According to some recorded documents, the land where the Great Cathedral was built in the past was where Bao Thien Pagoda was located. It is known that Bao Thien pagoda is a famous national temple of Dai Viet capital during the dynasties of Ly – Tran – Le – Nguyen. Towards the end of the 18th century, Bao Thien pagoda was destroyed and the pagoda foundation became the market land of Dai Viet people at that time. After that, the government transferred it to build a church. Initially, the church was built temporarily with wood to serve religious activities for parishioners. In 1884, the church began to be built more spaciously with terracotta bricks. Despite many difficulties during construction, the church was still completed in time for Christmas in 1888.

Although officially known as St. Joseph’s Cathedral, locals and tourists still call it the Great Cathedral, perhaps because of the size and uniqueness of the church’s architecture.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is designed in the style of European medieval Gothic architecture. This is a very popular style of architecture in the 12th century during the Renaissance in Europe. Overall, the Cathedral looks similar to Notre Dame de Paris, which is a typical Catholic church of Gothic architecture in France. The main materials used to build the church are terracotta bricks and mulch paper.

The church has a length of about 65m, a width of about 21m, and two bell towers about 32m high. With such a height, visitors can see the splendor and majesty of this cathedral. At the top of the church is a stone cross, and below is a clock and a statue of a saint, creating a highlight for the church’s architecture. From the outside, the church looks very ancient with layers of lime that have changed color, and the roof is covered with moss. However, when entering the large door inside the church, visitors will be surprised to see the magnificent architecture that has not changed over time.

According to the experience of some tourists traveling to Hanoi, they must enter the church to feel the magnificence of this work.

Experiencing many ups and downs of history, the Cathedral is considered a historical structure to witness the “change of flesh” of Hanoi during the past 3 centuries. Although many modern constructions have sprung up, the Cathedral is still an architectural work that makes a special impression in the hearts of Hanoians and tourists near and far. On weekends or major holidays like Christmas, the Cathedral attracts a large number of parishioners and visitors.

Opening hours:

- Monday to Friday: 5:30 and 18:15
- Saturday: 18:00
- Sunday: The time frames are 5:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00 (French ceremony), 16:00 (children’s festival), 18:00, 20:00 (adult ceremony).

Ticket price: Free entrance

Note: Dress neatly, be polite, keep order, absolutely do not say words that are offensive to religion or point to saints.

Saint Joseph Cathedral – Ancient architecture across 3 centuries