Saigon Central Post Office
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
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Photo: hiyang.on.flickr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; inside only during Mass
- Hours
- Square and facade any time; interior only during Mass: daily 5:30 and 17:30, Sunday 5:30, 8:00, 9:30 (English), 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 20 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Sightseeing inside
- Closed during restoration; open to worshippers for Mass only
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Mass, Monday–Saturday
- 5:30 and 17:30 (Saturday 17:30 is the Sunday vigil)
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Mass, Sunday
- 5:30, 8:00, 9:30 in English, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Admission
- Free; the square and facade are open around the clock
- Scaffolding
- Towers and crosses restored, scaffolding coming down in stages; interior works under way, so expect some fencing
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 01 Công xã Paris, Sài Gòn ward (still called District 1); in Grab, ‘Nhà thờ Đức Bà’
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered, hats off inside
- Payment
- Nothing to pay; bring small VND notes if you want to leave a donation
Key facts
1877–1880built in three years: the first stone was laid in October 1877, the church blessed in April 1880
2 sourcesi
English and Vietnamese WikipediaDân Trí InternationalFrench brickthe walls were left unplastered, which is why the red has kept its colour
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English and Vietnamese Wikipediatonkosti.ruc. 58 mheight of each bell tower; 60.5 m to the top of the cross
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaJ. Bourardthe French architect who won the design competition and oversaw construction
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English and Vietnamese Wikipedia1959the Our Lady of Peace statue, ordered from Italy, was placed in front
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English and Vietnamese Wikipediatonkosti.ru56 windowsof stained glass made by the Lorin workshop in Chartres, France
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English and Vietnamese Wikipedia6 bellsFrench-cast bronze bells, silent during the works; a temporary set of 25 bells rings instead
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaThanh NiênDân Trí InternationalBasilicathe Holy See granted it the honorary rank of minor basilica
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English and Vietnamese WikipediaBelgiumwhere the new gilded tower crosses were made — 3.7 m and about 400 kg each
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Dân Trí InternationalTuổi TrẻNotre-Dame Cathedral Mass times
There are no sightseeing hours at the moment: the doors open for services. The parish schedule lists Mass every day at 5:30 and 17:30, with the Saturday 17:30 Mass counting as Sunday’s vigil. On Sundays Mass is at 5:30, 8:00, 9:30, 16:00, 17:30 and 19:00.
The Sunday 9:30 Mass is in English — the only English service at the cathedral, and the easiest way for a visitor to see the interior. Come a few minutes early, sit where there’s room, and stay to the end.
Older guides still quote tourist hours such as 8:00–11:00 and 14:00–16:00. Those date from before the works and no longer apply. If there’s a fresh notice on the gate, go by that.
Is the restoration finished?
Not yet. The big restoration began in 2017 with a Belgian specialist firm and materials shipped from Europe. The headline work is done: both bell towers and their zinc spires are restored, new gilded crosses crown them again, and the red-brick front looks as it did in the 19th century as the scaffolding comes off in stages.
The parish priest leading the project has told Vietnamese newspapers that the damage turned out worse than expected and the earlier deadline can’t be met. Still to come: roof tiles and gutters, brick replacement, lighting and interior painting — with scaffolding going up inside.
In practice, the outside is already worth the stop, but expect fencing along parts of the walls and scaffolding in the nave if you attend Mass. The historic bells stay silent for now; a temporary set of 25 bells rings in their place.
A short history of Saigon’s cathedral
Locals call it Nhà thờ Đức Bà — ‘Church of Our Lady’. It’s the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, built by the French in 1877–1880 to a design by J. Bourard, who won the competition for it. Nearly everything came from France, including the red bricks, left unplastered so they still glow after a century and a half.
The two square bell towers rise to about 58 m, 60.5 m with their crosses. Inside are 56 stained-glass windows from the Lorin workshop in Chartres, and the towers hold six French-cast bronze bells. The Holy See later made it a minor basilica.
In front, since 1959, stands the Our Lady of Peace statue, ordered from Italy. Across the road is the yellow Central Post Office; together they make the city’s best-known French-era ensemble.
What to see at Notre-Dame Cathedral
- The red twin-tower facade — step back towards the post office or into the little park to fit both towers in the frame.
- The new gilded crosses — made in Belgium and lifted onto the spires during the restoration; they catch the sun from blocks away.
- Our Lady of Peace — the white statue on the round island in front of the doors, usually ringed with flowers.
- The brickwork up close — many bricks are new, sourced in Europe to match the originals; see if you can tell which.
- The interior, at Mass — rib vaults and Chartres glass. Interior work is under way, so parts may be behind scaffolding.
- The square after dark — the facade is lit and locals sit out on the benches; in December the whole square is dressed for Christmas.
Is Notre-Dame Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, as part of a walk through the centre: it’s free, shares a square with the Central Post Office and sits on the way to the Opera House. Allow 15–20 minutes outside, about an hour with the post office, plus an hour if you go to Mass.
Don’t plan your day around the interior while it’s closed to sightseers — the Sunday 9:30 English Mass is the practical way in. There’s nothing to pay; if you’d like to leave a donation, bring small dong notes. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger restaurants, Grab takes cash or a card linked in the app, and street vendors around the square want cash.
How to get to Notre-Dame Cathedral
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Saigon Central Post Office is about 2 min away on foot.
- Independence Palace is about 9 min away on foot.
- Saigon Opera House is about 8 min away on foot.
More tips
- Walk from District 1 hotels — the cathedral stands at the top of Đồng Khởi street on Công xã Paris square; look for the two spires above the trees.
- Metro Line 1 to Opera House (Nhà hát Thành phố) station, exit by Lam Son Park, then about 10 minutes’ walk up Đồng Khởi. Fares are 7,000–20,000 VND; buy at the machines or tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gates.
