Attraction
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
The lake at the heart of Hanoi, linked to the legend of the returned sword, with the Turtle Tower and the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple on…
St Joseph’s Cathedral
Hanoi's oldest church, a Neo-Gothic cathedral modelled on Notre-Dame de Paris, consecrated in 1886 on the site of the old Bao Thien Tower.
At a glance
- Type
- Neo-Gothic cathedral
- Area
- Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
Good to know
- Free entry
- Active place of worship
- Pipe organ
Why we recommend it
St Joseph's Cathedral is the oldest church in Hanoi and the seat of the city's Roman Catholic archdiocese. Its twin towers rise above the streets a few hundred metres west of Hoan Kiem Lake. The French colonial administration allowed its construction after French troops captured the Hanoi citadel in 1873, and the project was led by the missionary Paul-Francois Puginier. Building began in 1884 and the cathedral was consecrated on Christmas Eve 1886, on the cleared site of the Bao Thien Tower, which had been one of the capital's most famous landmarks under the Ly dynasty.
The design is Neo-Gothic and was modelled on Notre-Dame de Paris, which is obvious from the facade with its two square towers, each about 31 metres tall and fitted with bells. The exterior walls are faced with granite slabs. Inside, the ribbed vaulted ceiling, the tall pointed stained-glass windows made in France and the gilded wooden sanctuary feel surprisingly European. A new pipe organ by the Belgian builder Guido Schumacher, with 1,850 pipes, was installed in November 2022, following a major renovation of the exterior between 2020 and 2022.
The cathedral was closed after 1954 and regular Mass resumed on Christmas Eve 1990. Today it is a working church with a large congregation; the Sunday evening Mass at 6pm draws so many people that worshippers gather in the street outside. Visitors are welcome outside service times. The official tourism site lists opening from 8am to 11am and 2pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and from 7am to 11am and 3pm to 9pm on Sunday. Entry is free.
Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and keep voices low inside. Ten to twenty minutes is enough for the interior. The front of the cathedral is a favourite spot for newlyweds having wedding photographs taken, and the congregation is a mix of local families and foreign residents.
The cathedral is a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and fits naturally into a walking day in the centre, together with the lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoa Lo Prison and the Vietnamese Women's Museum, all in the city centre.
St Joseph’s Cathedral FAQs
When was the cathedral built?
Construction began in 1884 and it was consecrated on 24 December 1886.
What style is it?
Neo-Gothic, modelled on Notre-Dame de Paris.
Is entry free?
Yes, entry is free.
When can I visit?
The official tourism site lists 8am to 11am and 2pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 11am and 3pm to 9pm on Sunday.
Is there a dress code?
Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, as it is an active church.
How tall are the towers?
About 31 metres.
When is Sunday evening Mass?
At 6pm; it is very busy, with worshippers gathering in the street outside.
What was on the site before?
The Bao Thien Tower, a landmark of the Ly dynasty capital.