Contractors were already busy placing restricted access barriers around the cathedral at the beginning of the month and just days after the restoration got the go ahead. The estimated time needed to finish the renovation is three years.
This means tourists will be barred from visiting although the cathedral is still open for those wishing to celebrate Mass on Sunday mornings. The cathedral is the only place in Ho Chi Minh which celebrates Mass in English. Attendance for the service is one of the highest worldwide.
Notre Dame dates from the 1880s and structural experts and civil engineers say repairs are urgently needed to ensure the famous sight is preserved for posterity. Officials in charge of the restoration say around 125,000 roof tiles are being imported.
12GO ASIA says that despite Notre Dame’s closure, there are scores of other reasons to visit Vietnam’s second city. Gia Long Palace Museum, traditional Vietnamese water-puppet shows, Ben Thanh Market and unique dining experiences are among the highlights.
Ho Chi Minh Cathedral shuts for three year renovation
News in Asia
Ho Chi Minh City’s landmark Notre Dame Cathedral has been closed for tourists to allow a full scale renovation to take place. The work will see the structure’s famous twin steeples repaired and reinforced and the roof re-tiled.