How to Celebrate Christmas and New Year in Vietnam Style
Christmas in Vietnam is one of the four most important festivals; the other three include The New Year, The Birthday of Buddha and the mid-autumn festival.
In this country Christmas is a very special festival for Christians and Noel is a common joyful season for both Christians and non believers. Since the weather remains cool and pleasant, the whole country is a riot of color and people come out in hordes in the streets to enjoy.
All super markets and commercial centers are overloaded with work because of the sheer numbers of customers who come out to shop for Christmas gifts as well as New Year. Many stores, hotels, restaurants, bars and schools are decorated with Christmas trees and the other paraphernalia connected with Christmas.
Here are some pointers to letting your hair down and celebrating the birth of the Lord, ‘Nam style.
A few suggestions
- Remember that, in Vietnam, Christmas is a festival borrowed from the West hence most Christmas traditions are similar to those followed in Europe and America.
- Give your home a thorough cleaning from top to bottom and even paint it to have it ready for the season and also to rid your family and yourself of bad fortune.
- Decorate the house with colored lights and get a Christmas tree that you can adorn with stars, candies, and even with several gold thread ropes.
- Remember that Christmas cards are very important to people because they bring greetings and good cheer as well as send out best regards to your neighbors, relatives and friends. Get handmade Christmas cards which are considered in good taste.
- On Christmas Eve attend the Midnight mass before coming home to partake of a scrumptious Christmas dinner which includes dishes like chicken soup, turkey and Christmas pudding.
- Santa Claus (Ong Gia Noel) is looked upon as a very kind hearted man and children look forward to receiving gifts from him. Since the houses do not have chimneys, he comes in through the front door.
- Let your children clean and leave their shoes outside the house for them to filled with presents.
Do’s
- Have a midnight ceremony on New Year’s Eve (Le Tru Tich) to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new.
Don’ts
- Don’t use firecrackers as part of the celebrations as they are prohibited in Vietnam.