Quote Originally Posted by Brad the Impala View Post
I wonder if these two pieces of information are connected.
The St Joseph cathedral is one of the Grandes Dames of Hanoi.
The bell towers are clearly head & shoulder above the roofs of most buildings in the Old Quarter.
Some tourists find the settings charming, the rustic structures & the small square in front, plus the bell chimes. But in the still of the night, the punctual chimes can be a bit annoying, if your hotel room is facing the square. Some hotels have good double glazed Windows, and rooms facing away from the church don't hear much from the bell.
But it remains one of the attractions of the Old Quarter by virtue of its proximity to other sites. Only 200m to the lake & BC bar, convenient for pickups & dropoffs for tourists taking tours, 900m from the Opera House, 1-2km from museums & historical sites. And of course the numerous hostels, guesthouses, & hotels, restaurants & bars etc etc.