Although Christmas is not a public holiday in Vietnam, it
has been received much recognition from the local residents. From the beginning
of December, Hanoi’s streets are all decorated with Noel’s patterns that create
a festive environment helping any expats off being homesick in the night of
Christmas. Hanoi’s weather also supports the day which is often cold and dry;
the only missing factor for a perfect Noel is snow.
Integrating with Hanoi’s festive environment, you can
totally have fun for this Christmas if you are in Hanoi. Here are our
suggestions to the best place to go for Christmas in the capital city:
Hang Ma Street
Located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hang Ma Street
always catches up with the trend by selling ornaments in special events like
International Children’s Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year Eve, Tet Holiday
and Christmas. Anything you need to decorate your Christmas tree as well as
gifts and greeting cards can easily be found here with low prices.
Making full use of your trip to walk around Hanoi’s Old
Quarter should be a good idea since it may remind you of your hometown with
Christmas Trees being put up in front of restaurants; snowmen made from cotton
near Ice-cream shops or numbers of Santa and his reindeers on sides of clothe
stores. It’s not weird if you see one or two Santa driving motorbike instead of
the reindeers on streets because they are actually gifts delivers.
Church
Praying in church is an indispensible for any Christian
believer in the night of Christmas. Luckily, there are many churches around
Hanoi in which ones may enjoy a wide variety of religious activities as well as
hymns singing and other music performance. Among the churches around Hanoi,
Saint Joseph Cathedral (40 Nha Trung Street, Hoan Kiem) should be the most
magnificent and famous one. Besides, ones may visit Ham Long Church (21 Ham
Long Street, Hoan Kiem) or Cua Bac Church (56 Phan Dinh Phung, Ba Dinh).
Hotels dinner buffet
Christmas is when high-star hotels in Hanoi offer the most
luxury buffet party and hilarious music performance. Standing out among the
hotels should be Sofitel Metropole Hanoi where 1001 fairy tales are reproduced
in one night in its La Beaulieu and Spices Garden restaurant. Artists wearing
Aladdin, Snow White or Peter Pan costume will entertain you with special art
shows while tasting excellent international foods. The price is USD 75 for an
adult, USD 46 for children aging 9-12 and USD 33 for kid from 3-8.
With a lower price range, from USD 20-40, tourists can still
enjoy a luxury Christmas night at Hilton Hanoi Opera, Melia Hanoi or Hanoi
Daewoo.
Music shows and parties
On the night of Christmas or the night before, there are
many fantastic music shows of many genres such as pop-ballad; classic or jazz
occurring in Hanoi, especially the outside area of Hanoi Opera House and the
inside as well. The themes of those shows are no doubt about Christmas.
Additionally, international organizations and universities
and embassies usually organize Christmas party to welcome their native
civilians and ones with the same interest to join and cheer up for the night.
Shopping malls
Because there is no Black Friday in
Hanoi, Noel and New Year
Eve are good chances for shopping malls launching their biggest promotional
campaign of the year which shocking sale off and hundreds of new arrivals.
Parson, Vincom Plaza Tower, Ruby Plaza and Garden Mall are the most remarkable
shopping centers in Hanoi. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to pick up one or
two most trendy pieces of fashion.