Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica is a striking French colonial-era cathedral in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, built entirely from materials shipped from France, its red bricks, famously, came from Marseille and have kept their colour for over a century. Its two 58-metre bell towers are a defining feature of the District 1 skyline, and the cathedral anchors a cluster of landmarks including the ornate, French-built Central Post Office next door (designed in the Gustave Eiffel era).

It remains an active Catholic church, so interior access depends on services and (during long-running renovations) restoration work, but even from outside it's a photogenic, atmospheric stop. The surrounding square, with its statue of the Virgin Mary, is a popular gathering spot, and the whole area makes for an easy walking circuit of colonial Saigon.

Don't miss

• The twin 58m neo-Romanesque bell towers
• The Marseille red brick, still vivid after a century
• The adjacent French colonial Central Post Office
• The Virgin Mary statue in the front square
• Its setting in the heart of colonial District 1

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

Cheapest way in1 Hour Saigon River Tour in Ho Chi Minh4.7★ · 604 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$13 per personSee dates →Most bookedHo Chi Minh City Motorbike Tour with Student | Saigon Adventure5★ · 1,734 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$23 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleBest of Saigon Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port5★ · 16 travelers6–12 hoursFree cancellationFrom$115 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• It's an active church and has undergone long restorations, interior access can be limited; enjoy the exterior regardless.
• Pair it with the adjacent Central Post Office, a beautiful colonial interior open to visitors.
• Dress modestly if entering during a service.
• The surrounding District 1 has Book Street and the Reunification Palace within walking distance.

A bit of history

Built by French colonists between 1863 and 1880, the cathedral (officially the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) used bricks and materials imported from France. It became a basilica in 1959 and remains the most prominent Catholic church in the city.