The Hanoi Cathedral, also known as St. Joseph’s Cathedral, is located at 40 Nha Chung Street, in the Hoan Kiem district, at the intersection of three major thoroughfares: Nha Tho, Ly Quoc Su, and Nha Chung. The Hanoi Cathedral, the oldest Catholic place of worship in the city, has long been a religious center for the residents of the capital and surrounding provinces.
Today, with its unique Gothic architecture and rich history, it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions, ideal for family vacation in Vietnam.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi, a historic landmark in the heart of the Old Quarter
History
St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi
The current location of the Hanoi Cathedral was once the site of the Bao Thien Temple, a temple dating back to the Ly Dynasty. In the 18th century, this temple was destroyed to make way for a market for the Dai Viet inhabitants. Later, the Catholic Church obtained permission from the authorities to build a church on this site.
In 1884, the construction of the Hanoi Cathedral was undertaken under the direction of Bishop Puginier. It was completed in 1887 and inaugurated on Christmas Day. Since then, St. Joseph’s Cathedral has been a symbol for the people of Hanoi for nearly two centuries, witnessing the ups and downs of this land.
Architecture
The Hanoi Cathedral is renowned for its magnificent architecture in the city. Built during the French colonial period, it is an example of Gothic architecture in Europe, drawing inspiration from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. It is also one of the destinations imbued with French architecture in the heart of Hanoi.
With a width of 21 meters and a length of 65 meters, it is adorned with two bell towers nearly 32 meters high, supported by large stone columns.
The finely carved stone cross is the most striking feature upon entering the church. The floor is entirely covered with terracotta tiles, and the walls are coated with rice paper, creating an ancient and solemn atmosphere. The moss-covered walls bear witness to the centuries-old history of this church.
The stone cross at St. Joseph’s Cathedral
The main doors and windows of St. Joseph’s Cathedral feature characteristic pointed arches of the Gothic style. The high vaulted ceiling and round flower-shaped windows are highlights of its architecture. In contrast with the colorful stained glass windows, the dark color of the church creates a striking contrast, highlighting the beauty of the stained glass.
The church is divided into three parts: the entrance hall, the choir, and the celebration area. Inside the nave are the tombs of three archbishops: Nguyen Van Can, Nguyen Nhu Khue, and Pham Dinh Tung. In the center of the choir is a statue of Saint Joseph holding Jesus, with altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary and various saints on each side.
Transportation
The Hanoi Cathedral is located in the heart of the city, so it is easy to reach by bus, taxi, or car rental with a driver in Vietnam to explore other surrounding tourist attractions.
Some bus lines you can take note of:
- Bus line to Hoan Kiem Lake: To reach Hoan Kiem Lake, take bus lines 09, 14, or 36. From there, you can continue straight along Hang Trong Street, turn left onto Nha Tho Street to reach the cathedral.
- Bus line to Trieu Quoc Dat Street: The bus to Trieu Quoc Dat Street has route number 01. From Trieu Quoc Dat, go straight to Phu Doan Street, turn right onto Au Trieu Street to reach the cathedral.
- Bus line to Trang Thi: Bus line number 02 stops at 6 Trang Thi. From there, simply continue straight ahead and then turn right onto Phu Doan Street. From Phu Doan, turn right onto Au Trieu Street to reach the Hanoi Cathedral.
Activities to Experience When Visiting the Cathedral
Attending Mass
Inside of Hanoi cathedral
Attending Mass is considered the most attractive activity when visiting the cathedral, whether you are a believer or not. Through ceremonies such as baptisms, weddings, you can learn more about the beliefs and important rituals in a Catholic mass.
Saint Joseph’s Cathedral opens its doors to visitors for tours and ceremonies. You can check the Mass schedule to visit the cathedral at convenient times. When attending Mass, please pay attention to your attire by wearing appropriate, modest, and clean clothing, avoiding making noise or making inappropriate remarks about religion or saints.
Opening Hours for Visits:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – 11:00 am and 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
- Sunday: 7:00 am – 11:30 am and 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Religious Service Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 5:30 am – 6:15 pm.
- Saturday: 6:00 pm.
