The outstanding and rustic architecture of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi

09/15/2020

If you want to visit a tourist attraction in Hanoi different from others which allows you to witness an outstanding and rustic architecture, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral (Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội) will be the most suitable one for you.

St. Joseph's Cathedral is a church on Nha Chung (Church) Street in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral was named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam and Indochina.

Construction began in 1886, with the architectural style described as resembling Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina when it opened in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.

The statue of Mother Maria. Photo: Vietnam Discovery

In spite of fierce fights destroying almost parts of Hanoi, St Joseph’s Cathedral is still in good condition. Today, it becomes a historical attraction in Hanoi which remains the image of the beauty of the old Hanoi and impresses travelers by its ancient and rustic beauty inside the bustling capital.

Inside the Cathedral. Photo: Vietnam Discovery

Photo: Vietnam Discovery

The cathedral conducts mass several times during the day. For Sunday evening mass at 6:00 PM, large crowds spill out into the streets. The prayer hymns are broadcast and Catholics who are unable to enter the cathedral congregate in the street and listen to hymns.

This is also a popular place for locals to check-in, drinking lemon tea and chit-chating.