St. Joseph's Cathedral
5 images 1 contributors Shoot with care
Sue Wolfe
Shoot with care
No food, drinks, noise, or flash photography is allowed while visiting inside. Shoulders and legs should be covered.
About this spot
St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Nha Tho Lon) was consecrated Christmas Eve 1886. It was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina, making St. Joseph’s the oldest church in Hanoi. Built in the neo-Gothic style, it resembles Notre Dame with its two square bell towers. It is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.
The interior has an ornate altar, stained-glass windows imported from France, and a mural of the Three Kings. While European in design, there are some traditional Vietnamese decorations on the aisles, walls, and altars of the church.
After the Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam following the Geneva Accords in 1954, the Catholic Church suffered decades of persecution. Many Catholics fled to South Vietnam during the 300-day period when the border between the two sides was temporarily open. Priests that stayed were harassed and arrested. The church property was seized. St. Joseph’s was closed until Christmas Eve 1990, when Mass was permitted to be celebrated.
The interior has an ornate altar, stained-glass windows imported from France, and a mural of the Three Kings. While European in design, there are some traditional Vietnamese decorations on the aisles, walls, and altars of the church.
After the Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam following the Geneva Accords in 1954, the Catholic Church suffered decades of persecution. Many Catholics fled to South Vietnam during the 300-day period when the border between the two sides was temporarily open. Priests that stayed were harassed and arrested. The church property was seized. St. Joseph’s was closed until Christmas Eve 1990, when Mass was permitted to be celebrated.
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