Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Saigon/HoChiMinh City

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Saigon/HoChiMinh City (must see)

Nestled in the heart of District 1, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a stunning reminder of colonial ambition and timeless faith. Construction began in 1877, and by 1880 the building was consecrated. Later, in 1895, twin bell towers were added, each soaring about 57.6 meters and topped by 3.5-meter crosses, making them among the tallest church towers in Vietnam.

The cathedral鈥檚 walls and roof have seen many seasons, and since 2017 it has been under a major restoration project. The renovation is ongoing, with roof work, the restoration of the zinc towers, bell towers, and much of the external fa莽ade well underway. The cathedral remains under an ongoing restoration project, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Did you know? Two enormous iron crosses 鈥� each nearly 4 meters high and weighing a bout 600 kg-were removed in early 2023 and shipped to Belgium for restoration because centuries of weather had left them badly corroded.

Despite the ongoing work, the cathedral continues to welcome worshippers and visitors. Masses are still held daily (with a bilingual service in English on Sundays), and the square in front remains open for photography, quiet reflection, and taking in the view of those towers reaching sky-high.

Inside, you鈥檒l be wowed by the stained glass windows, the arches, and the soft light filtering in 鈥� you can almost feel the old stones breathing history. Though parts of the interior may be closed during restoration, there鈥檚 enough visible charm to make it worth the visit.

Tip: Come in the morning or early evening when the light glows off the red bricks and the square is less crowded. Always check ahead for interior access because some sections may be closed due to the restoration work.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Sight Location: Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam (See walking tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

Create Your Own Walk in Saigon/HoChiMinh City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Saigon/HoChiMinh City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Chinatown Walking Tour

The relationship between Vietnam and China traces back over 2,000 years. Over this time, Vietnamese culture, customs, administrative system, and even the language have been heavily influenced by the great northern neighbor. So much so, in fact, that although Vietnam had its own spoken language, until the late 1800s its official written language was Chinese.

Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Historical Religious Sites

For centuries, Vietnamese people have practiced Confucianism and Buddhism brought over from neighboring China. Added to these Eastern teachings, in the 16th century, was Christianity 鈥� introduced to Vietnam by Western missionaries. The result of this variety of faiths has become a mixture of gorgeous Confucian and Buddhist temples and Catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh City. Some of these... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles

Saigon Shopping Tour

Among other accolades, Ho Chi Minh City is known as a great shopping destination. Attesting to its reputation are a plethora of street markets scattered throughout the city, selling all sorts of fresh local produce, including coffee beans, and other delights, not to mention street food and souvenirs 鈥� all at extremely competitive prices. There are also designated markets specialized in niche... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Saigon/HoChiMinh City Introduction Walking Tour

While many people still fondly say 鈥淪aigon,鈥� the city officially became Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC in 1976, to honor the revolutionary leader who led North Vietnam. But call it what you will 鈥� Saigon still lives in the names, food stalls, and in locals鈥� hearts, especially in District 1, the area most of us think of when we say 鈥淪aigon.鈥�

Long before colonial buildings and skyscrapers,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles

911爆料网