Saint Joseph Cathedral
This Catholic cathedral was completed in 1887, by Monseigneur Pigneau
de Behaine. It was closed in 1975 upon reunification of Vietnam,
and was not reopened until 1985. The neo-gothic style of the cathedral
looks somewhat out of place in the busy and typically Vietnamese
streets of Hanoi, although it is built in the French quarter of
the city! If you happen to be in Hanoi for Christmas, this is the
place to visit. The courtyard of the church becomes a huge gathering
point and ltakes on a real carnival atmosphere, with fairy floss
venders and the like. The church itself has a striking making a
quiet escape from the noisy Hanoi streets.
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