St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Hanoi’s neo-Gothic cathedral from 1886, with twin bell towers, a lively square and the city’s favourite lemon tea corner.
- Hanoi
- Included in 3 tours
- Tours from $49
- Updated October 2026
About St Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi
St Joseph’s Cathedral (Nha Tho Lon, the “Big Church”) is the oldest church in Hanoi and the seat of the Archdiocese of Hanoi. Its grey twin towers rise over a small square just west of Hoan Kiem Lake, and for many visitors it is the most European-looking corner of the city — until a scooter loaded with flowers rides past and a lemon tea seller sets out her stools.
The cathedral was built by the French between 1884 and 1886 and consecrated on Christmas Eve 1886. It is in the neo-Gothic style, and its bell towers, about 31 metres high, are often compared to Notre-Dame de Paris. It stands on the site of Bao Thien Pagoda, an 11th-century Ly dynasty landmark that had long fallen into ruin before the church was built.
Inside the cathedral
The interior has a high vaulted ceiling, stained-glass windows made in France and an ornate gilded altar. A major restoration was completed in 2022, and a new pipe organ was installed the same year. The church is still very much in use: masses are held every day, and at Christmas the square overflows with thousands of people.
Nha Tho street and the lemon tea corner
The streets around the cathedral — Nha Tho, Nha Chung and Ly Quoc Su — are some of the most pleasant in central Hanoi, with boutiques, cafés, Ba Da Pagoda and old shophouses. In the 2010s the pavement in front of the cathedral became famous for tra chanh, iced lemon tea drunk on tiny stools while snacking on sunflower seeds and chatting with friends. Locals jokingly call it tra chanh chem gio, “lemon tea and gossip”, and it is still one of the best places in Hanoi to watch young Hanoians unwind.
St Joseph’s Cathedral is a stop on our half-day vintage jeep city tour. On the jeep street food tour and the sunset electric scooter tour we ride past it after dark, when the façade is lit up.
Is St Joseph’s Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Hanoi’s oldest church (1886) gives the city its most European corner, with neo-Gothic twin towers often compared to Notre-Dame de Paris. Even if you do not go inside, the little square in front is one of the best places in the Old Quarter to sit with an iced lemon tea and watch Hanoi go by, and the façade is lovely lit up at night.
Worth it?
Why visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral?
- Hanoi’s oldest churchCompleted in 1886, the neo-Gothic cathedral is one of the best-known buildings from the French period.
- Twin bell towersThe grey towers, about 31 metres tall, look especially dramatic at dusk and in the rain.
- Stained glass and organFrench-made windows and a new pipe organ installed after the 2022 restoration.
- Lemon tea cultureIced lemon tea and sunflower seeds on tiny stools — Hanoi’s favourite people-watching spot.
- Charming side streetsNha Tho and Ly Quoc Su are lined with cafés, boutiques and street food.
- Christmas in HanoiOn Christmas Eve the square fills with locals, lights and nativity scenes.
Make the most of it
Things to do at St Joseph’s Cathedral
Look inside the cathedral
The main doors usually open for mass. Outside mass, visitors can often enter through the side gate on Nha Chung street during the day, roughly 8:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00. Entry is free; be quiet and dress modestly.
Attend a mass
Masses are held early in the morning and in the early evening every day, with several more on Sundays. Times vary by season, so check the notice board by the gate.
Drink lemon tea on Nha Tho street
Pull up a plastic stool in front of the cathedral for iced lemon tea (about 15,000–30,000 VND) and a bag of sunflower seeds. Busiest from late afternoon.
Visit Ba Da Pagoda
A quiet Buddhist pagoda just a minute’s walk away on Nha Tho street — a peaceful contrast to the cathedral.
Have coffee with a cathedral view
Several upper-floor cafés on the square and along Nha Tho look straight at the towers. A coffee costs about 40,000–70,000 VND.
Browse Nha Tho and Hang Trong
Boutiques, art shops, ceramics and design stores in old shophouses.
Walk to Hoan Kiem Lake
Five minutes east along Nha Tho or Nha Chung to the lake shore and Ngoc Son Temple.
Continue to Train Street
About 15 minutes’ walk or a short Grab ride west to Hanoi Train Street, where cafés sit right beside the railway.
See it on a jeep or scooter tour
Our half-day jeep city tour stops here; the jeep food tour and the sunset scooter tour pass the lit-up façade at night.
