Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon

The cathedral was built between 1877 and 1880 and its materials came almost entirely from France - the red brick from Toulouse, which has never needed painting and has kept its colour, along with roof tiles from Marseille, the stained glass and fittings, shipped out for the purpose. The two spires were added in 1895, bringing it to about sixty metres. It stands facing the old post office across a square in the middle of District 1. A major restoration began in 2017 and has run far longer than planned, with the building wrapped in scaffolding and closed to visitors for extended periods, so access should be checked rather than assumed.

Highlights

• Brick shipped from Toulouse - which has never been painted.
• Built 1877 to 1880 - with spires added in 1895.
• About sixty metres to the spires - facing the old post office.
• A long restoration since 2017 - with closures and scaffolding.

When to go

Year round, subject to the restoration. An hour.

Before you go

The building has been closed or scaffolded for years and may not be enterable or even visible. It is a working cathedral when open, with services taking precedence. The square outside is busy with traffic.

Nearby

The central post office is opposite; the opera house is a short walk east.

Key facts