Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon 2026: Restoration & Visiting

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon (Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn), officially the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is the red-brick French cathedral on Paris Commune Square in central Ho Chi Minh City. Built in 1877–1880, it is the city’s best-known landmark. It is free to view from the square, but restoration is still ongoing in 2026.

Status (checked October 2026): the cathedral has been under restoration since June 2017. The restored red-brick facade is emerging from the scaffolding and two new gilded crosses were lifted onto the towers on 19 March 2026, but work continues and the parish has said it will run beyond the original end-2027 target. Outside Mass times the interior is usually not open for sightseeing; the exterior and the square are free to visit at any time.

Why Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon is worth seeing:

The icon of Saigon: two 57.6 m bell towers that have defined the city skyline since 1895.
Bricks from Toulouse: the facade was built with red bricks shipped from France and has never been plastered.
A rare restoration in progress: in 2026 you can see the newly restored brickwork and the gilded crosses made in Belgium.
Our Lady of Peace: the granite statue in the square, installed in 1959.
Next to the post office: the Central Post Office and Book Street are across the road.

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn; officially Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội
Location	1 Công xã Paris (Paris Commune Square), Sài Gòn Ward, Ho Chi Minh City (the former District 1)
Distance	About 1.2 km from Ben Thanh Market; about 500 m from Independence Palace
Known for	French colonial Romanesque-Gothic architecture, red Toulouse bricks, twin bell towers
Recognition	Minor basilica since 1962; cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Built	7 October 1877 to 11 April 1880; bell towers added in 1895
Opening hours	Exterior and square: any time; interior: Mass times only during restoration
Entrance fee	Free
Time needed	15–30 minutes (1 hour with the post office)
Best time	Early morning for photos; evenings in December for Christmas lights
Nearby	Saigon Central Post Office, Book Street, Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor · Wikipedia

Is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Worth Visiting?

Yes, as a quick stop. Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon is the most photographed building in Ho Chi Minh City, it costs nothing, and it sits right next to the Central Post Office, so it fits into any walk around the centre. Just set expectations: while the restoration continues you will mostly admire the exterior rather than the interior.

Best for: architecture and photography lovers, Catholic visitors attending Mass, first-time visitors on a city walk.
Skip if: you want to tour a cathedral interior; try the Tan Dinh Church (the pink church) instead.
Short on time: 15 minutes for photos from the square, then cross the road to the post office.

History of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

From a wooden chapel to a French cathedral

After the French captured Saigon in 1859, Catholic services were first held in a former pagoda and then in a wooden church. A design competition for a permanent cathedral was won by J. Bourard, who also supervised construction. Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the first stone on 7 October 1877, and the cathedral was blessed on Easter Sunday, 11 April 1880, at a total cost of about 2.5 million French francs.

Materials from France

Almost everything was imported from France. The outer walls use red bricks from Toulouse, which have kept their colour without plaster; the stained glass came from the Lorin workshop in Chartres; and six bronze bells, cast in France, arrived in 1879. The two bell towers, 57.6 m high with crosses on top, were added in 1895, bringing the total height to about 60 m.

Our Lady of Peace and basilica status

In 1959 a granite statue of Our Lady of Peace, ordered from Rome, was installed in the square in front of the church, and from then on it became widely known as Notre Dame (Đức Bà) Cathedral. In 1960 Pope John XXIII made it the cathedral of the new Archdiocese of Saigon, and in 1962 he granted it the status of a minor basilica. In October 2005 the statue was reported to have shed tears, drawing large crowds, although church leaders never confirmed the claim.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon seen from the square in front — The statue of Our Lady of Peace stands in the square in front of the cathedral. Photo: hiyang.on.flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The restoration (2017–present)

After more than 130 years of tropical weather, the brickwork, roof tiles, stained glass and towers needed serious repair. Restoration began on 29 June 2017 with the Belgian specialist firm Monument Group, using materials sourced from Europe and funded by the Archdiocese and Catholics in Vietnam and abroad. In 2024 crews rebuilt the bell towers and reinforced their zinc-clad bases, a temporary set of 25 bells was installed in late 2022 while the historic bells were taken down, and on 19 March 2026 two new gold-plated crosses, each 3.7 m tall and about 400 kg, made in Belgium, were placed on top of the towers. The parish priest has said the work will take longer than the original end-2027 target because of the extent of the damage.

What to See at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

1. The red-brick facade and twin towers

Stand at the far end of the square, near the post office, to fit both towers into one photo. The restored bricks, rose window and arched portals are the clearest example of French colonial church architecture in southern Vietnam.

2. The gilded crosses

The two new crosses, reinstalled in March 2026, crown the 57.6 m towers and catch the light beautifully in the early morning and late afternoon.

3. The statue of Our Lady of Peace

The granite statue in the centre of the square, facing Lê Duẩn Boulevard and Independence Palace, is the spot where locals gather and where wedding couples pose for photos.

4. The facade clock

Between the towers, about 15 m above the ground, is a Swiss-made clock from 1887 weighing more than a tonne, one of the oldest public clocks in the city.

5. The interior during Mass

If you attend Mass, you can see the nave, granite columns and stained-glass windows; please behave as a worshipper, not a sightseer, and do not take photos during the service.

6. Paris Commune Square and Book Street

The square around the cathedral is a pleasant open space with cafés nearby, and Book Street (Nguyễn Văn Bình), lined with bookshops and coffee kiosks, runs alongside the post office.

