As you can see, the cathedral of Phat Diem was built to highlight Vietnamese architecture, not the prevailing French. This tower is perhaps the most beautiful.
The reflecting pool was put in front of the cathedral to help alleviate sounds from the neighborhood, allowing the grounds to be quiet and peaceful.
Here is a group of the girls in front of their dorm rooms on the grounds. The compound was built over 100 years ago and is still in excellent condition.
Here is a closer picture of the balcony on the second floor for the girls. Notice the amazing woodwork and the metal grate above the door to let air in.
This is a view of the bishop's house. Tony Sauer and I stayed in rooms on the second floor, with tall ceilings.
This is the view from the portico in front of our rooms. The grounds are immaculately kept and feature native plants that require minimal pruning and care.
This is the pond where the most beautiful koi are kept. Behind it is the washrooms for the girls. All day you can hear a large frog croaking every once in a while...it sounds like a dog with stomach problems. The water lillys are in constant bloom with large, magenta flowers. The boys weed it and the girls take out the snails that love to sit on the edges.
Here is a picture of Joseph going in front of me up the stairs to the bell tower at the cathedral. It is a narrow way but the view outside were tremendous.
Joseph is demonstrating how to ring the bell in the bell tower. There are four buttons on the bell, and it is rotated so that each button is struck for a specific season of the year: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Here is a better view of the bell. Notice the beautiful script on it.
Here is a view from the bell tower down onto one of the lesser towers. I loved how the stone not only gives it a sense of power but also of lightness...so yin-yang.
From the bell tower to the main tower of the cathedral.
Another view of the front of the cathedral.
