Christmas celebrated nationwide

A happy atmosphere reached various corners of the country in the Christmas night.             

In Hanoi, braving the chilly weather, thousands of people, being Catholics, Protestants or not, flocked to Hoan Kiem Lake, Saint Joseph Cathedral, Ham Long, Thai Ha, Lang Tam churches, where splendid and colorful decorative lights were sparkling.      

The sound of the signature “Jingle Bells” song filled the air in the main streets of the capital.   

Many gathered at a residential centre to have a look at a 32.5m high Christmas tree- the highest in Vietnam.

Christmas has become a common festival for many in Vietnam.

People in Ho Chi Minh City also celebrated Christmas in a cheerful and happy atmosphere in cool weather.          

Shops, commercial and entertainment centres located main roads leading to the heart of the city were shining gorgeously with light bulb-shaped Santa Clause, reindeers, snow flakes and Christmas trees.       

Popular destinations in the city, including the Notre Dame, Huyen Sy and Tan Dinh cathedrals, trade centres and roads in District 1, District 3 and District 5 as well as Catholic villages, were filled with Christmas carols.

Earlier, many charity programmes were carried out by over 100,000 Catholic families in the city with a hope to make Christmas a more meaningful event for all.

They presented thousands of free meals, medicine and gifts to poor, disable and old people across the city.

Priest Le Van Lieu from Binh Trieu Parish in Thu Duc district said Catholics and Protestants always help each other and pray for peace for the country.

In the northern province of Ninh Binh, thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics flocked to the luminous and splendid Phat Diem Church to pray for the best for their families and friends.

Located in Kim Son district, the church is dubbed “the capital” of Catholicism with about 80,000 followers, or nearly 48 percent of the district’s population.

In central Nghe An province, the Catholic community also enjoyed a more joyful Christmas as they have had better living standards.

A 30-metre Christmas tree was set up at Trai Giao Church in Nghi Loc district’s Nghi Phuong commune to welcome visitors.

In 2013, local authorities have paid attention to socio-economic development and improving the life of their people. Many churches have been built or renovated here.

In the central city of Da Nang, a ceremony was held with the participation of local authorities and tens of thousands of people.

Bishop Chau Ngoc Tri thanked the local authorities for assistance to their religious activities and affirmed that Catholics will make further efforts to contribute to socio-economic development in the city.

The festive atmosphere also prevailed in the Central Highlands.

Local people said they felt a merrier Christmas this year as over the past three years, their life improved a great deal thanks to their successful coffee and rubber crops.

In the Hanoi parish in Bien Hoa city, the southern Dong Nai province, home to over more than 16,000 Catholics, thousands gathered to share the special night.