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon Tickets and Opening Hours

Item	Details
Entrance fee	Free (no ticket needed)
Exterior and square	Accessible at any time
Interior	Generally only during Mass while restoration continues
Mass times	Several Masses daily and on Sundays, mostly in Vietnamese; check the notice at the church
Restoration	Ongoing since 2017; parts of the building remain behind scaffolding

The cathedral is an active parish church of the Archdiocese of Saigon; Mass times can change for feast days and restoration work.

Rules and Etiquette at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

Dress modestly if you enter: shoulders and knees covered.
Keep quiet during services and switch off your phone.
Do not climb on the fence or the statue base for photos.
Respect the restoration zones and any barriers.

How to Get to Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

From	How	Time
Independence Palace	Walk along Lê Duẩn Boulevard	About 8 minutes on foot
Ben Thanh Market	Walk along Lê Lợi and Đồng Khởi Streets, or Grab	15–20 minutes on foot; 5 minutes by car
Nguyen Hue Walking Street	Walk up Đồng Khởi Street	About 10 minutes on foot
Metro Line 1	Get off at Opera House station, then walk up Đồng Khởi Street	About 10 minutes on foot
Tan Son Nhat Airport	Grab or taxi	25–45 minutes depending on traffic

More options in our Saigon getting-around guide.

Best Time to Visit Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

When	What to expect
6:30–8:30	Soft light on the bricks, few people, cool air.
Late afternoon	Warm light on the facade; lively square.
December	The cathedral is lit with Christmas lights and the area is very crowded on 24 December.
December–April	Dry season with clear skies, best for photography.
May–November	Rainy season; showers are usually short, in the afternoon.

Local Expert Tips for Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

These tips come from years of arranging Saigon tours for international travellers.

Visit early, then have breakfast or coffee on Book Street next door.
Combine the cathedral with the Central Post Office and Independence Palace in one walk.
For a church interior you can visit, take a Grab to Tan Dinh Church, about 10 minutes away.
Avoid Christmas Eve unless you enjoy very large crowds; traffic around the square is closed off.
Stay in the centre to walk here easily; see where to stay in Saigon.

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon vs Tan Dinh Church

	Notre Dame Cathedral	Tan Dinh Church
Look	Red Toulouse brick, twin towers	Bright pink facade, Romanesque-Gothic style
Built	1877–1880	1870s (consecrated 1876)
Interior access	Mass times only during restoration	Usually open outside services
Location	Paris Commune Square, city centre	Hai Bà Trưng Street, Tân Định Ward
Fee	Free	Free

Our view: Notre Dame is the historic icon and the one to see if you have time for only one; add the pink Tan Dinh Church if you love architecture or want to see a full church interior.

Nearby Attractions

Saigon Central Post Office: the 1891 post office across the road.
Independence Palace: the 1960s presidential palace at the end of Lê Duẩn Boulevard.
War Remnants Museum: the city’s most powerful museum, 15 minutes on foot.
Ben Thanh Market: food stalls and souvenirs, 15–20 minutes on foot.
Landmark 81 SkyView: the observation deck of Vietnam’s tallest building.
Cholon (Saigon Chinatown): temples and Binh Tay Market.

Sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City for First-Time Visitors: Where Notre Dame Cathedral Fits

Notre Dame Cathedral is the natural centre of a half-day walk: start at Independence Palace, continue to the War Remnants Museum, then the cathedral and post office, and finish at Ben Thanh Market for lunch; our Saigon street food guide suggests what to try. Add the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta on the following days, and read our Saigon travel tips before you go.

Plan your trip with our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide and Saigon tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon

1. Is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon open to visitors in 2026?

The exterior and square of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon are open at any time, but while restoration continues the interior is generally only accessible during Mass.

2. Is there an entrance fee for Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

No. Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon is free to visit, and no ticket is needed to attend Mass.

3. When will the Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon restoration finish?

The Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon restoration began in 2017; it was due to finish by the end of 2027, but the parish has said it will take longer because of the extent of the damage.

4. When was Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon built?

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon was built between 7 October 1877 and 11 April 1880, and its two bell towers were added in 1895.

5. Where is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon stands at 1 Công xã Paris (Paris Commune Square), Sài Gòn Ward, opposite the Central Post Office in central Ho Chi Minh City.

6. Were the bricks of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon really imported from France?

Yes. The outer walls of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon are made of red bricks from Toulouse, and the stained glass came from the Lorin workshop in Chartres.

7. How tall is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

The two bell towers of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon are 57.6 m high, and the top of the crosses is about 60 m above the ground.

8. Why is it called Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon took the name after the granite statue of Our Lady of Peace (Notre Dame) was placed in front of it in 1959; its official name is the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

9. Can tourists attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Yes. Visitors are welcome at Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon if they dress modestly and behave respectfully; services are mostly in Vietnamese.

10. Is there a dress code at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

To enter Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon, cover your shoulders and knees; there is no dress code for viewing the exterior from the square.

11. When were the new crosses installed on Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Two gold-plated crosses, each 3.7 m tall and made in Belgium, were placed on the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon on 19 March 2026.

12. How long do you need at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough for Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon; allow an hour if you also visit the Central Post Office and Book Street.

13. Is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon a basilica?

Yes. Pope John XXIII granted Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon the status of a minor basilica in 1962.

14. What is the best time to photograph Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

Early morning, from about 6:30 to 8:30, gives soft light and few people at Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon; December evenings add Christmas lights.

15. What is near Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon?

The Central Post Office, Book Street, Independence Palace and the War Remnants Museum are all within walking distance of Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon; see our Saigon destination page for more.

16. Is Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon worth visiting during the restoration?

Yes. Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon is free and central, the restored facade and new crosses are impressive, and it combines easily with the post office next door.