Notre Dame Cathedral shines brightly at the beginning of the Christmas season, attracting visitors to take photos.

In early December, Notre Dame Cathedral (Saigon Ward) was brilliantly illuminated with LED lights, attracting many locals and tourists to check in and experience the early Christmas atmosphere in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

In the days leading up to Christmas, Notre Dame Cathedral (Saigon Ward) becomes the focal point in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, adorned with a dazzling display.

This year, the church is decorated with over 1,000 LED lights, double the number from last Christmas. The dense lighting system covers the entire facade, creating a dazzling effect that stands out in the city.

In addition, a variety of motifs such as bells, stars, and pine trees have been added, making the scene more vibrant and eye-catching.

Father Ho Van Xuan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the decorative lights will be switched on from 6:45 PM to 11:00 PM daily and are expected to be dismantled on January 5, 2026. "2025 is a Jubilee Year of the Universal Catholic Church, so the decorations at the church are more elaborate than in previous Christmas seasons," the priest said.

A constant stream of people came to admire the scenery. Some young people even compared the scene to that of Paris. Phan Trung Hieu and Le Nguyen Khanh Ngan said this was their second time returning to the church.

Many passersby were curious and stopped their cars on the side of the road to take a picture.

The family of Mr. Pham Tan Phat (Binh Tri Dong ward) also took the opportunity to capture the end-of-year moments with their young children. He said that when he saw pictures of the decorated church in newspapers and on social media, he immediately invited the whole family to go for a walk and take souvenir photos.

Foreign tourists staying nearby also stopped when they saw the brightly lit church. One person shared that they wanted to capture these special moments during their holiday in Vietnam.

Mr. Khuu Quang Sang (Binh Loi Trung ward) brought his small dog here. "I want to preserve this memory with my 'boss'," he said, adjusting his pet's collar before posing for a photo.

Against a backdrop of hundreds of dazzling lights, the marble statue of Our Lady of Peace in front of the church stands out even more.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a symbol of the Catholic community and one of Ho Chi Minh City's iconic architectural landmarks, attracting a large number of international tourists every year. Construction began in 1877, designed by architect J. Bourard, and it was granted the title of Minor Basilica by the Vatican in 1959.

The cathedral is 60.5 meters tall, with the zinc tower and bell tower accounting for more than half of its height. After more than 130 years of use, the structure is still fenced off for restoration work.

The restoration project, which began in 2017, includes many complex items, requires significant funding, and has a long timeline, with completion expected in 2027.

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nha-tho-duc-ba-lung-linh-dau-mua-giang-sinh-hut-khach-den-check-in-2469488.html