St Joseph Cathedral, Hanoi

The St Josephs Cathedral in Hanoi is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. It was built by the French colonial rulers in 1886.

The St. Joseph’s cathedral is the oldest church in Hanoi. It is referred to by the locals as Big Church. The building is located in Pho Nha Chung or Nha Chung Street near the Ho Hoan Kiem or the Lake of the Returned Sword. The French colonial rulers demolished the ancient Bao Thien Pagoda, an important place of worship by the local people to build the cathedral. The Bao Thien Pagoda was a 12th century temple constructed by the Ly dynasty. The cathedral was consecrated on Christmas Day in 1886. The neo- gothic style church was designed to resemble Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. There is a statue of Virgin Mary in front called Regina Pacis or the Queen of Peace. The towers have impressive stained glass windows and the play of light through the colored glass is a visual delight.

Mass is held twice a day at the cathedral and the church is crowded on Sundays and holidays. Visitors are welcome and can enter the church through a side door to view its magnificent interiors.