St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi tickets: which one to buy

Saint Joseph's Cathedral stands on Nha Chung Street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, a few minutes' walk west of Hoan Kiem Lake, and entry is free during mass times and at certain opening hours; at other times, the main doors may be closed, but a side door is sometimes open. It is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Hanoi, and the square in front is a popular meeting place, with cafes serving iced tea and egg coffee, where locals and visitors sit on small plastic stools.

Walking tours of the Old Quarter include the cathedral along with Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son Temple, the Hoa Lo Prison museum and the busy shopping streets. Street food tours often start nearby. The cathedral is an active church, and masses are well attended. Modest dress is expected. The side door on the left of the building is usually the one used outside mass times.

Visiting St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi: what to see

The cathedral was built by the French colonial authorities and opened in 1886, on the site of a demolished Buddhist pagoda, the Bao Thien pagoda. It was one of the first buildings of the French colonial government in Indochina, and its neo-Gothic design, with two square bell towers, was inspired by Notre-Dame de Paris. The walls were built of bricks and covered with plaster, which has weathered to a grey, dark appearance that gives the church its character. Inside, the church has a tall ribbed vault, stained glass windows made in France, and a gilded altar.

The cathedral was closed for some years after the communist government came to power, and reopened for Christmas mass in 1990. Today it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, serving a large Catholic community. A statue of the Virgin stands in the square. The cathedral's bells, cast in France, ring from the towers for mass. The altar is decorated with gold leaf, and the side altars hold statues of saints. Stained glass windows show biblical scenes and Vietnamese saints. The church's exterior has weathered to a grey-black color that locals like. The courtyard is used for gatherings after mass.

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi opening hours and the best time to go

Masses are held daily, in the early morning and evening, and several times on Sundays; the church is most accessible during these times. Hanoi has a hot, humid summer from May to September and a cooler, drier season from October to April, which is the best time to visit. Christmas Eve is spectacular, when huge crowds fill the square and the surrounding streets, and Lunar New Year, Tet, brings decorations to the city.

The area around Hoan Kiem Lake becomes a pedestrian zone on weekend evenings. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and sit in one of the cafes on the square for a coffee. Hoa Lo Prison, known as the Hanoi Hilton, is about fifteen minutes' walk and shows the history of French colonial and wartime imprisonment.