- From Ben Thanh Market — about 15 minutes on foot: along Lê Lợi to the Opera House, then left up Đồng Khởi. Or ride one metro stop from Ben Thanh to Opera House.
- By Grab or taxi — set ‘Nhà thờ Đức Bà’ or 01 Công xã Paris. Grab takes cash or a foreign card in the app.
- From Tan Son Nhat Airport — 25–40 minutes by Grab or taxi. Bus 109 runs from Terminal T3 to Saigon bus station by 23/9 Park in about 45 minutes; from there take a Grab or walk via Ben Thanh Market.
- The Central Post Office is across the square, the Independence Palace a few minutes’ walk away, and the Opera House at the bottom of Đồng Khởi.
Cathedral, post office or Opera House?
| Notre-Dame Cathedralyou are here | Catholic cathedral, 1877–1880 | Mass only, closed to sightseers | Free | 15–20 minutes outside | Across the square from the post office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Post Office | Working post office, 1886–1891 | Yes, daily | Free | 20–40 minutes | Across the square from the cathedral |
| Opera House | Theatre from 1900 on Lam Son Square | Ticket holders only | Outside free; shows ticketed | 15–20 minutes outside | About 10 minutes’ walk down Đồng Khởi |
Post office and Opera House details are from their YesGo pages. All three fit one easy walk: cathedral and post office together, the theatre at the end of the street.
Before you go
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Historic sights in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City’s historic places scored by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.
| Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigonyou are here | 46 | 20 min | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon Central Post Office | 45 | 30 min | Free | 3 min walk |
| Independence Palace | 45 | 1 h 15 min | 40,000–80,000 VND | 9 min walk |
| Saigon Opera House | 44 | 30 min | Free | 9 min walk |
| Ben Thanh Market | 43 | 1 h | Free | 14 min walk |
| War Remnants Museum | 41 | 1 h 30 min | 60,000 VND; concessions 30,000 | 14 min walk |
| Museum of Vietnamese History | 37 | 1 h 15 min | 60,000 VND; kids and students free | 19 min walk |
| Cu Chi Tunnels | 35 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND | 36.6 km |
Central Saigon: palace, cathedral, post office, Opera House and market
Start at the Independence Palace, then the cathedral and post office on one square, down Đồng Khởi to the Opera House and along Lê Lợi to Ben Thanh Market. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times and walks.
- Independence Palace1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
- 9 min walk from the previous stopNotre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigonyou are here20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
- 3 min walk from the previous stopSaigon Central Post Office30 min · Free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopSaigon Opera House30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
- 12 min walk from the previous stopBen Thanh Market1 h · Free entry
5 places · about 4 h 8 min with walks · 33 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Independence Palace
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Saigon Opera House
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War Remnants Museum
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How to do it right
- To see inside, come for Mass and arrive before it starts — Sunday 9:30 is in English.
- Ignore the old tourist hours in guidebooks; they don’t apply while the restoration is on.
- Pack a light scarf — a vest top is fine for the street, not for Mass.
- Pair it with the Central Post Office across the square for an easy hour.
- In December the square is decked out for Christmas and packed in the evenings — keep your phone close.
- Come in the morning for sunlight on the facade and a quieter square.
Questions
Can you go inside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Saigon?
Only during Mass. The parish has closed the cathedral to tourists for the restoration, but services run daily at 5:30 and 17:30, with more on Sundays.
Is Notre-Dame Cathedral still under renovation?
Yes. The towers and new crosses are finished, but roof, brick and interior work continues and the earlier deadline has been pushed back. Check the status before you go.
What are the Mass times at Notre-Dame Cathedral?
Monday to Saturday at 5:30 and 17:30; Sunday at 5:30, 8:00, 9:30, 16:00, 17:30 and 19:00.
Is there an English Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral Saigon?
Yes, every Sunday at 9:30. It’s the only English service at the cathedral.
Is Notre-Dame Cathedral free?
Yes. The square, the facade and Mass are all free; a donation is up to you.
What are Notre-Dame Cathedral opening hours?
The square and facade are open around the clock. There are no sightseeing hours inside during the restoration — only Mass times.
What should I wear to Notre-Dame Cathedral?
Cover shoulders and knees and remove your hat. Bring your own scarf; none are provided.
How long do you need at Notre-Dame Cathedral?
15–20 minutes outside, about an hour with the post office next door. Mass lasts roughly an hour.
How do I get to Notre-Dame Cathedral?
Walk from District 1, or take Metro Line 1 to Opera House and walk about 10 minutes up Đồng Khởi. From Ben Thanh Market it’s about 15 minutes on foot.
Is Notre-Dame Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, as a free stop on a walk through the centre with the post office. Don’t make a special trip for the interior unless you’re attending Mass.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Official cathedral parish website (Nhà thờ Chính tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn): Mass times, English Mass, closure to tourists during restoration, address
- Archdiocese of Saigon website (tgpsaigon.net): restoration progress, services at the cathedral
- Thanh Niên — remaining works, interior scaffolding, bells, earlier deadline
- Dân Trí International — scaffolding coming down, new crosses from Belgium, construction dates
- Tuổi Trẻ — restoration coverage, installation of the crosses
- English Wikipedia: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon — dates, architect, bricks, towers, stained glass, bells, statue, basilica
- Vietnamese Wikipedia: Nhà thờ chính tòa Đức Bà Sài Gòn — architect, heights, stained glass, bells, statue, address, restoration
- Wikidata Q428129 — year, coordinates
- tonkosti.ru — stained glass, statue, bricks
- YesGo notes on Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City — payment, metro, bus 109, Grab
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