Was it really built to resemble Notre Dame? Here at Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i that’s what many say. This Catholic church stands on Nh\u00e0 Chung Street in Hanoi’s Ho\u00e0n Ki\u1ebfm District. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival church. The church serves as the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i is named after Joseph. He is the patron saint of Vietnam.
Construction of Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i began in 1884. The architectural style resembles the Notre Dame de Paris. The church was among the first structures. The colonial government of French Indochina built it. It opened in December 1886. It is the oldest church in Hanoi.
Mass is celebrated here several times a day. For Sunday Mass at 6 PM big crowds fill the streets. Prayers and hymns are broadcast outside. Many Catholics who cannot enter gather outside. They listen to the hymns.
Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i is west of Ho\u00e0n Ki\u1ebfm Lake. It sits in a small square in the Old Quarter. It is located at the end of Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd Street and Nh\u00e0 Chung Street. This area has upscale shops and restaurants. Tourists love the boutiques and silk shops here. The cathedral serves as the headquarters. It controls over 480 churches and chapels. It has 113 parishes serving 400000 Catholics. The main gates usually open only during Mass. At other times enter through a side door. Ring the bell to enter the cathedral.
French troops captured the Hanoi Citadel in 1873. They were supporting the French trader Jean Dupuis. It took a decade for colonists to control Hanoi fully. This was due to rebel fighters. Construction of Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i began after this time. It finished in December 1886. French Indochina was established a year later. Paul-Fran\u00e7ois Puginier got permission from the French. He was a French missionary. The church was built on the abandoned site of B\u00e1o Thi\u00ean Pagoda. This location was an administrative center before the French. The pagoda was built in the 11th century. The L\u00fd dynasty founded it. It collapsed in 1542 and was never repaired. The cathedral was consecrated on December 24 1886.
The Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam in 1954. The Catholic Church then suffered decades of persecution. Priests were arrested. Church property was seized. Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i was closed. It reopened on Christmas Eve 1990. Mass was permitted again.
Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i is built with stone slabs and bricks. The facade has two square towers. They rise to 103 feet. Each tower has five bells. The architectural style is Gothic Revival. The twin bell towers resemble those at Notre Dame de Paris. The architects sought to emulate the Parisian cathedral. The exterior walls are made of granite. Pollution has worn down the exterior over the years. Major renovations occurred from 2020 to 2022. This restored its external appearance.
Inside Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i windows have tall stained glass. They have pointed arches. The stained glass was produced in France. The ceiling is rib-vaulted. The nave is weathered. The sanctuary is made of polished wood. It has architectural features in the imperial Hu\u1ebf style. A statue of the Virgin Mary is kept in a palanquin. It is on the left of the nave. A pipe organ was installed in 2022. It was designed by Guido Schumacher. It has 1850 pipes.
So as you stand before Nh\u00e0 Th\u1edd H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i consider its history. Think of the echoes of hymns. Imagine the crowds filling the square. This cathedral remains a symbol of faith. It has endured wars and colonial changes.