Good to know
Mass times: when can you go inside?
| Weekday mass | Usually early morning (about 5:30) and early evening (about 18:00–18:30) |
|---|---|
| Saturday | Early morning and an evening vigil mass |
| Sunday | Several masses from about 5:00 to the evening; one may be in a foreign language — check the board |
| Visitor hours (outside mass) | Roughly 8:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00 on weekdays, via the side gate |
| Christmas Eve | Very crowded; arrive early or watch from the square |
| Dress | Shoulders and knees covered; hats off inside |
Mass and visitor times change with the season and church events. Check the notice board at the gate or ask the parish office on the day.
Timing
Best time to visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Quiet square and soft light on the façade — the best time for photos without crowds.
The lemon tea corner fills up and the towers are lit after dark.
A moving way to see the church in use; sit at the back and stay for the whole service if you enter.
Christmas decorations and huge crowds around 24 December.
October to April is cooler; summer afternoons are hot and showers are common.
Map & directions
How to get to St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- From Hoan Kiem LakeAbout 5 minutes on foot west along Nha Tho or Nha Chung street.
- From the Old Quarter10–15 minutes’ walk from most hotels, or a short Grab ride (about 15,000–30,000 VND).
- From Hanoi Train StreetAbout 15 minutes’ walk east, or 5 minutes by Grab.
- With a local guideOur half-day jeep city tour includes the cathedral, with free pickup from Old Quarter hotels.
Eat like a local
Where to eat near St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- Lemon tea on Nha Tho streetThe local ritual: iced lemon tea and sunflower seeds in front of the cathedral.
- Pho 10 Ly Quoc SuA well-known pho shop around the corner, serving several cuts of beef.
- Banh goi on Ly Quoc SuCrispy fried pastries filled with pork, glass noodles and mushrooms, served with herbs and dipping sauce.
- Cafés on Nha Tho streetEgg coffee, coconut coffee and cathedral views from upper floors.
- Bun cha in the Old QuarterA 10-minute walk north to Hang Manh or Hang Quat for grilled pork with noodles.
For your camera
Best photo spots at St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- From the far side of the squareFrame both towers and the statue of the Virgin Mary in front.
- Upper-floor cafés on Nha ThoA slightly raised view of the façade over the lemon tea stools.
- Side gate on Nha ChungThe cathedral’s side walls and garden, quieter than the front.
- Night viewThe lit façade after dark, ideally after a rain shower for reflections.
Local advice
Tips for visiting St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Do
- Cover shoulders and knees if you go inside
- Keep quiet and turn your phone to silent during mass
- Check the notice board for current mass times
- Try lemon tea on the square with the locals
- Visit early in the morning for empty-square photos
Don’t
- Take flash photos or walk around during mass
- Expect the main doors to be open all day
- Sit on the church steps when a service is starting
- Leave bags on the street-side stools when you get up
- Fly a drone over the square
Visit with a local
Tours that visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Sunrise & Sunset Electric Scooter Tour
678+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Good to know
St. Joseph’s Cathedral: questions & answers
Can you go inside St Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi?
Yes. You can join a mass, and outside mass the cathedral usually lets visitors in through the side gate on Nha Chung street during the day, roughly 8:00–11:00 and 14:00–17:00.
What are the mass times at St Joseph’s Cathedral Hanoi?
Usually early morning and early evening on weekdays, with several masses on Sundays. Times change, so check the notice board at the gate.
Is there an entrance fee for St Joseph’s Cathedral?
No, entry is free. Donations are welcome.
When was St Joseph’s Cathedral built?
Between 1884 and 1886. It was consecrated on Christmas Eve 1886 and is the oldest church in Hanoi.
Is there a dress code for St Joseph’s Cathedral?
Yes. Cover your shoulders and knees and remove your hat inside the church.
What is the lemon tea street in Hanoi?
The pavement in front of St Joseph’s Cathedral on Nha Tho street, where locals drink iced lemon tea on small stools and chat — known as tra chanh chem gio.
How far is St Joseph’s Cathedral from Hoan Kiem Lake?
About 300 metres, or a 5-minute walk west from the lake.
What is there to do around St Joseph's Cathedral?
Sit on a tiny stool with tra chanh (iced lemon tea) on the square, browse the boutiques and cafes along Nha Tho and Nha Chung streets, visit nearby Ba Da Pagoda, and photograph the twin-towered façade, which is especially striking when lit at night.
When is the best time to visit St Joseph's Cathedral?
Early morning is quietest for photos, while late afternoon and evening are best for lemon tea on the square. The interior is open mainly around mass times (roughly 8:00 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 17:00); at Christmas the square fills with thousands of people.
Hanoi
