The outstanding and rustic architecture of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi
If you want to visit a tourist attraction in Hanoi different from others which allows you to witness an outstanding and rustic architecture, Saint Joseph’s Cathedral (Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội) will be the most suitable one for you.
St. Joseph's Cathedral in French colonial period. Photo: Flickr
St. Joseph's Cathedral is a church on Nha Chung (Church) Street in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi to nearly 4 million Catholics in the country. The cathedral was named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam and Indochina.
Construction began in 1886, with the architectural style described as resembling Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina when it opened in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.
The statue of Mother Maria. Photo: Vietnam Discovery
In spite of fierce fights destroying almost parts of Hanoi, St Joseph’s Cathedral is still in good condition. Today, it becomes a historical attraction in Hanoi which remains the image of the beauty of the old Hanoi and impresses travelers by its ancient and rustic beauty inside the bustling capital.
Inside the Cathedral. Photo: Vietnam Discovery
Photo: Vietnam Discovery
The cathedral conducts mass several times during the day. For Sunday evening mass at 6:00 PM, large crowds spill out into the streets. The prayer hymns are broadcast and Catholics who are unable to enter the cathedral congregate in the street and listen to hymns.
This is also a popular place for locals to check-in, drinking lemon tea and chit-chating.
The Ho Chi Minh City-based Notre-Dame Cathedral on Friday was listed one of the 19 most stunning cathedrals around the globe, along with US' St. John ...
Among new and bustling bookshops along Dinh Le Street, there are still antique bookshops, a small alley, where the sounds of traffic longer is left behind and visitors can experience a quiet and comfortable atmosphere with their books.
135- year-old Bui Chu Cathedral built under the French colonialism, is one of the most famous for the typical architectural features and oldest church in Nam Dinh province.
Despite August being a traditional low season, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism reports a strong surge in foreign arrivals, signaling robust recovery and renewed growth in inbound travel markets.
Starting September 6, the Vietnam Railways Corporation will launch the Hanoi “Five City Gates” tourist train route to serve the travel and sightseeing needs of residents and visitors.
With breathtaking natural scenery, ethnic villages with typical local culture, Vietnam's mountainous town of Sapa has risen to 6th place in the list of Agoda’s leading mountainous and small town destinations in Asia.
Recently, Da Nang has effectively implemented various tourism stimulus programs, leaving a strong impression on both domestic and international visitors.
On August 11, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism sent document No. 1796/CDLQGVN-LH to travel businesses across the country on the construction of a tour "Exhibition of National Achievements on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day".
Bai Dinh Pagoda has been honored by TripAdvisor - the world’s leading and most reputable travel platform - with the prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award - Outstanding Destination along with a special “Blue Check” verification. Bai Dinh is the only destination on the list to hold this verified status on TripAdvisor.
Da Nang is the only destination in Vietnam to make the list of the most popular international destinations for travelers from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in summer 2025, especially among young people, thanks to its wide range of exciting experiences and affordable prices.