Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

The architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral is influenced by the neo-Romanesque style. Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a building style adopted beginning in the mid-19th century and influenced by the Romanesque architecture of the 11th and 12th centuries. The arches and windows of these structures were typically simplified in comparison to their traditional counterparts.

During construction, all materials, including cement, steel, and screws, were imported from France. The exterior of the building was composed of Marseille-made bricks. It is bare, without any plastering or moss dust, and retains its vivid pink hue. The cathedral contains 56 stained-glass windows crafted by Lorin of Chartres Province (France).

93 meters is the overall length of the cathedral. 35 meters is the width of the widest point. The dome of the cathedral is 21 meters tall. The church can accommodate up to 1,200 individuals.

The cathedral’s foundation is uniquely constructed to support 10 times the weight of the complete structure above. In addition, the church lacked a fence or wall, unlike other churches in the vicinity of Saigon Gia Dinh at the time.

The cathedral’s interior features two rectangular main rows, six on each side to depict the twelve apostles. The altar of the Sacred Palace is composed of monolithic marble with six angels cut into the stone, and the pedestal is divided into three compartments, with each cell containing a sculpture depicting relics.

The walls are embellished with 56 glass doors portraying biblical figures or events, 31 round rose pictures, and 25 multicolored cow eye windows with exquisite graphics. All lines, edges, and patterns conform to the dignified and exquisite Roman and Gothic forms. However, only four of these 56 glass doors are complete, while other stained glass windows were rebuilt in 1949 to replace the original stained glass doors that were destroyed during World War II.

Immediately upon its opening, the interior of the church at night is electrically lit (without candles). With its flawless light-blending architecture, the cathedral’s interior offers a sense of safety and purity during the day.

The pipe organ in the church is one of the two oldest pianos in Vietnam. This instrument is handcrafted by foreign artisans and is designed to be audible to the entire congregation. This organ is currently irreparably ruined owing to termite infestation.

Initially, the two bell towers were 36.6 meters tall, without a roof, and had just a 40-centimeter-wide staircase. The interiors are dim, and the floors are inadequately adorned with splintered wood planks. In 1895, the cathedral added two more roofs to the 21-meter-tall bell tower, which was constructed by architect Gardes, for a total height of 57 meters. On the two bell towers are hung each of the six bells. This bell was manufactured in France and sent to Saigon in 1879.

The bells are regulated electrically from below. The cathedral only tolls on weekdays at 5 am and 4:15 pm. On Sundays and holidays, the church often sounds three bells. It was only on Christmas Eve that all six bells were rung. The bells can even be heard from 10 kilometers distant.

A large clock is situated between the two bell towers. It was manufactured in 1887 and weighs one ton. It’s so old, but it still works. In front of the church is a modest cross-shaped square with four walkways.

Paris Commune Square is a tiny square bounded by Notre Dame Cathedral and Nguyen Du Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is also where the famed Dong Khoi Street begins.

In the square’s center stands a statue of Our Lady of Peace (or Queen of Peace). In 1959, the statue was created by the sculptor G. Ciocchetti. The statue is 4.6 meters tall and weighs 8 tons; it is made of Italian white granite. It is carved to be visible from a distance, so it is not polished. The statue is standing erect, and Our Lady is holding a globe with a cross affixed to it. Her eyes are fixed on the sky, as if she were praying for the peace of Vietnam and the world.

At the base of the stone pedestal, a hollow housing a silver box carrying prayers for peace in Vietnam and the world was carved into the foot of the monument. The prayers were composed of a variety of materials, including gold, silver, tin, aluminum, paper, leather, and copper, and were sent from numerous areas of Vietnam, including those in the north.