St. Joseph’s Cathedral has witnessed the many ups and downs of Hanoi, resulting in its high values in terms of history, architecture, and culture. Read more about it before you come here! Hanoi Vietnam has many tourist attractions right in the downtown area, among which St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a highly recommended site to visitors. The cathedral has a long history and unique architecture, which will help you understand a part of Vietnamese history, culture, and religion. The cathedral is located in the heart of Hanoi, where you will have lots of things to do on Vietnam trips with Viet Dan Travel.
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About St. Joseph’s Cathedral Vietnam
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is situated at the junction of Nha Chung, Ly Quoc Su, and Nha Tho streets, which is a popular tourist destination and a common hangout spot for locals as well.
Opening hours:
8 – 11 am and 2 – 8 pm, Mon-Sat
7 – 11:30 am and 3 – 9 pm, Sun
The long history of the cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral has been the main meeting place of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, which often hosts the activities of local parishes. The site has been a magnet to both locals and visitors because of not only its religious importance but also its architectural and historical features.
Built-in the French colonial period, St. Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi is a typical example of colonial architectural works in the capital. It resembles the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
At the location of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, before it was built, there used to be a Buddhist pagoda. At the end of the 18th century, the pagoda was demolished and its grounds were used to set up a market. Then, the cathedral was built at the site, initially of wood. In 1884, it was rebuilt with baked clay, and its construction was completed on Christmas in 1888.
The cathedral’s official name is Saint Joseph’s Cathedral, yet the people of Hanoi often call it the Grand Cathedral. It has witnessed many ups and downs of the city in the past three centuries. Along with many special architectural works built
The unique architecture of the cathedral
The cathedral measures nearly 65 meters in length and over 20 meters in width, its two bell towers reaching a height of over 31 meters. The cathedral was designed in a Gothic style with a symmetrical layout. It has two bell towers with five stories, which stand on both sides of a middle block with 3 stories. The block is topped with a huge cross.
A statue of Mother Maria is installed in the square in front of the cathedral. All the main doors and windows of the cathedral have an upward arch shape. There are 5 bells connected to a clockwork system to ring every hour. Inside, the main hall has 5 sections for mass gathering, which is decorated by colorful glass windows and paintings of the saints.
Besides the Gothic style, the cathedral’s architecture also has some features of the Vietnamese style. Baked clay bricks, traditional red tiles, and pasteboard walls make the frame of the building. Worship altars are decorated with red and golden gilded wood, which is popular in traditional Vietnamese temples.
With so many special features, the cathedral stands as a tranquil place right at the heart of the bustling Old Quarter.
Guide to visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi
In Hanoi, all roads lead to Hoan Kiem Lake. So, whether your visit is long or short, you should stay for a while and visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
St Joseph Cathedral Hanoi mass schedule
This Hanoi Cathedral is open to the public for free every day, except from 8 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 5 p.m. on Sundays. In the meantime, it is open for religious ceremonies at 5:30 am and 6:15 pm (Mon – Fri); 5:30 am and 6 pm (Sat). For mass ceremonies, it is open at 5 am, 7 am, 9 am, 11 am, 4 pm, 6 pm, and 8 pm. Joining a ceremony is an interesting experience that you should try, especially if you are not a Christian. At a ceremony, you should wear non-revealing clothes and keep your voice down.
Things to do on your trip to St. Joseph’s Cathedral
A tour of St. Joseph’s Cathedral will be very exciting if you combine several things to do in the vicinity.
Participate in ceremonies held at this Hanoi Cathedral
As mentioned above, contemplating the cathedral’s architecture and joining in a ceremony will be more than enough for you to learn about Christianity in Vietnam and the local history as well. Watching the solemn ceremonies, you will see how serious the local Christians are regarding their belief. Make sure to pay attention and keep your voice down during the ceremonies.
Immerse yourself in the Christmas atmosphere in December
Christmas will be a bustling time at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The winter atmosphere will be warmed up with colorful lights, a big Christmas tree in the square, and various flowers and Christmas wreaths on the doors of the cathedral. Here, whether you are a Christian or not, you should stop by and make some wishes for yourself and your loved ones.
Take stunning photos in front of this Hanoi Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral Vietnam is a masterpiece of Hanoi French colonial architecture. It is an excellent spot for you to take photos and capture many memorable moments. Searching around social networks like Facebook, Instagram, Zalo, TikTok, you will see many photos taken here. The cathedral will be a wonderful background for your pictures at any time of the year.
Enjoy street foods near St. Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi
The area around St. Joseph’s Cathedral is one of the best places to try street foods in Hanoi. Don’t hesitate to take a seat on the pavements around the cathedral to try various drinks and dishes. Check them out:
Lime tea
A simple glass of lime tea at a nearby shop can make a memorable afternoon for you. The locals often come here with friends to chat while enjoying the drink, along with a plate of roasted sunflower seeds.
Grilled fermented pork rolls
A few hundred meters away from the cathedral, at No. 10 Au Trieu Street, you can find a shop offering grilled fermented pork rolls. The rolls are roasted on burned coal.
Vermicelli with pork and Indian taro
You can find an old woman selling this dish on the pavement of Hang Trong Street nearby. The vermicelli is served with slightly sour broth, chopped Indian taro, minced pork paste, pork leg, and mushrooms. This delicious dish is sold at a surprisingly cheap price.
Dumplings
You can try many kinds of dumplings and fried spring rolls at No. 52 Ly Quoc Su Street, which is a short distance away from the cathedral. These dishes are even better in winter, as the hot dumplings will warm you up.
Traditional Pho (beef/chicken noodles)
A visit to the St. Joseph Cathedral will not be perfect without trying this Vietnamese traditional noodle dish. There are several shops offering pho, such as the ones at No 10 Ly Quoc Su Street and No. 40 Au Trieu Street, which are both very close to the cathedral.
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has so many secrets to unveil. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is like a gem in the heart of the city, which has witnessed many historic events throughout the past hundreds of years. This magnificent architectural work has survived fierce wars to stand as a treasure of Hanoi French colonial architecture.
