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People lined up, spreading carpets on the side of the church.
On the evenings leading up to Christmas, the streets of Saigon become more crowded not only with rush hour traffic but also with the large number of people flocking to the Notre Dame Cathedral area.
Taking photos of Notre Dame Cathedral when it's illuminated isn't a new trend. This trend emerged last Christmas, but this year the number of people flocking there is significantly higher. The cathedral's lights are switched on at 6:45 PM each day. Therefore, many people arrive earlier to reserve spots, spread out mats to sit on, and prepare their phones, cameras, tripods, or gimbals to take photos and videos, capturing the most beautiful images.
Paris Commune Street – the street surrounding Notre Dame Cathedral – is already crowded even before the lights are turned on.
Most areas around the church quickly filled up. Along both sides of the church, many groups spread out mats and sat waiting since early morning. The atmosphere was orderly, but the density of people increased as the lights-on time approached.
The most popular spot is the area next to Diamond Plaza shopping mall, offering a panoramic view of the church across the street. Han Thuyen Park, located right next to the church, has also become a popular gathering place with services such as renting mats for sitting and selling drinks. The Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, the pedestrian street right next to the church, is busier than usual these days, with people sometimes spilling out onto more than half the road to take photos.
Many people spread out mats and sat in the park waiting for the church lights to come on.
The book street area next to the church has become an impromptu "pedestrian street".
Bich Phuong, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, chose the 5th floor of Diamond Plaza shopping mall to admire the cathedral from above. Phuong said that when she arrived around 6 PM, the rooftop was almost full. The spots closest to the railing – those with a direct view of the cathedral – had been reserved very early, with some people waiting since around 4 PM.
According to Phuong, the 5th floor isn't as crowded as the area below, but if you arrive after 6 PM, you can barely see other people's backs. To take a good photo, you need to be tall or wait until after 7 PM when people start leaving. "The rooftop is free to enter, and there are shops around, so anyone who wants to sit can, otherwise it's all standing. The cleaning ladies here said it's just as crowded during the week, and even busier this year than last year," Phuong shared.
The 5th floor of Diamond Plaza shopping mall was just as crowded as the streets below.
Not only young people, but also many families with small children, elderly people, and foreign tourists appear in the area around Notre Dame Cathedral on these evenings. Many bring professional cameras, flashlights, and gimbals to capture the most beautiful moments when the cathedral is illuminated.
Another group tried their hand at the trend of taking photos and videos on social media. Many were willing to spend 300,000 to 400,000 VND to hire street photographers to take pictures with Notre Dame Cathedral. Some chose to experience riding a double-decker bus, circling the city center, timing their ride perfectly to capture the moment the lights came on, even though the journey was not easy due to traffic congestion.
Some tourists choose the double-decker bus as a way to view the cathedral when it's lit up at night.
Ngoc Han, a high school student in Saigon, arrived at the park in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary with her group of friends very early. Han said that the group had to arrive almost an hour before the lights came on to secure a spot. Drinks can be bought outside, but it's better to bring your own to save money. In addition, a handheld fan is essential when waiting for a long time, and it's advisable to use public transportation instead of private vehicles due to the difficulty in finding parking and the high parking fees.
Besides those who proactively came to take photos, many people didn't plan ahead but happened to pass by at the moment the church lit up and stopped to record. Some people waited on either side of the street, raising their phones to capture the moment the light illuminated the familiar landmark in the heart of the city.
Some young people intentionally come to take photos in front of the church and take the time to arrive early to secure a spot.
Some passersby accidentally witnessed the moment the lights came on and captured it on their phones.
When the church is lit up, a layer of golden light blankets the entire structure.
The moment the lights come on usually lasts only a few minutes, but it's enough to create a rare moment of simultaneous celebration. As the golden light bathes the church facade, the chatter subsides, and countless hands raise their phones and cameras. Some film videos, others snap photos continuously, and some simply stand and admire. Some take pictures and leave immediately, but others linger a little longer, as if to savor the festive atmosphere that is gradually becoming more apparent in the heart of the city.
Traffic congestion reflects the rhythm of urban life during the year-end season.
The large crowds caused traffic congestion around Notre Dame Cathedral. From around 6 PM, roads such as Le Duan, Han Thuyen, Nguyen Du, Pham Ngoc Thach, and especially Cong Xa Paris Street began to jam.
On the evenings of December 13th and 14th, with only about 10 days left until Christmas, many people took advantage of the weekend to go out and take photos. Not only were the sidewalks in front of Diamond Plaza shopping mall packed with people, but many also stood on the median strip on the other side of the road to take pictures. At times, people spilled onto the road, causing significant traffic congestion.
Many people crossed the median strip to take pictures of the church.
At the Phạm Ngọc Thạch - Lê Duẩn roundabout, the mixing of people and vehicles occurs frequently, leading to prolonged traffic jams. "Normally, it only takes about 5-10 minutes to go around the cathedral, but these past few nights it's taken more than 30 minutes, with cars inching forward," shared a commuter on Công Xã Paris street on the evening of December 14th.
The throngs of people around Notre Dame Cathedral on these evenings create a vivid snapshot of Saigon's urban life at the end of each year. There you'll find the excitement of young people, the patience of families bringing their young children out for an early Christmas outing, and the curiosity of tourists witnessing for the first time hundreds of people waiting for the moment of the lights.
At the roundabout where Pham Ngoc Thach and Le Duan streets meet, people taking photos spilled onto the road, causing traffic chaos.
From another perspective, this phenomenon demonstrates the immense need for public spaces and common meeting places for urban residents. No stage, no performance needed; simply illuminating a familiar landmark at the right time is enough to attract large crowds. In the fast-paced life of Saigon, the brief moment of pausing to wait for the church to light up is enough to create a unique and memorable experience for Christmas.
Even after the lights were turned on and the photos were taken, the crowds hadn't dispersed. It wasn't until around 9 PM that Notre Dame Cathedral returned to its familiar solemn atmosphere in the heart of the city, before the waiting cycle resumed the following evening.
