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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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