Early Beginnings (1863-1876)
The history of Notre Dame Basilica Saigon started with the French colonization of Vietnam. In every major city or significant town, there exists a cathedral, serving as the principal church of a bishop within the Christian denominations. Following the French conquest of Saigon in 1861, the victors repurposed a small, abandoned Vietnamese pagoda, transforming it into a place of worship for the French populace. This modest church, located on what was then known as Street No. 5 (later Vannier Street, now Ngô Đức Kế Street), near Street 16 (Catinat – Tự Do), is regarded as the first cathedral of Saigon.
By 1863, with Saigon firmly under colonial control, the need for a more substantial cathedral arose. Consequently, on March 28, 1863, Priest Lefebvre initiated the construction of Saigon’s second cathedral. This wooden structure was erected on Kinh Lớn (Charner Boulevard), at the site presently occupied by the Sunwah building at 115 Nguyễn Huệ (formerly the Peace Building).
Constructed in a mere four months, this cathedral was the product of the contractor Chatain’s efforts, following designs under the guidance of Colonel Coffyn, a pioneer in Saigon’s urban planning, and supervised by Captain Blazy.
However, the cathedral’s wooden structure soon fell prey to the tropical climate’s harshness and the destructive tendencies of termites and wood-boring insects. Merely a few years after its inauguration in 1868, the cathedral suffered significant damage. Consequently, major religious ceremonies were temporarily relocated to the ceremonial hall of the old Governor’s Palace (later the Lasan Taberd school, now Trần Đại Nghĩa school), until the completion of a more substantial cathedral. This new edifice, built with durability in mind, is the Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon we know today, standing resiliently for nearly one and a half centuries.
A new change in history of notre dame basilica saigon (1876-1880)
In the late summer of 1876, the history of Notre Dame Basilica Saigon changed. Under the auspices of Victor Auguste, Baron Duperré, the Governor of Cochinchina, a significant architectural competition was held to design a new cathedral in Saigon. Architect J. Bourard’s design, a refined blend of Romanesque architecture infused with Gothic elements, emerged as the chosen proposal among 17 competing designs. The selection process involved deliberation over three proposed sites:
- The site of the former Trường Thi (currently the intersection of Lê Duẩn and Hai Bà Trưng Streets, where the French Consulate is located).
- The Kinh Lớn area (the site of the previous cathedral, now part of Nguyễn Huệ Street).
- The cathedral’s current location.
Ultimately, the present location was selected for its construction. Following the selection of Bourard’s design, Governor Duperré initiated a competitive bidding process for the cathedral’s construction. In a remarkable turn of events, Bourard himself was awarded the contract and took on the responsibility of directly supervising the construction.
On October 7, 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the foundation stone in a ceremony attended by Governor Duperré and other high-ranking colonial officials. The Easter ceremony on April 11, 1880, marked the consecration and inauguration of the cathedral, officiated by Colombert in the presence of Governor Le Myre de Vilers. Remarkably, the construction was completed in just three years, significantly ahead of the initially projected five-year timeline.
Early Years and Developments (1880-1900)
Since the beginning of the history of Notre Dame Basilica Saigon, the twin bell towers of the cathedral stood at 36.6 meters, capped not with roofs but with a single, narrow staircase approximately 40 cm wide. The bell chambers, dimly lit and rudimentarily floored with small, spaced wooden planks, offered a vertiginous view down their depths.
In 1895, a significant architectural enhancement was undertaken. Architect Gardes designed two spires, each 21 meters tall, to cover the bell chambers, elevating the total height of the towers to 57 meters. From these heights, one could survey the expanse of Saigon’s urban landscape of that era. It was at this juncture that the cathedral was endowed with a unique set of six bells.
A French observer once remarked about the cathedral’s bells, “In all of the Far East, none can compare, and even in France, many cathedrals would envy them!”
These six bells, each tuned to a different note and crafted in 1879 by the Bolley bell foundry in France, are masterpieces of intricate design, with each bell featuring distinct decorative patterns. From the outside, the right tower houses four bells (G, C, D, E), while the left tower contains two (A, B). Each bell is adorned with exquisite motifs. The total weight of the bells is 27,055 kg, approximately 27 tons, and if one includes the counterweights (1,840 kg) attached to each bell, the total weight reaches 28,895 kg.
