St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Description
The St. Joseph Cathedral Hanoi is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral that was constructed approximately 120 years ago. It is a Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church from the late 19th century that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The church is named after Vietnam’s patron saint, Joseph.
The building was constructed in 1884 in a style emulating Notre Dame de Paris. When it opened in December 1886, the church was one of the earliest structures constructed by the French colonial authority in French Indochina. The church is the oldest in Hanoi.
The cathedral celebrates Mass multiple times per day. At 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings, massive people pour into the streets for mass. The prayer hymns are broadcast, and Catholics who cannot enter the cathedral gather on the street to listen to the melodies.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is still in decent condition despite the many wars that have destroyed large portions of Hanoi. Today, it is a historical site in Hanoi that exemplifies the splendor of ancient Hanoi. Travelers are impressed by the Church’s antique beauty in the bustling capital.
- Daily Mass (Monday to Friday): 5.30 and 18.15
- Saturday Mass: 18.00
- Sunday Mass: 5.00, 7.00, 9.00, 10.30 (French), 16.00 (Children), 18.00, 20,00
Architecture
Vietnam’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a prominent example of Gothic architecture, which became famous in Europe towards the middle of the 18th century. The Cathedral was created with large, colorful glass windows and high domes, and there are images of Jesus Christ all around. In the center of the main court stands a two-meter-tall terracotta figure of St. Joseph. Below the entrance are a series of long, brown wooden rows of chairs for Catholics attending ceremonies.
It is 64.5 meters in length and 20.5 meters in breadth. The front comprises two 31,5-meter-tall square bell towers and a large clock resembling that of Notre Dame de Paris. There is a stone crucifix atop the peak. In front of the church stands a copper statue of Mother Maria, and the area is adorned with iron fences, flowers, and trees. The church’s outer walls were constructed of brick and plaster. After a long time, the terrible battles and the passage of time left them with historical traces.
History
It is noticed that St. Joseph’s Cathedral was constructed on the site of the Bao Thien Pagoda near Hoan Kiem Lake. During the Ly-Tran Dynasty in Vietnam, Bao Thien Pagoda was the largest and holiest, serving as the Buddhist heart of the country.
Even though Buddhism was not as popular under the Le-Nguyen Dynasty as it had been during earlier dynasties, it was nonetheless the site of Buddhist rituals praying for the peace and prosperity of the country. Until the end of the Nguyen Dynasty, portions of the pagoda were dismantled to create a market, and when the French colonists arrived in Hanoi, the pagoda was fully razed to make way for the church.
Initially, St. Joseph’s Cathedral was constructed of wood. The construction of St. Joseph’s Cathedral took place between 1884 and 1887, during which time it was constructed of brick and concrete plaster. The church was believed to resemble a miniature replica of Notre Dame de Paris with many Gothic Revival architectural aspects.
During the period of French colonial rule, Catholicism was rapidly disseminated, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral became the epicenter of Catholicism in North Vietnam. During this time, the church organized rites on a daily and weekly basis. In addition to welcome hundreds of Catholics in northern Vietnam, the church also hid and fed Vietnamese revolution warriors.
After the withdrawal of French colonists from northern Vietnam in 1954, the cathedral was shuttered and placed under the jurisdiction of the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Not until 1990’s Christmas was it reopened for Catholics to celebrate.
How to Get to St. Joseph’s Cathedral
The cathedral is conveniently located in the center of Hanoi at the crossroads of three streets: Nha Chung Street, Ly Quoc Su Street, and Nha Xa Street, making it easy to reach. St. Joseph’s Cathedral can be reached by bus, motorcycle, or by foot.
There are a variety of buses, including numbers 9, 14, 34, 33, and so on, that traverse the area if you choose to travel by bus. The cathedral is close to Hoan Kiem Lake and the statue of King Ly Thai To is about 5 to 10 minutes away on foot.
Gallery / Photos
Working Hours
- Monday Open all day
- Tuesday Open all day
- Wednesday Open all day
- Thursday Open all day
- Friday Open all day
- Saturday Open all day
- Sunday Open all day
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