On Christmas Eve, Saigon never sleeps.

From late afternoon, as the lights began to come on, the Christmas atmosphere spread throughout the streets, bringing with it the unique excitement and vibrancy of the country's most populous city.

As night falls, the streets of the city center quickly become crowded. People from many districts and counties flock to the city center, creating long lines of vehicles and dense crowds on the sidewalks. The honking of cars mingled with Christmas music emanating from shops and shopping malls, creating a lively atmosphere. Despite moving slowly through the sea of ​​people, many still seemed to enjoy the feeling of being immersed in the festive atmosphere that enveloped Saigon.

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The pink cathedral in the heart of Saigon attracts visitors during the Christmas season.

Crowds flocked to Notre Dame Cathedral to take photos during Christmas.

Notre Dame Cathedral continues to be one of the most popular destinations for people every Christmas season. From the square in front of the cathedral to the surrounding streets, crowds of people gather. Many families bring their young children to visit and take photos; groups of young people gather to chat and capture the first Christmas moments of the holiday season. Although the area is often packed with people, everyone patiently strolls around, finding a spot to take pictures with the cathedral and the surrounding decorations.

Right next to it, Diamond Plaza shopping mall has also become a popular meeting place during Christmas. The space is brightly decorated with a large Christmas tree, decorative lights, and eye-catching Christmas models. People stroll around the shopping center and take photos next to the decorations. Many choose Diamond Plaza as a stop before continuing their walk around Notre Dame Cathedral, creating a constant flow of people between the nearby locations.

The Christmas atmosphere is further enlivened by many people wearing cosplay costumes or carrying accessories characteristic of the holiday season. On the streets, it's easy to spot Santa hats, reindeer headbands, red cloaks, or wreaths on their heads. Some people prepare elaborate costumes, while others simply carry a small accessory, but all share the same spirit of immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere. These images contribute to making the Christmas scene on the streets of Saigon even more vibrant and joyful.

Tan Dinh Church is also a popular destination for tourists on Christmas Eve. From around 5 PM, the crowds on Hai Ba Trung Street become denser and slower as people arrive early to attend mass. Parishioners sing together, celebrating the birth of Christ, creating a solemn atmosphere. But after the service ends, with the presence of tourists and visitors, Tan Dinh Church transforms into a popular spot for taking photos and enjoying the Christmas spirit.

In older residential areas, the Christmas atmosphere is just as vibrant. Along Pham The Hien Street – one of Saigon's most magnificent Catholic neighborhoods – nativity scenes and Christmas displays are elaborately decorated and brightly lit. People from all over come here to visit, take photos, and experience the strong sense of community during Christmas.

People moved slowly, inching their way through the bustling shops, the brightly lit nativity scenes, and the celebratory tables set out in front of the entrances. Car horns mingled with lively music and impromptu street performances. Fireworks lit up a corner of the sky, and the church opened its doors to welcome the comings and goings of the crowds.

Although there was some minor traffic congestion, thanks to the presence of militia and neighborhood watch forces directing traffic, no incidents or accidents occurred, ensuring a complete Christmas Eve for the people.

In the Cholon district, Cha Tam Church, also known as St. Francis Xavier Parish Church, stands out as a special highlight on Christmas Eve. Unlike the imposing churches in the city center, Cha Tam impresses with its harmonious blend of Asian and European architecture: curved tiled roofs and decorative details reminiscent of the East are intertwined with Western-style layouts, archways, and bell towers. As night falls, Christmas lights illuminate the entire structure, creating an atmosphere that is both solemn and intimate, warm and inviting.

From around 7 PM, crowds began to flock to the church to attend the Christmas service. In the churchyard, the nativity scene decorated with artificial snow effects attracted many locals and tourists who stopped to take photos, capturing the Christmas moment in the heart of Saigon. Mr. Francis Sinnappan's family from Malaysia arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on December 23rd and stayed for five days. From 7 PM to 10 PM, the entire family participated in the Christmas service in a solemn and warm atmosphere, surrounded by many local parishioners at Cha Tam Church.

Attending Mass at a church in Vietnam for the first time, his family noticed that the sequence of the service was almost identical to that in Malaysia. “Thanks to the familiar hymns and the clear choir guidance, the family members were able to sing along even though the Mass was celebrated in Vietnamese,” Mr. Sinnappan shared. Some hymns had English lyrics, which made it even easier for them to integrate.

A common theme this Christmas season is that people's main activities remain strolling and taking photos. Instead of focusing on shopping or complicated entertainment, many simply want to go out, mingle with the crowds, and experience the festive atmosphere.

Even after midnight, Saigon showed no signs of slowing down. Christmas lights still shone, laughter and chatter echoed through the streets, and people continued to move between familiar meeting places. In that moment, Christmas was not just a holiday, but a sleepless night – a place where thousands of people gathered, shared joy, and contributed to the unique rhythm of Saigon, a city always awake to embrace the vibrant holiday seasons.

Text and photos: Quynh Mai