Domaine de Marie — the pink church

entry

Pink walls on a stone base, steep tiled roofs with dormers, a row of pointed windows and urns of chrysanthemums along the drive — the complex stands out in the city by colour alone and is visible from afar. Locals call it Nhà thờ Mai Anh. It is a working convent rather than a museum: people come for the service, while visitors photograph the facade from the forecourt. The grounds look out over the valley and the tiled roofs below.

Worth knowing. Entry is free, open daily 07:30–17:30 with a break from 11:30 to 13:30 when nobody is let in. Come at opening or after lunch: the facade turns pink at sunset, but that is when the photo crowd gathers at the gate. It is a working convent, so behave as you would in a church and do not wander into the residential wings.