inside the church have been worn out. The brickwork was clearly exposed after the mortar was broken. The statues of the church were broken. Many broken plates lie deep under the sea sand. Plants and mosses grow on the walls of the church. These vestiges are now bare as oases, surrounded by sea water.
Currently, Hai Ly pouring church has been surrounded by sea water. Every time the tide is high, the church is flooded about 1m. If this situation becomes stronger, it will cause the church to be submerged under the sea in a short time.
To prevent the encroachment of the sea, the local government has built a dike. Inside the village, new churches were erected. Right next to the collapsed churches, people here still go out to sea every day. The church is located alone by the sea, witnessing the fishermen’s departures, welcoming the activities of nature that rotate every day.
Maybe in the future, people will no longer see the collapsed church, but the affection for it and the church’s architecture will always remain in the hearts of the people here, standing by them on their journeys to sea. , helping fishermen firmly believe in a prosperous future.
The ruined beauty of Hai Ly’s ruined church was invaded by the sea
Right next to the coast of Hai Ly commune (Hai Hau – Nam Dinh), the fallen church is increasingly being encroached on and lying in ruins with the encroaching waves of the sea.
Along the 20km length, the coast of Hai Ly commune (Hai Hau – Nam Dinh) is being strongly eroded by the sea. The sea water encroached strongly, causing many local works to be severely damaged, many households had to move behind the dyke to live.
In Hai Ly commune, there are nearly 20 churches and most of the people here are religious. This is also known as the Church of the Heart (Xuong Dien Parish) and the foundation of the old St. Maria Madalena church has been eroded by sea water and destroyed all the architecture inside the church.
The motifs and architecture inside the church have been worn out. The brickwork was clearly exposed after the mortar was broken.
The church is located by the seashore and is used by fishermen as a place to store fishing gear.
The statues of the church were broken. Many of the collapsed plates lie deep under the sand of the sea. 
Many structures were damaged by sea water and wind. 
It is known that the Church of the Heart was built in 1943 and designed by a French architect. 
The inside of the church was completely demolished. 
The fishermen here said that, after being invaded by sea water and destroyed the foundation, in 2005, the priest and local people had to leave the church and go deep inside to build a new church to live. 
Currently, this collapsed breathing house is surrounded by sea water. Every time the tide is high, the church is flooded about 1m. If this situation becomes stronger, it will cause the church to be submerged under the sea in a short time.
This is a picture of the Church of the Heart – Xuong Dien Parish, which was broken and flooded after the storm No. 7 in 2005.
Source: Collected internet.