Vietnamese Christmas in unusual style! You can also meet Santa Claus on a motorcycle here. Find out more

Christmas in Vietnam has its specifics, its own Christmas customs and traditions.

Although Buddhism prevails here, it does not prevent anyone from celebrating Christmas.

Explore what Christmas celebrations look like and how different they are from European ones.

When is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam?

The Vietnamese celebrate the Christmas holiday on December 25, as do most other countries. Christmas is not an official public holiday here; many think it is only a Christian holiday.

Still, especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam’s biggest city, which used to be called Saigon), people (especially young people) like to go to the city center with a Catholic cathedral.

The streets are crowded with people on Christmas Eve. The holidays here are primarily commercial and cultural holidays that gained popularity due to the influence of Western culture.

What do the Vietnamese serve on the festive table?

Many restaurants in Vietnam offer Christmas buffets and menus with traditional dishes such as roast turkey and Christmas pudding. But you can also find delicious Vietnamese specialties like noodle soup on Christmas Day.

Since Vietnam was once part of the French Empire, many French traditions have influenced Vietnamese ones.

Some locals like to have a ‘reveillon,’ a traditional French dinner served on Christmas Eve. These include sumptuous dishes such as oysters, snails, and bûche de Noël, a chocolate cake.

Bûche de Noël is also a frequent gift.

Do you know Vietnamese Christmas traditions?

People celebrate Christmas by throwing confetti, taking pictures, and enjoying the Christmas decorations and lights of big hotels and department stores.

In the city center, roads are usually blocked off for the night so people can gather, eat, and drink in local bars and restaurants, a popular way to celebrate, especially among younger people.

Although Catholics make up only about 8% of Vietnam’s population, many churches throughout the country tend to be the center of Christmas celebrations.

Many people attend midnight mass on Christmas Day and return home for a delicious holiday feast. For many Vietnamese, Christmas is a time to have fun, shop, and celebrate with friends and family.

In some areas of Ho Chi Minh City, usually in Catholic parishes, people have large nativity scenes in front of their houses and decorate the entire street with Christmas decorations.

Since the country was a French colony, the Vietnamese way of celebrating Christmas draws from its colonial past. Catholic churches in the region have nativity scenes, often with life-size statues of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. These scenes can also be seen in front of some houses.

Although Christmas is no longer a public holiday, it remains one of Vietnam’s four main religious holidays.

Will the Christmas tree be decorated here?

Like abroad, Vietnam also uses classic decorations such as snowflakes and the ubiquitous Christmas trees. This tree is called “Cây Thông Noel,” which means “Christmas Pine Tree,” and is an indispensable part of the holiday decoration.

People often hang various glittering decorations and ornaments, including mistletoe, golden bells, snowflakes, presents, decorative lights, stars, and sometimes even money envelopes.

Who brings the children’s presents?

In the past, gifts were not a standard part of Christmas celebrations in Vietnam. However, this tradition has become more popular recently. Unlike the commonly known Santa Claus, who is said to fly on a sleigh and climb chimneys, the Vietnamese Santa Claus works a little differently.

It’s too hot for traditional Santa in Vietnam, but that doesn’t mean he can’t wear his traditional red suit, but Vietnamese style. Here he is known as “Ông già Noel”, meaning “Old Man Christmas”, and uses a motorbike to deliver presents.

What Christmas places to visit?

If you are going to celebrate Christmas here, you should not forget to visit some places.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral – Hanoi City

Located west of Hoan Kiem Lake, this church has witnessed various historical events and milestones of Vietnam’s capital city.

Chicken Church – Da Nang

The peculiarity of this church is that it has many names. Originally known as Da Nang Cathedral, it is also called the Pink Church (for its peculiar pink exterior), the Tourane Church or the Sacred Heart Church of Jesus.

Nha Trang Cathedral – Khanh Hoa Province

Nha Trang is one of the most famous tourist destinations. Especially since it boasts a breathtaking view of the sea. In addition, you should not miss the architecture of the local churches, especially the cathedral of the same name.

Hanoi Opera House

There are several musical performances in Hanoi on Christmas Day and December 25, especially in the French Quarter near the Opera House, but attending a performance at the Opera House itself is a must.

Shopping centers

Bitexco Financial Tower used to be the most popular and visited building. But since 2018, due to the opening of Landmark 81 (Vietnam’s tallest building), a large number of people have decided to celebrate the Christmas holidays here. Other popular shopping spots include Aeon Mall Binh Tan, Diamond Plaza (District 1), Saigon Centre, Takashimaya

Vietnamese beaches

With thousands of kilometers of sparkling coastline, there’s nothing better than heading to the beach to celebrate Christmas there. Join the locals at the bar to enjoy their food, sing carols, and watch the sunset over the ocean.