Catholic and Protestant followers nationwide are decorating houses, streets and their churches to welcome Christmas, their most important festive season of the year.

In northern Hai Phong city, all churches are ablaze with decorative lights, well-prepared for Christmas Eve.

Hai Phong Cathedral has in recent days welcomed followers from Hai Duong, Quang Ninh and Hung Yen provinces on their pre-Christmas visits.

At a pre-Christmas party hosted by the municipal Party Committee, Priest Vu Van Thiem vowed that priests and Catholic followers in the city will always accompany the city and the nation in spurring socio-economic development.

In the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, the cold spell cannot keep local people at home when the jubilant atmosphere of the festive season is flooding every street.

Catholics and Protestants are flocking to churches to join hands in beautifying their places of worship.

Priest Nguyen Van Thuong of the Duc An diocese said all of his parishioners are enjoying happy and wealthy lives.

Meanwhile, Paster Huynh Duy Linh, head of the executive board of the Protestant Church in Gia Lai, said Protestant followers are delighted with the care given by the Party and State.

Far in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, Catholic and Protestant followers, who account for only 4 percent of the local population, are making necessary preparations to herald their most important event of the year.

Christmas trees are erected, houses newly painted, and decorative lights are hung to greet Christmas Eve.-VNA