CHRISTMAS IN VIETNAM — Is it celebrated? ⭐

Christmas in Vietnam: A Holiday Making Its Way into the Heart of Asia

• • Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays around the world. Although its roots lie in Christian tradition, today it is celebrated by millions of people of various faiths—or no faith at all—across the globe. Every nation and culture has adapted this holiday in its own way. Some traditions are adopted, others are adapted or replaced with local symbols and rituals.

Vietnam: A Country Where Christmas Is Not a Tradition but Is Gaining Ground

• • In Vietnam—a country deeply rooted in Buddhism and rich in Confucian and traditional values—Christmas has not historically been a native holiday. Only about 7–8% of the population practices Christianity, primarily Catholicism, and it is within these communities that Christmas celebrations have the strongest footing. Nevertheless, in recent decades, this holiday has increasingly appeared in the lives of those who do not identify with any religion.

A Celebration of Faith, Style, and Joy

• • Christmas in Vietnam today is a fascinating blend—it connects the spiritual dimension of the Catholic minority with youthful enthusiasm for Western style and the romantic ambiance of the holiday season. For many Vietnamese people, it is less of a religious celebration and more of an event to decorate their homes, exchange gifts, dine out with friends, and enjoy a city bathed in colorful lights.

What You’ll Find in This Article

• • How is Christmas celebrated in Vietnam? When is it celebrated and how long does it last? What are the differences between rural and urban areas? What traditions are preserved, what foods are prepared, and what gifts do Vietnamese people exchange? This article offers a detailed look at how this European holiday has settled in Southeast Asia—and how it is taking on its own unique and charming form.

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Vietnam ➜

1. Celebrating Christmas in Vietnam: Who and Why?

• • Vietnam is predominantly a Buddhist country, where religious traditions of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism influence most of the population. Christians make up about 7–8% of the population, primarily Catholics, which gives Christmas a solid religious foundation in the country. Catholic communities, especially in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang, celebrate Christmas in traditional ways, including midnight Masses.
• • However, over the past two decades, with the rise of globalization and commercialization, Christmas has evolved beyond a purely religious holiday and become a trendy event even for young and secular Vietnamese. For many young people and families without a strong religious background, Christmas is an opportunity for gathering, entertainment, and gift exchange.

2. When and How Long Is Christmas Celebrated in Vietnam?

• • Christmas in Vietnam is celebrated similarly to Western countries, mainly on December 24 and 25. While the most important moment for Catholics is the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, for most people the celebrations are more commercial and social in nature.
• • However, the festive Christmas atmosphere appears in cities as early as the beginning of December. Shops, malls, and streets are decorated with Christmas trees, colorful lights, and themed decorations that often last until the first days of the new year.
• • In rural areas and more traditional environments, Christmas is less visible and often not celebrated at all.

3. Christmas Decorations and Atmosphere in the Cities

Christmas Lights and Trees

• • In major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang, Christmas lights brighten the streets, parks, and shopping centers throughout December. Vietnamese Christmas decorations often combine classic elements such as Christmas trees, stars, and ornaments with local motifs, such as bamboo decorations or lanterns, which are traditional symbols of Vietnamese festivals.
• • In some shopping centers, you may see giant Christmas trees and Nativity scenes, even though Nativity scenes are not a traditional symbol in Vietnamese culture.

Christmas Markets and Public Celebrations

• • Although not as widespread as in Europe, some cities host small Christmas markets selling ornaments, small gifts, and both traditional Vietnamese and Western sweets. These markets often feature street musicians and performances of Christmas carols.

4. How Do Vietnamese People Celebrate Christmas? Traditions and Customs

Family Gatherings and Shared Dinners

• • As in many cultures, Christmas in Vietnam is an opportunity for family gatherings. While most Vietnamese people celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tết) as the main family holiday, Christmas provides another occasion to be with loved ones.
• • On Christmas Eve, families gather for a festive dinner that may be a mix of traditional Vietnamese dishes and a few Western specialties. The dinner is often generous and includes favorite Vietnamese foods prepared in a celebratory way.

