St. Joseph's Cathedral
Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội
A Neo-Gothic church completed in 1886, known as Hanoi's "Little Notre-Dame", with a square in front that is a hangout for young people, lemon tea and cafés.
St. Joseph's Cathedral was built between 1884 and 1886 and is one of the earliest buildings erected in Hanoi during the early French colonial period. It stands on the former site of the demolished Bảo Thiên Pagoda. Its twin towers are 31.5 meters high, and its grey-black facade closely resembles Notre-Dame de Paris. Inside are stained glass windows and Gothic ribbed vaults. The church is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hanoi. It is open for visits on weekdays (free admission, entering through the side door), with Mass on weekdays at 5:30 and 18:15 and several services on Sundays. Please do not walk around or take photos during Mass. The small square in front of the church (Nhà Thờ Street) is the most café-filled corner of Hanoi: street-side stalls where you sit on little stools to drink Trà chanh (lemon tea), cafés on the second floor overlooking the church (such as Cộng Cà Phê and La Place), and nearby design boutiques and pho shops along Nhà Chung Street and Lý Quốc Sư Street. Tips: The best time to visit is in the evening, when you can sit in the square with a lemon tea and watch the church lights come on. Around Christmas, the square has large nativity displays and lights, making it Hanoi's liveliest Christmas scene. Getting there: It is a 5-minute walk from the western shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. Note: Remove your hat and dress appropriately when entering. Outside Mass times the doors may be locked, so try the side door. Bargain with the street vendors.
Opening hours
About 08:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00 (excluding Mass times)
Nearby sights
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Hỏa Lò Prison
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Tạ Hiện Beer Street
- Hanoi Train Street
- Đồng Xuân Market