notre dame CATHEDRAL of Saigon
Posted June, 2020. Paul Rowe, HCMC.
Today, the Church of Saigon (as the French knew it) has a nickname. It is called the Notre Dame of Saigon.
Its official name is a mouthful; the Saigon Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception.
In the Vietnamese language it is Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội.
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This Catholic church building fits the definition of a cathedral and a basilica.
Its official name is a mouthful; the Saigon Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception.
In the Vietnamese language it is Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội.
*
This Catholic church building fits the definition of a cathedral and a basilica.
The Restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
Across 2019 and 2020 Notre Dame cathedral in Saigon, has been undergoing restoration works.
It is still open for services but closed to tours (May 2020).
It is still open for services but closed to tours (May 2020).
To compensate for the inconvenience,
the church and historians have collaborated to produce a very interesting photographic display
of the cathedral's history, use and restoration.
The display is along the safety fence which completely surrounds the church.
The display is so large that it also surrounds the church.
Many of the photos are of sections of the cathedral which are off limits to worshipers and visitors.
This display is a RARE OPPORTUNITY to view Vietnam's very own
Notre Dame cathedral,
as never seen before.
* Please note: I have not cropped and centred the photos.
Hopefully this will give you the sense of viewing the actual wall around the cathedral.
Enjoy the photos.
the church and historians have collaborated to produce a very interesting photographic display
of the cathedral's history, use and restoration.
The display is along the safety fence which completely surrounds the church.
The display is so large that it also surrounds the church.
Many of the photos are of sections of the cathedral which are off limits to worshipers and visitors.
This display is a RARE OPPORTUNITY to view Vietnam's very own
Notre Dame cathedral,
as never seen before.
* Please note: I have not cropped and centred the photos.
Hopefully this will give you the sense of viewing the actual wall around the cathedral.
Enjoy the photos.
Even though the Notre Dame cathedral in Saigon is under renovation (2020).it is still worth visiting.
Visitors can not go inside, a very interesting photo display surrounds the church.
Visitors can not go inside, a very interesting photo display surrounds the church.
The above photo shows that the cathedral had no spires for some years. And the building's grounds were sparse. The cathedral was built on land which was once inside the massive Turtle Citadel.
At the rear of the cathedral is Jean Comte's garage. He sold Peugeot motorcars, bicycles and motorcycles. Eventually Comte also had a dealership in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (another French colony.) Today that building does not exist. It is a very large intersection.
An excellent photo showing a variety of transport at the back of the Notre Dame cathedral.
A French motorcar, rickshaws and a horse drawn buggy. Some ancient canals were filled in to make roads for the colonizers motorcars.
A French motorcar, rickshaws and a horse drawn buggy. Some ancient canals were filled in to make roads for the colonizers motorcars.
The cast iron modular structure became popular during the Great Exhibition, London, 1851, and the Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1889. This structure is also seen in Saigon's Post Office next to the cathedral.
There is a belief that the structure of the post office was the work of Mr. Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame).. This is not correct. However, Eiffel did design and build many of the modular railway bridges still in use today across Vietnam.
There is a belief that the structure of the post office was the work of Mr. Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame).. This is not correct. However, Eiffel did design and build many of the modular railway bridges still in use today across Vietnam.
There are a number of breath-taking lead-light windows through out Saigon's Notre Dame cathedral..
It is my understanding that this much loved cathedral was never damaged across Indochina Wars 1 and 2.
Many of the anti French resistance fighters were Catholic.
Am I correct? Please let me know if you have information about this. Thanks, Paul.
It is my understanding that this much loved cathedral was never damaged across Indochina Wars 1 and 2.
Many of the anti French resistance fighters were Catholic.
Am I correct? Please let me know if you have information about this. Thanks, Paul.
The bells of The Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon are electronically driven. However, each bell is so heavy that they need to be swinging before the electronic motor takes over. These pedals are used to get each bell swinging.
The metal, the roof tiles, the cement and the bricks for the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon were all shipped from France. Which raises the question, where were the bells made?
They were probably made in Vietnam. (DOES ANYONE KNOW?)
Vietnam has a history of excellent brass work. In fact, before the French arrived, Emperor Gia Long had a world class shipbuilding yard and cannon foundry on the banks of the Saigon River (then known as the Don Nai River). The cannons made there (within walking distance of the cathedral) helped him conquer all of his enemies and create the nation of Vietnam. Many of those same cannons can be seen on the lawns of a Bangkok palace.
They were probably made in Vietnam. (DOES ANYONE KNOW?)
Vietnam has a history of excellent brass work. In fact, before the French arrived, Emperor Gia Long had a world class shipbuilding yard and cannon foundry on the banks of the Saigon River (then known as the Don Nai River). The cannons made there (within walking distance of the cathedral) helped him conquer all of his enemies and create the nation of Vietnam. Many of those same cannons can be seen on the lawns of a Bangkok palace.
At the rear of the cathedral are displays showing a close up of the new roofing tiles (same style as original tile).
The display also shows how the tiles are capped with molded cement.
The display also shows how the tiles are capped with molded cement.
I have no idea when the renovations to the Notre Dame cathedral of Saigon will be finished.
If you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, make sure you do not miss this end of Dong Khoi Street.
There is still a great deal to see and learn about this historic, French-era piece of architecture.
The cathedral is a must-see for every visitor.
If you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, make sure you do not miss this end of Dong Khoi Street.
There is still a great deal to see and learn about this historic, French-era piece of architecture.
The cathedral is a must-see for every visitor.
UPDATE: 3 July 2020. Most of the scaffolding has been pulled down
That might mean renovations are coming to an end.
That might mean renovations are coming to an end.
more about saigon's historic notre dame cathedral
A History of Saigon by Nghia M. Vo, gives us some very interesting insights to the Saigon cathedral in the very early days of French colonization.
“It was during the construction of the cathedral [1877 – 1880] that an underground lake was found, following which a water tower was built close by to provide the Saigonese with fresh potable water” p. 85.
“It was during the construction of the cathedral [1877 – 1880] that an underground lake was found, following which a water tower was built close by to provide the Saigonese with fresh potable water” p. 85.
This is not necessarily the water tower mentioned by Vo, even though the location and the construction date match. This is what a French water tower of that era looked like. Three stories high and a little ornate. According to VietNamNet Bridge, this historic water tower is still standing in District 3. Just a short walk from Notre Dame cathedral.
“The sandy ground on which the cathedral stood caused many problems: the requirement for deep foundations, and the sinking of one of the towers. The Saigon cathedral, like the French Notre Dame, had towers of unequal height which did not affect their performance or beauty” p. 85.
VIETNAM HISTORY and CULTURE,
PLUS OTHER GOOD STUFF,
by Paul Rowe..
PLUS OTHER GOOD STUFF,
by Paul Rowe..