Why choose to travel in December, January, and February? Because the period from December to February is considered the holiday season in Vietnam, and it's when the most important holidays of the year occur: Christmas, New Year's Day, and Tet. In Vietnam, during this period, there is always a lively atmosphere, especially when Tet arrives. People are busy preparing decorations, buying ingredients for traditional dishes, buying flowers, cleaning their homes, etc. If you visit Vietnam during this period, read on to find out how to make the most of the celebrations and the magic of the holiday season in Vietnam. Get excited for a moment in a country still imbued with diverse influences.

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Christmas in Vietnam

Does Vietnam celebrate Christmas?

To begin with, Christmas is not a public holiday in Vietnam. People go to work as usual, and all businesses have normal operating hours. Furthermore, Vietnam's long-established religions are Buddhism and the Chinese philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism. Therefore, in the past, Christmas was only celebrated by the Christian community.

In recent days, Christmas is becoming increasingly popular and is considered one of the four most important festivals in Vietnam, alongside the Buddha's birthday, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Lunar New Year. The Vietnamese Christmas celebration begins on the evening of December 24th and often lasts until the next day.

How is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam?

Nowadays, Christmas in Vietnam is welcomed with enthusiasm and joy by locals, especially those in big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. They gladly join in the celebrations and decorate the cities.

A few weeks before Christmas Day, many offices and shops display sophisticated ornaments with a very Western look, full of lights, fairy lights adorning Christmas trees, and Santa Clauses. Many shops, as well as restaurants, offer special promotions for this grand celebration.

Young people like to gather in the city center where the cathedrals are located, such as St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi and Notre Dame Cathedral in District 1 of Saigon. On this day, Vietnamese celebrities often appear here for Christmas events, including music concerts.

Speaking of the Christian people in Vietnam, Christmas is an occasion for family reunion, a time of gala and celebration. Like people in Western countries, Vietnamese Christians return home and enjoy Christmas dishes, which have been modified to suit local tastes. For example, chicken soup and sweet fruit cakes are often replaced by turkey and Christmas pudding.

What happens on Christmas Eve?

Vietnam was a French colony in the past, so the Vietnamese Christmas celebration is influenced by French tradition. On Christmas, churches and some Christian homes will have a Christmas nativity scene. People listen to Christmas carols, throw confetti, take photos, enjoy the magic of Christmas night, offer their best wishes and Christmas gifts to others. Children are eager to receive gifts from Santa Claus.

So, if you're coming to spend Christmas in Vietnam but are still hesitant about where to go, here are some ideas on what each major city in Vietnam offers in terms of celebration.

Hanoi - Best place to spend Christmas in Vietnam

In Hanoi, the weather at Christmas is colder. The temperature tends to drop as night falls. Make sure not to forget to bring a warm coat.

Hanoi's famous St. Joseph's Cathedral (which somewhat resembles Notre Dame de Paris) attracts many people, as do the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake, a very central place for gatherings between locals and foreigners.

Hang Ma, a street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, sells all kinds of constantly evolving holiday decorations and quickly adapts to the Christmas spirit from the beginning of the winter season. This means you can buy any Christmas ornament here, as well as your favorite Christmas cards and pictures. On Christmas Eve and November 25th, several musical performances take place in Hanoi, especially in the French Quarter near the opera house, but a show at the opera house itself is a must-see.

Christmas Eve in Saigon Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the most important city in Vietnam, and it is very active at Christmas. People often want to celebrate Christmas in Catholic cathedrals. They close nearby streets to cars at these times to make it easier for large crowds. Meanwhile, in Hanoi, people look forward to celebrating Christmas in the winter cold. In Ho Chi Minh, the weather will be like summer! The weather and the energy of the crowd make the city center warmer.

Decorations are plentiful. And you will find decorated and illuminated trees, as well as Santa Claus everywhere. There, Notre Dame Cathedral is very popular. Here are some places to suggest for you to enjoy the Christmas excitement: The street of light and candles on Thanh Cong street, the Eiffel model at Tan Phu church, Nguyen Van Binh book street, Water Music Park (District 5), Bui Vien street.