On ordinary days, the cathedral rings the E bell at 5 AM and the D bell at 4:15 PM. On Sundays and holidays, a chord of three bells, E, D, and C (ideally E, C, and G, but the G bell is too heavy, so it’s replaced with D), is played. On Christmas Eve, all six bells are rung, their sound carrying up to 10 km. The clock mechanism, situated 15 meters above ground between the towers, was manufactured in Switzerland in 1887 by R.A.
Despite its simplicity and age, it operates with remarkable accuracy. To adjust the clock, a smaller, household-sized clock is used for reference, allowing for easy monitoring of the larger clock’s accuracy. The clock must be wound weekly, using a crank similar to that of a car jack. The clock was also connected to a system that struck the hours on the cathedral’s bells, but this function is currently inoperative due to the age of the mechanism.
Mid-20th Century Changes (1900-1975)
From the initial construction of Notre Dame Cathedral, the square in front remained largely undeveloped, adorned only with floral plantings. It was over a decade after the cathedral’s inauguration that the area was transformed into a spacious plaza. At its center, a bronze statue, cast in France, was erected. This monument comprised a cylindrical base of red granite, surmounting which were the figures of Bishop Adran (Pigneau de Behaine), commonly known as Father Cả, and Prince Cảnh. Bishop Adran, a French Catholic priest, was a trusted advisor to Lord Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, while Prince Cảnh was his eldest son.
The statue stood from 1903 until October 1945 when it was dismantled by the people of Saigon, who perceived it as a symbol of national betrayal. The pedestal remained vacant for over a decade, a silent witness to the changing sentiments and history of the city.
In 1958, Father Joseph Phạm Văn Thiên commissioned the creation of a statue of Our Lady of Peace, crafted from the renowned Carrara marble of Italy. This exquisite work was sculpted in Pietrasanta, approximately 500 kilometers from Rome. Upon completion, the statue embarked on its journey to Vietnam aboard the ship Oyanox, departing from the port of Genoa on January 8, 1959, and arriving in Saigon on February 15, 1959.
The statue was then installed by the Société d’Entreprises on the empty pedestal in front of the cathedral, a space that had remained vacant since 1945. Father Thiên inscribed a prayer for peace on the statue, “May the Virgin Mary grant peace to Vietnam,” and recited it before a gathering of dignitaries.
The following day, Cardinal Krikor Bedros XV Aghagianian, visiting from Rome to preside over the closing ceremony of the National Congress of the Holy Mother, blessed the statue on the afternoon of February 17, 1959. This event led to the cathedral being colloquially known as Notre Dame Cathedral.
On December 5, 1959, the Holy See granted permission for the cathedral to be elevated to the status of a minor basilica, officially naming it Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon. This designation recognized the cathedral’s significance and its role as a central place of worship and peace in the heart of Saigon.
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral after the war (1975-2017)
In the years following the Vietnam War, Notre Dame Basilica emerged as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Amidst the rebuilding of a war-torn nation, the cathedral stood as a testament to resilience and hope. The cathedral’s role extended beyond its religious functions; it became a cultural landmark symbolizing the harmonious coexistence of diverse beliefs and traditions in a rapidly modernizing city.
Renovation time (2017-2027)
Since 2017, the Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon has been undergoing a significant renovation, projected to be completed by 2027. This iconic French Gothic architectural marvel in Vietnam, despite its historical significance, had suffered considerable wear and tear over the years. The comprehensive renovation plan, supported by local government and cultural preservationists, aims to restore the cathedral’s original grandeur while ensuring its structural integrity for future generations. The project faced challenges, including severe damage assessment, sourcing of original materials, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a delay in the original completion timeline. Despite these challenges, the renovation is progressing, with a focus on repairing the bell towers and zinc towers, and is expected to extend the cathedral’s lifespan by at least another century.
Meanwhile, visitors can go inside the church only during masses. Or else, they are recommended to do other activities such as Saigon City Tours to optimize their time visiting the best highlights of the city.
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