Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

In Vietnamese, this cathedral is known as Nhà thờ Đức Bà, but it’s more commonly called the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral. It was built between 1863 and 1880 from local stone and then covered in red tiles imported from France. It has two 58-meter-tall bell towers and a large rose window originally decorated by famous crystal factories in Chartes which were destroyed during the second World War. The building is currently the second highest in the city, with the title of highest going to the Bitexco Tower.

The Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is a neo-Romantic building dating back to 1883. It’s the most popular Christian church in the city and hundreds of worshippers flock to it during services, sometimes even spilling out onto the street. At night, worshippers also congregate in the square and light candles to pray before the Virgin Mary.

It’s strange to find a large pink cathedral in the center of Ho Chi Minh City, but it made more sense after learning the history. It’s a really wonderful building in the end and is located in the colonial area of the city, a place that should definitely be on your list if you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City.

Located right in the center of the city, the cathedral is a symbol of Sai Gon.