Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese performs the blessing ritual for the two crosses at Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, Dec. 8, 2025. Photo by Read/Thanh Tung
Saigons Notre-Dame Cathedral has unveiled a striking new sight: two gold-plated crosses, each more than 3.7 meters tall and 400 kilograms, now glowing softly inside the dim, vaulted sanctuary.
Blessed on Dec. 8 by Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, the crosses are being displayed at eye level for just a few months, an intimate moment that will not come again for generations once they are hoisted onto the cathedral’s spires.
The pieces themselves carry their own narrative of craftsmanship and time. Forged from steel and gilded with ultra-thin gold leaf made by a European atelier tracing its roots back to 1600, the crosses took two years for Belgian artisans to complete.
Then came a five-week sea journey to Ho Chi Minh City, followed by protective casing in anti-glare acrylic so visitors can admire the gleam of the gold without damaging it.
Pilgrims and curious passersby have been drifting toward the back of the cathedral, where the crosses sit on raised platforms.
They are destined to replace the cathedral’s original 129-year-old crosses, which had deteriorated beyond repair.
Restoration experts from Vietnam and abroad agreed to preserve the French colonial design, keeping the new crosses as faithful as possible to the originals while ensuring they can withstand decades of tropical weather atop the 57-meter towers.
The blessing ceremony for the two gold-plated crosses. Video by Dinh Van
Their unveiling is part of a sweeping, multi-year renovation of Notre-Dame, the most extensive in the church’s 147-year history.
Later this month, workers will begin erecting scaffolding inside the nave to mend water-damaged walls, cracked surfaces, and structural elements weakened by time.
By April 2026, after the twin metal spires are fully restored, the gold-plated crosses will finally ascend to their permanent home. Exterior lighting, roof tiles and the brick façade will continue to be renewed through at least 2027.
Completed in 1880 and declared a minor basilica in 1959, Notre-Dame Cathedral remains one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most photographed and visited spaces, especially during Christmas and Lunar New Year.
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