A magical Christmas in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a fishing village. Once an important port in Southeast Asia, it still retains much charm and influences in its architecture, both Japanese, Chinese, and French. Its picturesque location on the banks of the Thu Bon River makes it look like Venice. You can enjoy the gastronomy of central cuisine, take a bike everywhere, have custom-made clothes in one of the many tailors in the city (or shoes and bags). In addition, it is an excellent city to practice yoga and enjoy spa treatments. And finally, there's the beach! A short boat ride from the coast, you will find the Cham Islands or Cau Dai beach.

Try to be there around the lantern festival and you will be treated to a romantic and warm atmosphere when the city is plunged into darkness and you will only see the lights of lanterns floating in the river.

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Tet in Vietnam

As a traveler, you may not need to feel all the excitement and emotions of the Vietnamese, although there are some things you should probably know. Note: Tet will fall from January 24th to 27th this year, these tips apply to anyone traveling from January to February in Vietnam.

Transportation during holidays in Vietnam

This is a problem that seems to affect most travelers. Undoubtedly, it is quite difficult to plan your trip when plane, train, and bus tickets are almost entirely booked. The Tet holidays take place when domestic travel volumes increase, especially the South-North route before Tet and North-South after Tet. Tet, just like Christmas, is a time for family reunions and, therefore, trains and trains connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City are sold out long in advance.

Although Vietnam Airlines adds hundreds of flights to facilitate traffic during Tet, we strongly recommend booking your plane tickets as early as possible. There will be a price increase on international routes, as at Christmas, because many overseas Vietnamese return home to celebrate Tet. On domestic routes, the price will not change much, but tickets are difficult to buy, especially Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa. The same rules apply for booking train tickets: popular routes such as Hanoi - Sapa, Hanoi - Danang, Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang and vice versa. Most agents may refuse your ticket request if your travel date is too close.

Accommodation during the holiday

Hotels in Vietnam during Tet are abundant - there's no need to worry about overbooked hotel rooms. The Tet holiday is not a time of leisure for most locals, so you'll have plenty of accommodation choices. Some hotels organize special parties or New Year's celebrations, so inquire in advance to be part of the holiday joys.

Note, however, that most accommodation services will increase the price if you stay during the Tet holiday, attributing it to the "hot season." Check before booking!

Sights to see during the holiday

The bad news: many museums, mausoleums, indoor exhibition halls, and art galleries will be closed for at least 4 days, from January 24 to 27.

The good news: the beach will be empty, cities will be vacant (on Tet day) - a great time for those who love tranquility.

You can, however, use these two pieces of information to your advantage by planning your itinerary accordingly: visit museums just before or after Tet, and during Tet, relax or stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarter or sunbathe on the beach.

Food during the holiday

Most restaurants will be closed during Tet. Most will be open until the end of January 24 (the last day of the old lunar year) and reopen on January 26 and 27. Markets will continue to operate even if vendors are scarce. So, Tet may not be the best time for culinary tour fans. But Tet is unlike any other event of the year - there is a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes that are not available elsewhere, such as Banh Chung, boiled chicken, pickled onions. If you are invited to a Vietnamese family, this would be the ideal plan. Otherwise, a visit to the Tet market - special markets selling New Year's products - will surely be an amazing experience, whether you are in a big city or a rural mountain province. Prepare your camera!

Shopping

Like restaurants, many shops will be closed on the first days of the lunar new year. Some shops will remain open, with far fewer vendors than you normally see, even in major markets like Dong Xuan Market or Ben Thanh Market. To your surprise, many products will be sold at a very reasonable price as most vendors want to start a smooth sales year. Try not to bargain or if you do, do it politely, otherwise you will be considered to bring bad luck for the entire new year.

General atmosphere

We love Vietnam during the holidays. Everyone is so happy to spend time with friends and family. The decorations are also beautiful. Flowers are an integral part of the holiday. So you can admire flowers everywhere in the country. The good vibes are contagious. Holiday season is the happiest time of the year in Vietnam.

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Tips from Typic Travel

• Remember that during the holiday season, booking services such as transportation will be more difficult, which is why we advise you to book in advance
  
• Dress code tips: For the North and Center, we advise you to bring warm (a sweater or fleece) and waterproof clothing, as it can get really cold (drizzle + wind). If you go to the South, also pack light outfits such as: T-shirts, shirts, light pants, bikini,...

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