This December, Ho Chi Minh City’s historic heart is shining brighter than ever. The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon has unveiled a breathtaking holiday illumination featuring more than one thousand kilometers of LED lights draped across its façade, bell towers, and towering metal spires. The lights officially began glowing on December 1 and will continue enchanting the skyline each night until January 5, 2026.
For many residents, the cathedral has always been a Christmas landmark, but this year marks a new milestone. According to the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, the system now switches on at 6:45 p.m. and remains lit until 11 p.m., transforming the red-brick basilica into a luminous canvas visible across District 1. The installation is twice as extensive as last Christmas and introduces festive motifs including globes, bells, shining stars, and roofline patterns that trace the architectural lines of one of Vietnam’s most recognized religious buildings. From a distance, the twin spires sparkle like Christmas trees rising above the city’s evening bustle.
Father Ignatio Ho Van Xuan, who supervises ongoing restoration, emphasizes that the illumination balances visual celebration with structural care. Heat-free LEDs were specifically selected to avoid affecting the surrounding greenery and to protect fragile 19th-century materials now undergoing repair. The basilica has been under restoration since 2017, a project originally scheduled for only a few years but now expected to continue until 2027 due to extensive wear, complex structural issues, and pandemic-related delays. Repair work on roofing, brickwork, and tower reinforcement continues behind the scenes even as the cathedral shines in its most festive form.
Built in the late 1800s and designated a minor basilica in 1959, Notre-Dame Cathedral remains one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most beloved gathering points during Christmas and Lunar New Year. It has long represented a cultural touchpoint – drawing families, photographers, and international visitors – into its courtyard and nearby streets filled with seasonal decorations and atmosphere. The new installation elevates this annual tradition while offering a fresh nighttime attraction at the center of the city.
As holiday crowds gather and the skyline glows golden, Saigon’s historic basilica temporarily steps beyond its role as a quiet architectural treasure. For five festive weeks, it becomes a radiant symbol of celebration, heritage, and communal spirit at the very heart of the city.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 