In a quiet corner of bustling downtown Ho Chi Minh City stands Notre Dame Cathedral, the one remaining stronghold of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam. Built in the late 1880s by French colonists, it was formerly called Saigon Church. In 1962, the Vatican conferred the Cathedral status as a basilica and gave it the official name of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.

Made from red bricks imported from France, the neo-Romanesque structure is 60 meters tall and has two towers containing six bronze bells. In front of the Cathedral stands a statue of the Virgin Mary, made in Rome from Italian marble, which was reputed to have shed tears in 2005.

Opening Hours: Notre Dame Cathedral is a working religious place where masses are held every Sunday.

Address: Paris Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tour available at reception desk