# Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

> Notre-Dame Cathedral is Ho Chi Minh City’s main Catholic church, built in 1877–1880 of red French brick, across the square from the Central Post Office. Restoration is still under way: it’s closed to sightseers, so the only way in is Mass — daily at 5:30 and 17:30, more on Sundays. Square and facade: free, any time; 15–20 minutes is enough.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral

- City: [Ho Chi Minh City](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city), Vietnam
- YesGo score: 46/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 20 min
- Entry: Free; inside only during Mass
- Opening 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
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Sightseeing inside: Closed during restoration; open to worshippers for Mass only
- Mass, Monday–Saturday: 5:30 and 17:30 (Saturday 17:30 is the Sunday vigil)
- Mass, Sunday: 5:30, 8:00, 9:30 in English, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
- 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
- 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
- Coordinates: 10.77972, 106.69917
- Facts checked: 05.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1877–1880** — built in three years: the first stone was laid in October 1877, the church blessed in April 1880 (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; Dân Trí International)
- **French brick** — the walls were left unplastered, which is why the red has kept its colour (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; tonkosti.ru)
- **c. 58 m** — height of each bell tower; 60.5 m to the top of the cross (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia)
- **J. Bourard** — the French architect who won the design competition and oversaw construction (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia)
- **1959** — the Our Lady of Peace statue, ordered from Italy, was placed in front (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; tonkosti.ru)
- **56 windows** — of stained glass made by the Lorin workshop in Chartres, France (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia)
- **6 bells** — French-cast bronze bells, silent during the works; a temporary set of 25 bells rings instead (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; Thanh Niên; Dân Trí International)
- **Basilica** — the Holy See granted it the honorary rank of minor basilica (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia)
- **Belgium** — where the new gilded tower crosses were made — 3.7 m and about 400 kg each (source: Dân Trí International; Tuổi Trẻ)

> **Can you go inside Notre-Dame Cathedral?** Only for Mass. The parish states that during the restoration the **cathedral is closed to tourists** and open to worshippers for daily services. The towers are finished and the new crosses are up, but work continues, now inside too. Without Mass you get the square, the facade and the statue, free at any hour. The restoration is in its final stretch but has slipped before, so check before you go.

## Notre-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.

> **Notre-Dame Cathedral dress code** This is a working cathedral. Cover shoulders and knees and take your hat off; no shawls are handed out, so bring a light scarf. Arrive before Mass starts and stay to the end — walking in mid-service for photos isn’t on. No flash, no wandering the aisles, and keep your voice down.

## 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](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-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

1. **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.
2. **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.
3. **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.
4. **By Grab or taxi** — set ‘Nhà thờ Đức Bà’ or 01 Công xã Paris. Grab takes cash or a foreign card in the app.
5. **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.
6. The Central Post Office is across the square, the [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) a few minutes’ walk away, and the [Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) at the bottom of Đồng Khởi.

## Cathedral, post office or Opera House?

|  | Notre-Dame Cathedral | Central Post Office | Opera House |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Catholic cathedral, 1877–1880 | Working post office, 1886–1891 | Theatre from 1900 on Lam Son Square |
| Going inside | Mass only, closed to sightseers | Yes, daily | Ticket holders only |
| Entry | Free | Free | Outside free; shows ticketed |
| Time needed | 15–20 minutes outside | 20–40 minutes | 15–20 minutes outside |
| Distance | Across the square from the post office | Across the square from the cathedral | 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

Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] I know sightseeing inside is closed — Mass only
- [ ] Picked a Mass: 5:30, 17:30, or Sunday 9:30 in English
- [ ] Clothes covering shoulders and knees, or a scarf
- [ ] Small VND notes for a donation
- [ ] Post office across the square on the same stop

## Historic sights in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City’s historic places scored by YesGo.

- [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
- [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
- [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
- [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
- [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry
- [War Remnants Museum](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/war-remnants-museum) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 60,000 VND; concessions 30,000
- [Museum of Vietnamese History](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/museum-of-vietnamese-history) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 60,000 VND; kids and students free
- [Cu Chi Tunnels](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/cu-chi-tunnels) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ 90,000–110,000 VND

## 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.

1. [Independence Palace](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/independence-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · 40,000–80,000 VND
2. [Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-notre-dame-cathedral) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; inside only during Mass
3. [Saigon Central Post Office](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-central-post-office) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
4. [Saigon Opera House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/saigon-opera-house) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free outside; inside with a show ticket
5. [Ben Thanh Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/ben-thanh-market) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry

> **Photographing the cathedral** The classic shot is from the post office steps or the park in front, with the statue and both towers in one frame. Morning sun falls on the facade and makes the brick glow, and the square is quieter. After dark the front is floodlit — a good fallback if scaffolding or crowds spoil the daytime view.

## Don’t confuse

Saigon’s cathedral is not Notre-Dame de Paris or Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, which crowd the same searches. Nor is it St Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi — another Notre-Dame look-alike at the other end of Vietnam.

## Tips

- 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.

## How we checked

Access and Mass times come from the official parish website, which says plainly that the cathedral is closed to tourists during the restoration and open to the faithful for services, so those rows carry the official badge. Restoration progress is from Vietnamese newspapers (Thanh Niên, Dân Trí, Tuổi Trẻ) and the archdiocese website: towers and crosses done, interior work starting, earlier deadline missed. One Catholic news agency (AsiaNews) called the restoration complete once the crosses went up; that contradicts the parish and the local press, so we don’t follow it. How much exterior scaffolding remains is unconfirmed and marked as checking. Brick origin varies — Toulouse in English Wikipedia, Marseille in tonkosti.ru and some guides, both in Vietnamese Wikipedia — so we say France. The statue’s material (granite or marble) and the year of basilica status differ between the Wikipedias, so we leave them out. Old tourist hours from guidebooks are not used.

## Sources

- 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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