Christmas Fever Vietnam

Vietnam has taken to celebrating the season of Santa and plum puddings with a vengeance.
Santa Claus and Xmas trees have become so familiar with Vietnamese over the past decade that neither families nor companies are skimping on their Christmas budgets despite the global economic recession.
Purchasing decorations for Xmas and New Year celebrations, reserving parties at hotels, karaoke restaurants and cabarets or booking tours to romantic destinations are some of the most popular plans for the festive season in Vietnam.
Season preparations began last month in all of Vietnam’s big cities with Santa Clauses smiling at the entrance to shopping malls and Christmas lights illuminating the main streets.
"Christmas is an opportunity to go out with family and friends rather than a time for religious reflection," says 24-year-old Hoang, who plans to spend Christmas night at HCMC’s Lush Bar with his friends.
HCMC began preparations a month earlier than Hanoi which saw its first reindeer and pine trees at the beginning of December.
Most hotels and big shops in the capital’s main streets like Hang Ma, Luong Van Can, Hang Ngang and Hang Dao are colorfully decked out. Decorations on sale are mostly produced locally or imported from China with Xmas trees the top seller despite the 100 percent price rise from last year.
According to the sales department of Hanoi’s Big C Supermarket, the Xmas trees covered in white snow are among the favorites with an average of 30-50 trees sold per day.
Van Tinh, a vendor on Luong Van Can Street, tells a customer, “One 90-centimeter-high tree costs at least VND120,000 (US$7). The 3.6-meter is VND2 million ($117) and the 6-meter is VND12 million ($700).”
But trees don’t look beautiful without a pair of bells for VND100,000- 400,000 ($5.9-23.6).
Tinh says he has a diverse range of Santa Clauses priced from VND150,000-1.8 million (US$8.90-106), depending on size. Santa Claus outfits cost from VND30,000-150,000 ($1.8-8.9) per set.
Unlike families who are eager to do their own decorations, large hotels, restaurants and organizations often hire local private businesses to do their decorations professionally.
Ba Son, owner of a shop in Ba Trieu Street, says “We have a dozen staff who are responsible for designing, decorating and giving consultancy to customers. We charge between $20-300 for small- to middle-sized contracts, and about a thousand dollars for a big one which might take a couple of days to complete.”
In both cities, top hotels like Sofitel Plaza, Sheraton and Legend, are well-prepared to serve thousands of guests with buffet prices ranging from $25-80 per adult and a discount of up to 50 percent. The hospitality sector in the cities is advertising great food, service and entertainment including parties, music and circus shows, Santa Claus gift offerings and lucky draws, in an effort to attract more tourists.
There are also plenty of restaurants for the more economy-minded available with special menus for families and friends’ get-togethers.
The three nights before Christmas Eve at many well-known hotels, Karaoke restaurants and bars are already fully booked for parties.
The Christmas crowds create a slow-moving traffic snarl across the city center v
In Hanoi, all the parks and clubs have organized games and extravaganzas to draw young crowds with tickets for no more than $10.
Dam Sen Theme Park in HCMC has ordered a huge cake expected to serve thousands of visitors on Christmas Eve.
More shopping
Festive store windows everywhere in the cities make shopping malls and supermarkets colorful and lively. With more sales and promotions, shopping is the biggest attraction for youngsters.
Twenty-five-year-old My Lien, who just spent two hours at HCMC’s Diamond Plaza says, "I always buy more things at Christmas and New Year than at any other times because many shops offer significant discounts."
On university campuses, the Christmas spirit is even stronger. Beautiful Christmas trees, gifts, cards and posters announcing parties are everywhere. Students plan their activities long before Christmas with many heading to churches to spend their Christmas Eve.
Since the beginning of December hundreds of people have filled Catholic churches in downtown areas nightly, with crowds starting at sunset for the 9.30 p.m. services.
Foreigners in Vietnam, on the other hand, tend to go to bars or hold small parties at home on Christmas Eve.
Andy, a young Swiss guy says, "The Christmas atmosphere here in HCMC is great but completely different from what is going on in my hometown."
“Last year, when I first came to Vietnam, I was astonished at the traffic jams and the procession of thousands of people on the streets that lead to the Cathedral Church. I wonder why you guys have to flock out onto the street,” says Andy.
Hooked on traveling
Besides many families who enjoy Christmas in the metros, more than a few foreigners and Vietnamese choose to travel to Central Highlands towns like Da Lat, Kontum, or Sapa in the nation’s central and northern regions to spend the year-end in relative serenity.
Booking a four-day private tour to Da Lat with his wife and two sons, Vietnamese American Chris Nguyen says, “We need some time to enjoy the fresh air and calmness. We have lived almost 360 days in all the noise and stress of the bustling cities.”
Most local travel agencies say they have seen a decline in foreign tourists within the last three months but domestic travelers do not seem too bothered by the global economic recession.
According to representatives of top companies like Saigontourist, Ben Thanh Tourist and Fiditour, their special tours are almost booked out.
Reported by Thuy Tien