- Sunday: St. Joseph’s Cathedral offers several additional religious services:
– Masses in French: 5:00 am, 7:00 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am.
– Mass for children: 4:00 pm.
– Mass for youth: 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
Celebrating Christmas at St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Christmas at St. Joseph’s Cathedral
During each Christmas season, St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi is brightly decorated. People flock to the cathedral to attend mass, hoping for a peaceful and joyful Christmas season.
For those who are not believers, they also come here to enjoy the warm and sparkling atmosphere of Christmas with Christmas trees, caves, colorful lights, etc. This will be a memorable memory for your tour in Vietnam.
Taking Souvenir Photos
Hanoi Cathedral is one of the iconic landmarks of the capital. With its unique Gothic architecture, photos taken here will surely be precious memories for every visitor.
Enjoying Cuisine Around Saint Joseph’s Cathedral
Although it is a small street, it is full of many shops selling interesting Vietnamese dishes:
- “Chao suon” (Pork Rib Soup) on Ngo Huyen Street: This legendary stand in the old town of Hanoi attracts many people to taste every day. For only 20,000 dong, you can get a bowl of hot, fragrant, and unforgettable soup.
- “Bun doc mung” on Hang Trong Street: When you are on the Cathedral Street, try this dish from Hanoi. A bowl full of clear and sweet broth, with crunchy “doc mung” – a Vietnamese vegetable, with many delicious toppings like bean sprouts, pork trotters, etc.
- “Nem nuong” (Grilled Pork Sausage) on Au Trieu Street: Although it is a popular street stand, this place is always crowded with customers. The sausages here are not marinated but grilled directly over charcoal fire. They are very fragrant and have a natural sweet taste. You can enjoy them with fruits, iced tea, or lemon tea.
- “Banh trang tron” on Hang Trong Street: This dish is very popular with young people. A box of “banh trang tron” includes rice crackers, squid, dried beef, eggs mixed harmoniously, with a delicious sweet and sour taste.
- “Banh canh ghe” on Quang Trung Street: Besides pho, banh canh is also one of the Vietnamese specialties. A bowl comes with a tasty broth, well-soaked noodles, fragrant and sweet “ghe” meat – a type of crab.
Besides the dishes, when it comes to the cathedral, one immediately thinks of lemon tea. Basically, lemon tea at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral is not very different from that at other places in Hanoi. It is a fresh, sour, and sweet drink, but enjoying lemon tea here has become a special culture. Drinking a cup of lemon tea while admiring the space at the cathedral creates a difference for this drink here.
Lemon tea
Visiting and Admiring Ba Da Temple
Located at 3 Nha Tho Street, Ba Da Temple is famous for being an ancient millennium-old temple, always filled with incense smoke all year round. The temple is named “Linh Quang Tu” (meaning the light of Buddhist doctrine that shines eternally to save living beings).
Through the vicissitudes of history, the temple has been renovated several times. But it still exudes a sacred and peaceful atmosphere. The temple gate is built of bricks, with a small and narrow architecture. Upon entering the temple courtyard, there are the Hall of Three Jewels, the ancestral house, the house of the Mother Goddess, and two rows of side corridors, a kitchen, the “Phap Bao Tang” building.
Additionally, the temple has a very rich and diverse collection of cultural artifacts in terms of types and materials. Examples include eight stone tablets with the reign years of the Nguyen emperors, nineteen pairs of gold verses on gold leaf, two bronze bells cast under the reigns of Tu Duc 26 and Tu Duc 34, a bronze bell from the Thieu Tri era, as well as many other sculptures and religious items…
- Location: 3 Nha Tho Street, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Opening Hours: from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays
Walking Around Hoan Kiem Lake
This is a must-do experience when visiting the cathedral. By strolling along Hoan Kiem Lake, you can enjoy the fresh and pleasant air while discovering famous tourist sites such as Ngoc Son Temple, Tortoise Tower, The Huc Bridge, and the famous streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
If you have the opportunity to visit the capital Hanoi, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral will be an interesting religious destination to explore. If you have already visited this place, feel free to share your wonderful memory with this cathedral in the comments section!
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