St Joseph's Cathedral

Bonjin/凡人[ラナ] · CC BY-SA 2.0

A neo-Gothic cathedral with weather-stained grey walls, modelled on Notre-Dame de Paris, from the 1880s.

The cathedral was consecrated in the late 1880s, and the French took Notre-Dame de Paris as the model: two square bell towers, a rose window, pointed arches. But Hanoi's climate has done its own work — the render outside is blotched and blackened in patches, and that weathering makes the building look far more real than the original. The forecourt is a standing meeting place for young Hanoians, and the streets around it — Nha Tho, Au Trieu, Nha Chung — are dense with lemon-tea and coffee places. On Christmas Eve the whole area is impassable.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit St Joseph's Cathedral?

Late afternoon; packed solid on Christmas Eve

How long do you need at St Joseph's Cathedral?

30 - 45 minutes

What are the opening hours of St Joseph's Cathedral?

Outside service times; the schedule is posted at the gate

Did you know

The cathedral was consecrated in the late 1880s during the French colonial period.
It is built in the neo-Gothic style, modelled on Notre-Dame de Paris.
The weather-blotched render on the exterior has become the building's signature look.
The streets around the cathedral are known for their pavement lemon-tea and coffee spots.

Travel tips

This is a working cathedral — avoid visiting during services.
Sitting over a lemon tea on Nha Tho street late in the day is part of the experience here.

Source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/28912942

Updated: 2026-08-16