The Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City says the massive lighting system has been fully installed and tested, and now switches on nightly from 6:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The LED lighting installation around Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City center.

This year's display is twice as large as last Christmas, adding new motifs such as globes, stars, bells and roofline patterns, while the two metal spires are outlined with LED "Christmas trees."

Father Ignatio Ho Van Xuan, who oversees the restoration of the 19th-century basilica, says the lights are designed to create a warm festive atmosphere and offer a new nighttime landmark for locals and visitors. Heat-free LEDs were chosen to protect the surrounding greenery and the cathedral’s structure, which has been under restoration since 2017.

Built in the late 1800s and designated a minor basilica in 1959, Notre-Dame Cathedral remains one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most visited sites during Christmas and Lunar New Year.

Restoration work, originally planned for 2–3 years, has been extended to 2027 due to extensive wear and pandemic delays, with repairs continuing on the towers, roof tiles and interior brickwork.

The holiday lighting display will remain on through early January, turning the landmark into one of the city’s most festive spots of the season.

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