Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon
The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon is a striking relic of French colonial Indochina set in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. Constructed between 1877 and 1880 by the French administration, the cathedral was built entirely from materials imported from France, including the distinctive red bricks from Marseille that have kept their color without ever needing to be repainted.
Designed in a neo-Romanesque style, the cathedral is fronted by two square bell towers rising about 58 meters, crowned with iron spires added in 1895. Originally called the Church of Saigon, it received its present name in 1959 after a granite statue of Our Lady of Peace, carved in Rome, was installed in the small square before it; in 1962 the Vatican elevated it to the rank of basilica.
The cathedral remains an active center of Catholic worship in a predominantly Buddhist country and is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city, popular with both pilgrims and tourists. In recent years it has been undergoing extensive long-term restoration to preserve its facade, roof, and interior.
- Location
- 10.7798, 106.6990
- Local time
- 05:37 (Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sat | 08:00–11:00 |
| Sun | Closed |
approximate; interior access limited by 2025-2027 restoration; exterior viewable anytime; Sunday reserved for Masses
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Our Lady of Peace (Virgin Mary) Saint
Marble statue of Our Lady of Peace before the cathedral; basilica's namesake (Notre-Dame)
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Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Saint
Marian dedication of the cathedral
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Vietnamese Martyrs Saint
The canonized martyrs of Vietnam venerated in the Vietnamese Church and depicted
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Saint Joseph Saint
Patron of the Archdiocese; venerated with altar in the cathedral
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Saint Andrew Dung-Lac Saint
Leading Vietnamese martyr-saint venerated in the country's church
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Theotokos / Sacred Heart of Jesus Saint
Sacred Heart devotion and Marian altars within the cathedral
Care & donations
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
Free entry; donations accepted
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