HCM CITY Hồ Chí Minh City comes alive in December with a vibrant blend of culture and faith, as Christmas celebrations transform the city into a lively festival where religious traditions and local customs meet, bringing people of all backgrounds together in joy, solidarity, and festive atmosphere.

LED lights illuminate the façade and surroundings of Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, turning the church into a dazzling centrepiece in the heart of Hồ Chí Minh City as night falls. Photo vietnamplus.vn

By dusk on December 24, streets flowing toward the heart of the southern metropolis teemed with festive crowds. Illuminated by thousands of LED lights, Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral has emerged as a magnet for visitors and local young people alike, shining as the city’s most vivid stage of cultural exchange.

Here, young people, dressed in festive outfits, gather hand in hand, snapping selfies under the glow of LED lights, accompanied by modern Christmas tunes from nearby malls and cafes. Foreign visitors delight in the Western-style Christmas displays, uniquely adorned with bamboo, rattan, and woven materials that reflect Việt Nam’s artisanal spirit.

Captivated by the vibrant holiday atmosphere around the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and Diamond Plaza, Slovak tourist Mariana Leskovkov said that celebrating Christmas in Việt Nam is a truly unique experience compared to her home country.

She described Christmas in Việt Nam as a vibrant mix of religion and street-festival spirit, with colours, sounds, and celebrations spreading from churches and homes to streets.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, streets across HCM City – especially Phạm Thế Hiển in Chánh Hưng and Bình Đông wards – home to five parishes in the city, Lê Đức Thọ, Phạm Văn Chiêu, Thống Nhất, and Nghĩa Phát – have drawn thousands each evening, mostly young visitors. Many non-Catholics joyfully take selfies by colourful nativity scenes, celebrating peace and life’s brighter values.

People enjoy Christmas decorations on Phạm Thế Hiển Street in Chánh Hưng and Bình Đông wards – home to five parishes in the city. Photo laodong.vn

Solidarity and kindness define Christmas in HCM City, where love transcends religion and ethnicity. A striking example is Most Venerable Thích Lệ Trang, Head of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Board of HCM City, extended Christmas greetings to Archbishop Nguyễn Năng of the Archdiocese of Hồ Chí Minh City, and they pledged to guide believers and followers to live virtuous lives in love, compassion, and charity, serving as a vivid testament to religious unity.

Since early December 2025, delegations from central and local agencies, along with representatives of political and social organisations, have visited Catholic and Protestant sites across the city to extend Christmas greetings. These activities demonstrate the administration’s care and support for religious activities, and strengthen the spirit of cooperation between believers and authorities in the city’s development and construction process. VNA/VNS