Vung Tau Christ the Redeemer – Vietnam

Sitting on the 170 meters Small Mountain, the statue of Jesus Christ standing 32 meters tall and overlooking the South China Sea, is one of the tallest statues in the world. The statue represents Jesus with arms stretching 18.3 meters and is one of the most famous symbols of the beautiful coastal city of Vung Tau. The idea of building a religious icon was innitiated by the local Catholic Church in the early 70s. In 1974, construction of the statue started in the charge of the talented engineer Nguyen Van Duc and his team. However, the work was delayed when the Vietnam war came to an end in 1975. Almost 20 years later, the work was resumed and officially completed in 1994.

The statue stands on a 10 meter pedestal, in front of which, there is a sculpture imitating the painting “The Last Supper” by the world famous Italian painter Leonardo Da Vinci. On another side of the pedestal is a large painting showing the scene of Jesus Christ giving Saint Peter the keys to heaven. Inside the statue of Jesus, there are 133 stairs leading to his large shoulders and outstretched arms where visitors can get super views of the sea and the city, and enjoy the sea breezes.

Although the statue is made of reinforced concrete, the architecture and sculpture of the statue is a masterpiece. It is a combination of the natural beauty of the surrounding environment and Vietnamese modern art that represents the nation’s character and religion.