Hanoi Attractions: #10 St. Joseph’s Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is an attraction in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Roman Catholic church is on Nha Tho, which means Church Street, in the Hoan Kiem District of Hanoi. The late 19th-century Neo-Gothic style church serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. There are approximately 4 million Catholics in Vietnam.

The hugely important St. Joseph's Cathedral
Construction began in 1886; built by the then French colonial government in Indochina the architectural style is often described as resembling the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It was in fact one of the first building constructed by the French in the country and is the oldest church in Hanoi.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral conducts mass several times each day. Sunday evening mass is held at 6:00 PM and draws such large crowds that they spill out into the surrounding streets. The prayers and hymns are broadcast to the many Catholics who, unable to enter the cathedral, congregate in the street and listen.

An important member of Hanoi’s religious buildings the Cathedral is situated to the west of Hoan Kiem Lake. It stands in a small square within the Old Quarter. It is surrounded by nice restaurants and small apartment blocks. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is also the headquarters of Archdiocese of Vietnam, which has control over 480 churches and chapels, and 113 parishes, and serves approximately 400,000 Catholics. The main gate at the front of the cathedral is only opened during mass. At all other times entry is only possible through a side door in the compound wall of the Diocese.

A walk round the Old Quarter of Hanoi is always a worthwhile prospect. St. Joseph’s Cathedral looms out of the small shop houses like a gothic giant. It dominates the street in which it stands yet, fits in perfectly with its surroundings. If you find yourself in Hanoi and are in anyway interested in architecture, make sure you take it in.

Other Hanoi Attractions can be found here:

#1 Cua Bac Church Here: @inseasia/hanoi-attractions

#2 Hoan Kiem Lake. @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-2-hoan-kiem-lake

#3 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-3-ho-chi-minh-mausoleum

#4 The Vietnamese Museum of Ethnology @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-the-vietnam-museum-of-ethnology

#5 Truc Bach Lake @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-5-truc-bach-lake

#6 Quan Thanh Temple @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-6-quan-thanh-temple

#7 Vietnam Museum of Revolution @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-7-vietnam-museum-of-revolution

#8 Hanoi Opera House @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-8-hanoi-opera-house

#9 Vietnam Military History Museum @inseasia/hanoi-attractions-9-vietnam-military-history-museum