Foreign tourists surprised by packed streets on Christmas Eve

Frenchwoman Lisa said in her home country Christmas is typically spent at home with families gathering for dinner rather than heading out into the streets as people do in Vietnam.

She chose Ho Chi Minh City as her Christmas destination this year after first visiting Vietnam five years ago. The 30-year-old had planned to attend Christmas Eve Mass at Tan Dinh Church on Dec. 24, drawn by its central location and historic architecture.

However, with the church packed by the time she arrived, she decided to take photos outside before heading to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

She was “quite impressed” by the atmosphere and enjoyed experiencing the city at the end of the year, she said.

From around 7 p.m. churches across Ho Chi Minh City were crowded with both locals and tourists attending religious services and soaking up the festive mood.

Streets such as Le Duan, Nguyen Du and Cong Xa Paris around the Notre Dame Cathedral were congested.

Traffic was particularly heavy on Hai Ba Trung Street in front of Tan Dinh Church as thousands of people and vehicles arrived for the Christmas service.

Police and civil defense forces were deployed to regulate the traffic.

Streets around the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is packed on Christmas Eve on Dec. 24, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

In HCMC’s Chinatown, Cha Tam Church (St Francis Xavier Parish Church) also attracted large numbers of people from 7 p.m. It even received some foreigners despite not being known well by international visitors.

The family of Malaysian tourist Francis Sinnappan arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 23 for a five-day stay.

Because they arrived at the Notre Dame Cathedral after Mass had already started, their family looked for an alternative. Sinnappan’s daughter searched for nearby churches using ChatGPT and received several suggestions. The family eventually chose Cha Tam Church, drawn by its distinctive architecture and unusual name.

The family attended Mass from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sinnappan said the weather and festive atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City were similar to those in Malaysia. He noted that the structure of Catholic services in Vietnam closely resembled those in Malaysia.

“Thanks to the familiar hymn melodies and the clear guidance from the choir, we were able to sing along even though the Mass was conducted in Vietnamese.”

Some hymns included English lyrics, making it easier for foreign worshippers to participate.

The family was also “surprised by the meticulous preparation and natural performance” of local parishioners during the Christmas Eve program.

Cha Tam Church was easy to access since it is not in the city center, and his family avoided traffic, Sinnappan said.

After the service, they headed into the city center to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral before returning to their hotel. On the morning of Dec. 25, they planned to visit Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, known for its Christmas decorations, to sightsee and shop.

Another Malaysian tourist, Ryan, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City with his family on Dec. 22. He said they went to Tan Dinh Church at 4 p.m. to pray and celebrate Christmas.

The Ryan’s family at Tan Dinh Church in Ho Chi Minh City on the night of Dec. 24, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Anh

“Christmas in Vietnam is more spectacular than we imagined, from the atmosphere to the church services,” he said.

In Hanoi too, the lively Christmas Eve atmosphere impressed many foreign visitors.

At a bar on the 10th floor of a hotel on Hang Be Street, Hugo, Line and Matthew enjoyed live music and drinks while seeing the city heave below.

The trio, who are taking a post-graduation “gap year” to travel, said they had almost forgotten it was Christmas Day.

“In France, Christmas is all about lavish dinners and warm family gatherings,” Hugo said.

“We wanted to celebrate Christmas in our own way in Vietnam.”

He would not have had the chance to spend time with friends if he had stayed in France, and was happy to break from tradition and enjoy Christmas in Hanoi, he added.

At a nearby table, Diana, Claire and Annalisa, a group of middle-aged British friends, were also enjoying the Christmas music performed by the artists.

(From L) Three British tourists Diana, Claire, and Annalisa celebrate their first Christmas in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Tu

They added that the weather in Hanoi was far more pleasant than the harsh cold in England, which made the experience especially enjoyable.

“It’s wonderful to see Santa Claus everywhere and the streets decorated as if it were a major holiday,” Annalisa said.

She noted that in England Christmas is typically celebrated on the night of Dec. 25 with wine and soft music.

She was surprised to see people in Hanoi filling the streets to celebrate as early as Dec. 24.