Traditionally, Vietnam does not celebrate Christmas but with development, modernisation and more western influence, Christmas is becoming a bigger deal in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The historic or religious origins of Christmas are generally unknown or ignored in Vietnam, and this holiday is celebrated for commercial interests more than anything else.
The commercialization of Christmas in Vietnam is not on such a large scale as it is back home, but decorations and Xmas sales in supermarkets and department stores are a common site. With this acceptance of Christmas in Vietnam is is much easier for expats here to celebrate Christmas just as though you are home, bigger dinners with good friends.
For every Christmas I have celebrated in Vietnam I have happy memories usually involving a big buffet lunch in a fancy hotel in downtown Saigon. On one occasion while I was living in Hanoi I had the good fortune of having a good old fashioned family Christmas, albeit with somebody else’s Kiwi family. Christmas is what you make it whether you are traveling working or at home, and regardless of your enthusiasm for Christmas it should be seen as an excuse to relax and enjoy time with friends, and family if you are lucky enough.
I am currently working on a list of hotels or restaurants in Danang that will be organizing special Christmas lunches and dinners. If you know of any places that will have something special on the 24th or 25th of December, please let me know so I can write about it and let the rest of the Danang expat community know. I am already aware of the Bread Of Life Christmas specials, I will give more details next week.
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