Christmas is a major celebration for Catholics. However, for many years now, the Christmas season has not only been a Catholic holiday, but has become a festival for the whole community. Immersing in the special atmosphere of the holiday season, with the joy of reunion and peace, is a common experience of many people when they flock to visit churches where Christmas activities are held.
Hang Ma Street (Hoan Kiem District), which specializes in selling toys and home decorations, is one of the streets that changes color the most clearly. Stalls displaying Christmas trees, clothes, Santa hats, toys and many other decorations attract a lot of shoppers, especially when Christmas falls on the weekend.
Hang Ma Street is always an ideal place attracting many people and tourists to come and have fun and take souvenir photos.
Visiting Hang Ma Street during Christmas, visitors will be overwhelmed by the whole street sparkling in the colors of Christmas. Crowds of young people visiting and taking pictures make the atmosphere of the year-end holiday season even more bustling.
The most crowded places during Christmas are churches. Since early December, at the Great Church (Church Street, Hoan Kiem District), a giant Christmas tree, 16 meters high, has been erected along with a model of Jesus being born in a manger.
Hanoi is home to a large concentration of Catholic and Protestant followers, with about 200,000 people. Catholic and Protestant people are preparing for Christmas 2023 early by decorating churches into attractive cultural spaces.
Since the beginning of December, the Christmas atmosphere has filled Nha Tho Street and Hang Ma Street.
Ho Chi Minh City is no less vibrant and bustling. From the evening of December 23, the streets in District 1 and Nguyen Hue walking street became congested because of the large number of people pouring out to welcome Christmas.
Tan Dinh Church (District 3) and Notre Dame Cathedral (District 1) have become familiar meeting places for many believers and people of all religions and classes to come here to pray and enjoy the festive atmosphere in joy and happiness.
Tan Dinh Church is brilliant during Christmas season.
Notre Dame Cathedral is a popular gathering place these days.
In particular, joining the crowd heading towards Notre Dame Cathedral, which is illuminated with sparkling lights, listening to the church bells and clear hymns ringing in the chilly year-end weather makes people's hearts filled with emotions.
In addition, in Ho Chi Minh City, Diamond Plaza shopping mall (District 1) is one of the earliest places to decorate with a uniquely designed scene, attracting a large number of people and tourists to visit and take photos. This year, the shopping mall is especially beautiful with elaborate decorations, using the white, blue and red colors of the Christmas season. Pine trees, snowmen and rows of bright decorative lights create a splendid festive picture.
Brightly decorated shopping malls are also places for young people to check-in.
Christmas has gone beyond the boundaries of a religious event, becoming an occasion for the community to participate in fun and entertainment activities and convey messages of love to relatives and the community.
