At Lang Van Parish in Ninh Binh, visitors arriving during this year’s Christmas festivities are greeted not only by the largest church in Vietnam - built on a 14,000m² campus - but also by a monumental stone grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.

The stone grotto spans 500m² and rises 25 meters high, constructed using 6,250m³ of large slate rocks transported from the former Ha Nam province. To support the structure, workers drilled reinforced concrete piles 42 meters deep into the earth and poured a unified raft foundation before layering the massive stones on top.

Hundreds of laborers and various types of machinery were mobilized to complete the construction within six months.

The stone slabs, each weighing several tons, were stacked to resemble a natural mountain formation, featuring three distinct peaks, one main cave entrance, and two side entrances. At the heart of the grotto stands a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes dressed in white and veiled, placed within the cavern. Surrounding the grotto are green plants and statues of mountain goats clambering along the cliffs, adding a touch of nature to the spiritual scene.

Lang Van Church itself was founded in 2015 and completed after ten years of construction. It was officially inaugurated on December 8.

Seen from above, the church is designed in the shape of a cross, with a total floor area of 4,000m², a length of 94 meters, and a width of 40 meters. The church can accommodate approximately 5,000 people at once.

One of the church’s most striking features is its main bell tower, which rises over 100 meters including the cross - making it one of the tallest bell towers in Vietnam. Two side towers, each about 60 meters high, enhance the grandeur and symmetry of the entire structure.

According to historical records, Lang Van Parish was established in 1885 under the title of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and is part of the Phat Diem Diocese.