About Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon:
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon (also known as Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn or Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral) is one of the most iconic landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (formerly Saigon). This beautiful neo-Romanesque cathedral is a symbol of the city’s French colonial heritage and a major Catholic site. Construction began in 1877 and was completed in 1880 under French colonial rule. All materials, including the distinctive red bricks from France, were imported. Originally called the Church of Saigon, it was renamed Notre-Dame Cathedral in 1959 an alabaster statue of Our Lady of Peace (Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) was installed in the forecourt.
The cathedral was designed in Romanesque revival style by French architect Jules Bourard and opened on April 11, 1880. It features twin bell towers reaching about 196 feet (60 meters), six bronze bells, 56 stained-glass windows from Chartres, France, and a sturdy foundation designed to support ten times the building’s weight.In front stands the famous marble statue of the Virgin Mary (Queen of Peace), installed in 1959.
Reports emerged around October 29, 2005, of witnesses claiming to see tears, sometimes described as red or blood-like, streaming down the right side of a granite statue of the Virgin Mary in the garden of the Cathedral. Thousands of people, including locals and visitors with cameras, flocked to the cathedral, leading police to manage traffic. Even newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal reported the event (January 11, 2005). The Catholic Church did not confirm the event as miraculous. While the event remains a significant memory for many in Ho Chi Minh City, the official declaration of a miracle was absent, leaving it as a widely discussed, unconfirmed phenomenon.
In 1962, the cathedral was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII.
The cathedral has been undergoing a major restoration and renovation project since 2017, originally planned for completion around 2027. As a result, the interior is largely inaccessible to tourists outside of mass times, with scaffolding and work ongoing. However, the striking exterior remains fully visible and is still a hugely popular spot for photos and visits in the heart of District 1.
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, officially the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is located in the Saigon ward of Ho Chi Minh City.
Address: 01 Công trường Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Phone: +84 914 122 229