Thousands celebrate Christmas Eve in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
In Hanoi, a lot of people including local residents and foreign tourists crowded St. Joseph’s Cathedral to witness the giant Christmas tree and shimmering decorations. Matheu and Emily, two visitors from France, said it is their first time traveling to Vietnam and that Christmas in Hanoi is very similar to that in Paris. Y oung people celebrate Christmas Eve in downtown Hanoi, December 24, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre Minh Duong and Thuc Trinh, two Hanoi residents, said they had arrived in the downtown area quite early to find a parking space for their motorbikes. The two had walked about one kilometer to reach St. Joseph’s Cathedral. “Although it is cold, I decided to wear a skirt to take some photos during this special occasion,” Trinh stated. People crowd St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Hanoi, December 24, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre As of 10:00 pm, a lot of vehicles were still heading toward Royal City shopping mall, another popular hangout