St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi

Location: No. 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
Features: is one of the first Western architecture in Hanoi.
Hanoi Cathedral is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, as well as one of the Western structures were first built in Hanoi. Here in 1057, King Ly Thanh Tong started to build towers for Dai Thang Tu Thien Bao Thien Tower called, belongs Sung Khanh Pagoda, or Bao Thien Tu, in the capital of Thang Long. Cathedral Hanoi and Nha Chung, formerly of Bao Thien pagoda area, a home country's famous capital city of Dai Vietnamese. During the reign of the Ly, Tran to Le, Nguyen, this is still the place where Buddhist rituals to pray for prosperous country. Over time and war, Bao Thien pagoda towers were crumbling. When the French occupied Hanoi, the new church was built on the site of Bao Thien Tower. The church was built in 1886. The inauguration ceremony was held on Christmas Year of the Pig (1887).

The original name of the church is the Church of St. Jude - se (Saint Joseph), by Pope Innocentinus XI canonized St. Joseph had the Holy Protection ViệtNam country and neighboring countries. Therefore, the largest cathedral in Hanoi was canonized as "St. Joseph's Cathedral."

Hanoi Cathedral by the Bishop 'hand-drawn style and the construction commander. The church was designed in the architectural style of medieval Europe Gothique, so prevalent trongthe 12th century and the Renaissance in Europe, made in the form of Notre Dame with curved arches, wide, upward sky. Main construction material of the church is the terracotta tiles, walls plastered with paper mulch. Cathedral 64,5m length, width 20.5 m and 31.5 m high bell tower with two stone pillars, heavy four corners. Atop the stone crucifix.

The hall of the church, there is a large door, two small doors both sides of the tower. The doors and windows were all sharp swept under Gothique art, combined with the sharp DOORS Holy paintings by very beautiful stained glass to create harmonious and natural light sources inside the heart of the church. Sanctuary area is decorated in the traditional folk art, wooden engraved red lacquer trimmed with gold very nicely sophisticated. At the time the court has terracotta statue of St. Joseph 2m higher.

Church bells also have a Western, four small bells and a large deck bell. Especially large lake chiecdong mounted between the church facade. Alarm clock with engraving, clock, alarm system associated with 5 bell hanging on the two towers.

Centre square in front of the church of Our Lady of metal stations, roads around the church procession, flower beds, rear cave.

Outside the church look seems very quaint with old limestone layers, moss on the walls of time. But the big step over the door inside the church, visitors will witness a modern architectural works and does not seem to change with time.

Hanoi Cathedral is one of the centers of Catholic activities in Hanoi and surrounding areas. Weekdays, the church has two Masses, Sunday 7 Mass. In addition, the church also celebrated the holy procession Patron of the Archdiocese of Hanoi's St Joseph on March 19 every year.