This year Christmas falls on a weekday, but that doesn’t make the atmosphere any less exciting. On the evening of December 24, people and tourists flocked to central areas of Hanoi, especially churches.
Many international tourists have had memorable experiences celebrating Christmas in the capital for the first time.
“This is my first time celebrating Christmas in Vietnam. I am surprised that in Hanoi, people celebrate Christmas so grandly. They decorate the Church very splendidly and grandly. I think I can have a complete Christmas season in Vietnam because they celebrate Christmas here as grandly as other places,” said Luna, a Danish tourist.
Karly, an Australian tourist, shared that she and her husband have been in Hanoi for 4 days. “We came here to celebrate Christmas together because we heard that Christmas is celebrated very big in Hanoi. This is also the first time I celebrate Christmas in another country. It is really exciting and surprising. We had a great experience here with delicious food and a bustling festive atmosphere.”
“Vietnamese people celebrate Christmas as much as in Australia. Perhaps the only difference is that Australians will have a few days off to prepare for the festival. In Vietnam, people still go to work. However, the streets are still very crowded and bustling. People still take time to celebrate the festival,” she added.
Ms. Palan, a Danish tourist, shared that she had been in Hanoi for 2 days. Although she had previously visited Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, she still found the Christmas atmosphere in Hanoi different from other cities in Vietnam.
“The Christmas atmosphere in Hanoi is truly more vibrant and grand than I imagined. I did not think that I would experience streets filled with pine trees, lights, and beautiful Christmas decorations like this in Hanoi,” she said.
The tourist admitted that she thought Vietnam would be a hot and humid country, so she and her husband only brought short-sleeved clothes. “We feel quite cold now. But maybe the vibrant and bustling festival atmosphere here will warm us up,” she said.
A Frenchman who has lived and worked in Vietnam for more than 10 years shared: “Vietnam is a friendly and warm country. Although not many people follow Catholicism, Vietnam is still open and many people organize and celebrate Christmas.
The festive atmosphere in Vietnam is always very bustling and joyful. It is truly a livable country, not only for its diverse culture or rich cuisine but also for the spirit of the people here. They are friendly, optimistic and open-minded.
