UCA News
Contribute

Iconic cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City undergoes major renovation

Local Catholics raised over US$4 million for three years' worth of restoration work
Iconic cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City undergoes major renovation

Tourists gather in the Queen of Peace Square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City on July 6. (ucanews.com photo)

Published: July 12, 2017 05:02 AM GMT
Updated: July 12, 2017 05:06 AM GMT

The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral of Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese in southern Vietnam is undergoing extensive restoration that will take an estimated three years.

The Archbishop's House received the necessary building permits on June 30 and workers started erecting barriers around the 137-year-old cathedral on July 4.

The archdiocese's Board of Cathedral Restoration said the cathedral's roof and two bell towers are the main areas that will be restored.

An estimated 123,800 new tiles — imported from France and Germany — will be put on the roof while new material for the two 60.5-meter-high towers will also be imported from abroad.

Further areas needing restoring include walls, floors, stained glass windows, bells, doors, windows and lighting.

The Roman-and-Gothic building with a capacity of 1,200 seats was built in 1880 by French missionaries. Initial building materials were imported from France.

Father Ignatius Ho Van Xuan, head of the restoration board, said in a report issued in March that the work is expected to take three years to complete.

He said the project is estimated to cost 100 billion dong (US$4,405,000). All funds for the restoration work comes from local Catholics.

While the restoration is being carried out, regular services remain unchanged but tours of the cathedral have been put on hold due to safety concerns.

The church was installed as Immaculate Conception Cathedral Basilica in 1959. It is one of the top 10 most popular destinations of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia