Christmas in Vietnam

Vietnamese Christmas traditions are different from western, although some have been adopted from France in the 19th century, such as eating Yule Log and attending Midnight Mass.

December weather in Vietnam is hot and humid, so locals spend much time outdoors, bonding with nature, shopping at Christmas fairs, or relaxing on the beach.

Christmas in Vietnam unites locals of all religions because Vietnamese are outgoing people who are always up for a party and respect traditions of other cultures.

Christmas Decorations

Christmas decorations in Vietnam are abundant despite most of the country’s population being Buddhists who don’t believe in Jesus.

Shopping malls, cafes, hotels, and streets are decked out in buoyant decorations like fairy lights, candy canes, and Christmas trees.

Despite the country’s warm climate, snowflakes and other snow-related decorations are very popular in Vietnam.

Christmas trees in Vietnam are usually artificial, but some locals adorn Indian Milkwood pines native to the region with baubles and tinsel.

Vietnamese climate is favorable for poinsettias that bloom with fiery red flowers across the country. Overall, Vietnam in winter is very colorful because of all the gorgeous blooms, so nature makes the best Christmas décor.

Local Christians adorn their doorways with evergreen garlands with berries and pinecones and hang Advent wreaths. Many put candle bridges, lanterns, stars, and other illumination on the windowsills.

Vietnamese rarely decorate house exteriors to the same extent as Americans, but twinkling lights along the roof and around windows are common. Although Vietnamese don’t have chimneys, they often hang stockings for gifts on walls or windows.

Children craft paper garlands saying “Merry Christmas” in school or together without their parents. Some locals set up nativity scenes depicting Jesus in a manger, Mary, Joseph, farm animals, shepherds, and other biblical characters.

Christmas Food

Although some Vietnamese are Christians, there’s no such thing as Vietnamese Christmas dinner. Vietnamese don’t eat turkey with stuffing, roast pork, Christmas ham, or any other particular dish like Americans or Europeans.

Instead, each family cooks their favorite dishes from Asian cuisine. Not having a traditional menu to anticipate for Christmas may be difficult to imagine for people from the west, but it allows everyone to enjoy dishes they genuinely love.

Some Vietnamese eat roast pork with pineapples or beef noodles with lemongrass and fermented shrimp paste, served with lime wedges, diced spring onions, and cilantro.

Despite the name, spring rolls are popular in wintertime in Vietnam and are commonly sold at Christmas fairs. The filling can be different – for Christmas, Vietnamese seek something more filling than vegetables, such as beef.

Noodle soup Pho is an all-time Vietnamese cuisine staple; locals eat it year-round, including Christmas. Cold vermicelli noodles topped with grilled pork, pickled vegetables, and chopped lettuce is another famous recipe.

Just like there’s no traditional Vietnamese Christmas dish, there’s no Vietnamese Christmas dessert. You may find gingerbread and panettone at Christmas fairs and other tourist-oriented locations, but locals prefer something from Vietnamese cuisine.

For example, many Vietnamese make che – a sweet, layered pudding-like beverage with fruits, beans, seeds, tapioca powder, and coconut milk, perfect for the hot weather.

Coconut jelly cakes are another refreshing snack favored by locals in December. Vietnamese have pastry, too – Bánh trung thu are mooncakes with sweet, dense filling from coconut, sunflower and sesame seeds, and beans.

Because Vietnam was once a French colony, some locals serve Buche Noel cake (Yule Log). It’s a delicious chocolate roulette decorated to resemble a log, often topped with berries and sugar powder imitating snow.

Tourists can find mulled wine and eggnog in hotels, but you likely wouldn’t want to drink anything hot at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Locals usually drink rice wine or rose myrtle liqueur.

Gift Exchange

Gift exchange is the most anticipated element of Christmas celebrations in Vietnam, and not solely among Christians. Some locals of other religions also use the opportunity to make their loved ones a bit happier by presenting them with small gifts.

Vietnamese kids believe in Santa Claus and call him Ông già Noel, translated as Christmas Old Man. Despite the hot weather, Vietnamese Santa Claus wears the traditional fur-trimmed suit and has a long white beard.

