Hanoi’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.
St Joseph Cathedral was built in the 1880s by French colonialists as a clear echo of the Notre Dame de Paris, and certainly stands out from its surroundings. The French tore down the 12th-century Bao Thien pagoda to make way for this Neo-Gothic monolith. The dark and looming structure is certainly a bold statement that establishes a domineering and European element within the Vietnamese capital. Today it holds regular services for Hanoi’s large Roman Catholic community and any visitors to the city.At 65 metres long and 30 metres high, it’s hard to miss, and the building’s battered stonework rises clear above the surrounding architecture. On approaching it, you'll notice that the area around it is incredibly calm, and the lawns, trees and boutiques offer a gentle respite from the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter.The main doors are not for public use instead there is a smaller door on the side. The interior is an interesting mix of East and West: the original stained glass windows and mural artwork resonate strongly with the European external architecture, but this is all punctuated with Vietnamese traditional ornamentation on the altar, aisles and other internal areas, which lend it an altogether different flavour.After the communist state was established, no services were held here for a long time however, in 1990 they began to take place again. Services are now held throughout the week and on religious holidays, when it can get very busy.The Cathedral is a short walk west of Lake Hoan Kiem. It’s also within walking distance of the Old Quarter, and might be a good way to wind down from a much noisier experience of Hanoi. It is also on a number of bus routes. Admission is free and there are no fixed opening times, although it tends to be closed during lunch hours.
