Although a predominantly Buddhist country, Christmas in Vietnam is still one of the four main annual religious festivals including the Lunar New Year, the mid-autumn festival, Buddha’s birthday. Christmas in Vietnam is a huge event and Christmas Eve, which is regarded as more important than Christmas Day in Vietnam, is a grand party when the fun-loving and sociable Vietnamese, whether being a Christian or not, celebrate with gusto.
On Christmas Eve, the
Christians in Vietnam usually attend a Midnight Mass as in the western world,
and then return home to a spectacular Christmas dinner with chicken soup, the
well-heeled tuck replacing the turkey and Christmas pudding. The family would gather
together, pray for blessings and practice the Yuletide spirit of giving and
sharing.
In Ho Chi Minh City and
Hanoi, people tend to gather at the city center where the cathedral stands and
cars are not allowed. Children in Vietnam are greatly excited because they
believe in Santa Clause and put their shoes in front of their doors on
Christmas Eve, expecting to have their shoes stuffed in with goodies from
Santa’s bulging sack on the morning of 25th December.
From: vietnamonline