However, Santa’s reindeer refuse to fly in such heat, so he has to switch for something more appropriate like a bicycle or motorcycle. It isn’t uncommon to see local men dressed as Santas roaming the city streets on bikes.

Some Vietnamese parents hire someone to dress like Santa and deliver gifts to their kids, while others tell children that Santa has left presents under the Christmas tree while everyone was asleep.

Vietnamese don’t usually exchange gifts with colleagues but may send Christmas cards to acquaintances and extended family.

Church Services

Although the Christian community in Vietnam isn’t particularly large, the country has plenty of stunning churches that become the hub of celebrations on Christmas Eve.

Religious Vietnamese attend the Midnight Mass on December 24 and Christmas Day Mass the next morning. The Midnight Mass usually begins around 10 p.m. and ends when the clock strikes midnight.

Christmas church services in Vietnam differ by denomination but almost always involve reading passages from the scriptures, praying at the altar, singing hymns, and an optional Holy Communion.

The center of Catholicism in North Vietnam is the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi, named after Virgin Mary’s husband. It’s a glorious example of gothic architecture built during the French colonial era, resembling a mini version of Notre Dame de Paris.

Another noteworthy church in Vietnam is the Notre-Dame Basilica in Ho Chi Minh City, a popular place among European tourists. A picture-worthy pink church in Ho Chi Minh City is undoubtedly the most cheerful place to spend Christmas Eve in Vietnam.

Basilica of Immaculate Conception in Phu Nhai is among the largest in the country, consisting of two churches built at different times. Like most churches in the region, it was built by the French.

Shopping

Whether Christian, Buddhist, or atheist, Vietnamese love Christmas shopping because many department stores put on huge sales at Christmas time. Locals rush to buy gifts for their loved ones, gadgets, homeware, and new clothes.

Holiday tunes playing in shopping malls embrace the festive cheer. Christmas market culture isn’t yet widespread in Vietnam, but recently, more and more holiday fairs have been popping up across the country in December.

For example, the German-style Christmas market in Hanoi, organized by Goethe Institute Vietnam, allows European tourists to feel at home and Vietnamese to experience something entirely different.

Opposing the Cua Bac Church, the market features under 20 stalls but is in no way boring, offering a wide selection of arts, crafts, traditional European foods, drinks, and attractions.

A few days before Christmas, the market holds a concert where Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra plays classical Christmas music pieces by Bach and Mozart.

Ho Chi Minh City is a popular destination for flea market lovers year-round, but at Christmas time, town locals and tourists can shop for seasonal decorations and foods.

Beach Fun

The weather inevitably influences Christmas traditions. While Europeans skate on ice rinks and build snowmen, Vietnamese prefer to spend their winter holidays on the beach.

Vietnam’s coastline extends for thousands of kilometers, so there’s no Christmas activity better than soaking in the sun, swimming, and sipping cocktails while listening to the sound of waves.

Children love to play football and volleyball on the beach or build sand castles. Watching the sunset at the beach is the most romantic activity for couples.

When the sun goes down, beach parties begin popping up along the coast, where Vietnamese drink, sing carols, and dance. On Christmas Eve night, many locals head to the nearest beach to launch fireworks.

Other Activities

Vietnam has plenty of Christmas activities for any preference, apart from tanning on the beach and shopping. For example, crafty locals and tourists can participate in Santa’s workshop at Hocket Haus + Crafts and make their own wreaths, cards, and ornaments.

Vietnamese hotels go all out with Christmas displays and activities to please tourists. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel Hanoi introduces Christmas music concerts, magical decorations, and a small holiday fair.

Local churches also hold concerts with caroling and nativity plays, where children perform the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth, and the Magi’s arrival.

For example, the atmospheric town of Hoi An draws crowds of Catholics and curious onlookers annually for the nativity play and caroling at the church on Ly Thuong Kiet.

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate Christmas in Sapa, a fantastic region surrounded by foggy peaks and spectacular valleys.

Da Nang municipality organizes an annual arts and crafts market at Rainforest café and a holiday street festival with live music the weekend before Christmas.

Ho Chi Minh City visitors can party on the Christmas cruise or indulge in exquisite buffets in five-star hotels. Whatever your pick, spending time at home isn’t customary among Vietnamese.