St Joseph Cathedral Hanoi - The Most Beautiful Catholic Symbol In The Capital of Vietnam

Hanoi is not only the capital but it is also the most important economic, political, and cultural center in Vietnam. That's why it has become one of the first places that any tourist coming to Vietnam must visit. Hanoi possesses many attractive features such as people, world-famous cuisine, beautiful scenery, historical relics, and especially famous architectural works. Among these works, we must mention the religious work of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

If Ho Chi Minh City has Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral as the city's Catholic symbol, then for Hanoi, St. Joseph's Cathedral also plays a similar role. Therefore, this has also become one of the most important works in the city as well as a must-visit tourist destination in Hanoi.

1. An Overview of St. Joseph's Cathedral

St. Joseph's Cathedral is the largest cathedral and one of the typical French architectural works in Hanoi, at the moment, it is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, where the Archbishop's throne is situated.

1.1. Origin

St. Joseph's Cathedral was built on the foundation of Bao Thien Pagoda, an ancient pagoda of the Ly Dynasty in Vietnam. Later, the pagoda was heavily damaged; the ruins became a marketplace for the locals, and until the 18th century, this land was transferred to the church. The inauguration ceremony of the church was held on Christmas in 1887

1.2. Tourist Information

Address: No. 40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours:

• From Monday to Saturday: 08:00 - 11:00, 14:00 - 20:00.
• Sunday: 07:00 - 11:00, 15:00 - 21:00.

Prayer time:

• From Monday to Saturday: 5:30, 18:00 (Saturday), 18:15.
• Sunday: 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00 (in French), 16:00, 18:00, 20:00.

Ticket Price: Free.

2. St. Joseph's Cathedral Hanoi Architecture

Previously, the church was temporarily made of wood, until between 1884 and 1888, the Catholic Church built a brick church, costing about 200,000 French francs.

2.1. The Exterior Architecture

Worthy of being known as the cathedral with the most beautiful architecture in Hanoi, the building was built in classic Gothic architecture, simulating the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The highlight of Hanoi St. Joseph's Cathedral is the towers, symmetrical axis, and familiar architecture often seen in European churches.

The main construction materials of the church are terracotta bricks and walls plastered with sandpaper. The church is 64.5m long, 20.5m wide, and has two 31.5m high bell towers with heavy stone pillars at four corners. At the top is a stone cross.

The entire Hanoi St. Joseph's Cathedral is divided into three separate areas, including the reception hall, the sanctuary, and the ceremony area. The main door and windows are designed with pointed arches typical of Gothic architecture.

2.2. The Interior Design

In the lobby of the church, there is one large door and two small doors on both sides of the tower. The doors and all windows are tapered according to Gothic art. Combined with the tapered doors are beautiful and harmonious stained glass paintings of Saints, creating a source of natural light inside the church.

The Gothic architecture of the building is also combined with indigenous architecture, shown in the exterior terracotta tile roof system and interior carving system. The sanctuary and altars are decorated with traditional folk art, carved with wooden patterns painted in vermillion lacquered and gilded wood panels.

In the middle of the Sanctuary is a 2-meter-high statue of Saint Joseph holding Jesus, and on both sides are two altars of the Virgin Mary and solemnly placed statues of saints.

Right in the cathedral is the resting place of three Cardinals Trinh Van Can, Cardinal Trinh Nhu Khue, and Cardinal Pham Dinh Tung.

2.3. A Western Bell Set

The church also has a set of Western bells, including four small bells and one large bell, worth 20,000 French francs at that time. Especially the large clock mounted in the middle of the church facade. The clock has an engraved alarm, time alarm, and alarm system linked to 5 bells hanging on two towers.

2.4. The Front Square

In the center of the square in front of the church is a metal statue of the Virgin Mary. Around the church are palanquins, flower beds, and a stone grotto at the back. 

3. Interesting Things To Do When Visiting St. Joseph's Cathedral

In addition to admiring the architecture of the cathedral, visitors can also enjoy many other things such as:

3.1. Attend Mass

For Catholics, attending mass in Hanoi St. Joseph's Cathedral will certainly be indispensable. As for non-Catholics, they also have more opportunities to admire the solemnity of the ceremonies as well as gain more knowledge about this religion.

3.2. Take Photos

Surely the scene of the towering Cathedral with its moss-tinged appearance will become the perfect backdrop for photos marking "I have arrived in Hanoi".

3.3. Enjoy Hanoi Foods

Around the church, there are many famous cafes and restaurants, from street food like pillow-shaped cakes to luxury restaurants.

In addition, visitors must definitely enjoy the lemon tea specialty right outside the church. The culture of drinking lemon tea here is similar to the culture of drinking coffee.

3.4. Attend Major Holidays

If you travel to Hanoi during a major Catholic holiday season, such as Christmas, you can visit Hanoi Cathedral to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and admire the rituals performed in public.

3.5. Take A Walk

Because the cathedral is located in the old town area, visitors can walk around, see the neighborhoods, and enjoy life more slowly. The cathedral is also located near Hoan Kiem Lake, so if visitors want a change of atmosphere, they can walk here.

4. How To Get To St. Joseph's Cathedral?

As a famous sightseeing relic in the capital, you can easily get to Hanoi St. Joseph's Cathedral by a variety of means, such as taxi, motorbike, motorbike, or bus. If you want to go on your own, don't forget to use Google Maps.

• If you go by bus, you can choose routes 09, 14, and 36 to the Lake area, then walk along Hang Trong Street, turn left onto Nha Tho Street, go straight a little further and you will see the Church.
• Or you can go to Trieu Quoc Dat Street via route number 01, then walk to Phu Doan Street, turn right onto Au Trieu and you will reach Hanoi Cathedral.
• You can also take bus 02 to Trang Thi Street, then turn right onto Phu Doan Street, take another turn to Au Trieu and you will see Hanoi Cathedral.

After more than 100 years of ups and downs of time and war, the Hanoi St. Joseph's Cathedral still exists and is a center of Catholic activities in the capital and surrounding areas. The building is considered one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in Hanoi and the whole country. The Cathedral is also a construction that marks a special period of urban development in Hanoi and is a typical architecture of the capital.

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