Gifts and Gift-Giving

• • Gifts under the Christmas tree are not a fixed tradition in Vietnam, but in recent years, especially among urban families, they have become a common part of Christmas. Young people often exchange gifts with each other, typically focusing on fashion, cosmetics, electronics, or sweets.

5. Christmas Food and Dishes in Vietnam

Vietnamese people often celebrate Christmas with traditional Vietnamese food while also incorporating Western elements.

Traditional Vietnamese Dishes for Christmas

Pho: A hot noodle soup popular all year round, but served as a festive main course during Christmas.

Roasted meat: Often chicken, duck, or pork roasted with spices.

Seafood: Crabs, shrimp, or fish, typically grilled or cooked in sauces.

Bánh chưng or bánh tét: Traditional sticky rice cakes from the Tết holiday, sometimes also prepared as part of Christmas celebrations.

Western Influences in Christmas Cuisine

• • In some urban families, Christmas cookies, cakes, or baked bread are also prepared — dishes known to Vietnamese people through travel abroad or popular media.

Sweets and Fruit

• • Sweets are popular both as gifts and desserts. Imported fruits like apples and grapes, which symbolize Christmas in many countries, also appear on the tables in some households.

6. Christmas Symbols and Their Meaning in Vietnam

Christmas Tree and the Star of Bethlehem

• • Although not traditional, the Christmas tree and the Star of Bethlehem appear in churches and in the homes of some Catholic families. Trees are often decorated with both traditional and local ornaments and serve as a symbol of the festive atmosphere.

Santa Claus and Christmas Carols

• • Santa Claus is a popular figure, especially among children and young people. On the streets and in shops, you often encounter “Ông già Noel,” as he is called here, handing out gifts or taking photos with people. Christmas carols are mainly sung in churches and during Christmas events, but are less common in everyday households.

7. Commercial and Social Significance of Christmas in Modern Vietnam

• • In recent years, Christmas in Vietnam has become not only a religious event but primarily a social and commercial phenomenon that has deeply permeated urban life. While it still holds spiritual meaning for Christian communities, for most of the population it is mainly an atmospheric and cultural experience.
• • Shopping malls, boutiques, and street vendors start decorating for Christmas as early as the beginning of December. Streets in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi shine with light decorations and artificial trees. English Christmas carols are played, shop windows are adorned with snowflakes and Santas, and stores offer enticing discounts, Christmas packages, and marketing campaigns, often aimed at the younger generation.
• • For young Vietnamese, who are strongly influenced by global pop culture, Christmas Eve is more of a celebration of romance and friendship than a time of family peace. It’s often an opportunity to go out — for a festive dinner, to a café, bar, or themed party. Couples exchange gifts, friends send greetings, and teenagers enjoy taking Christmas selfies under illuminated trees and angels in shopping centers.

8. Conclusion: Christmas in Vietnam as a Fascinating Mix of Tradition and Modern Times

• • Although Christmas does not have deep historical roots in Vietnam and is not a traditional holiday here, its popularity grows every year. This rise in interest is due to rapid urbanization, the cultural openness of the younger generation, and the influence of globalization, which brings Western customs, fashion, and values into everyday life.
• • For Catholic Vietnamese, Christmas remains primarily a spiritual and family holiday — a time to gather in church, pray, sing carols, and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in a close family circle. In many villages and towns with larger Christian communities, there are impressive nativity scenes, processions, and midnight masses that create a unique atmosphere.
• • For most other Vietnamese people, Christmas is mainly a joyful social event — a time of decorations, lights, gifts, romantic walks under glowing trees, photography, and meeting friends. It becomes a moment when people pause, enjoy the special atmosphere, and share joy, even if they don’t know the original religious meaning of the holiday.
• • Christmas in Vietnam thus creates a unique mosaic: combining Western symbolism, local cultural perceptions, spiritual elements, and commercial sparkle. It is precisely this mix of authenticity and modernity that makes Vietnamese Christmas an unforgettable experience. It is not merely a copy of Western Christmas, but a distinctive version of the holiday, reshaped to fit the rhythm and character of Vietnamese society.

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Vietnam ➜

Airports in Vietnam ➔