How to celebrate Christmas in Saigon

Saigon lights up at Christmas time with thousands of string lights and Christmas decorations, and the city fills with hundreds of people who are coming to celebrate this holiday. And how it is different from the Western countries?

Escape from the hustle and bustle city

Is Saigon too busy for you at Christmas time? Do you crave the beach, the sea, and nice cool glass of something that screams ‘I-am-classy-and-very-relaxed!’? Why not get away to beautiful Nha Trang for a long weekend on the soft sand of Nha Trang Beach or the poetic beaches in Vung Tau.

Some hotels in Nha Trang hold a range of special offers this December from their delicious Christmas buffet and drinks to a range of discount packages.

Embrace your inner touris

Saigon is beautiful at this time of year, bedecked with strings of lights and dazzling banners, and dotted with the occasional gaudy santa or glaring Christmas tree. It can be hard to tell which decorations are for Christmas and which are for Tet, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter!

Christmas Day, like Halloween and all other Western celebrations, tends to bring masses of congestion to the already-bustling Saigon, so walking is the best option. Get outside with your camera, or just your eyes, and join the city in being happy.

Sit in the sky bar and view whole city

Another way to get into Saigon’s Christmas festivities without getting lost under the feet of revellers is to sit at one of the city’s many rooftop bars and watch the ants. From the famous Chill Skybar and its incredible panoramic views to the homely rooftop at The View on Bui Vien, rooftop bars in general provide a great angle for watching people with a cool drink in hand. Check out for our piece on Saigon’s 11 best rooftop bars for a great selection this December.

Enjoy the glorious cake

As a previous French colony, Vietnam is known for its delicious French-influenced baked goods, of which the Buche de Noël is a Christmas favourite. Why not buy yourself something sweet to enjoy with family and friends while you marvel at how two such different cultures could have been brought so very close?

Get local

Finally, why not make some friends this Christmas? Park 23/9 in District 1 is known for its gaggles of students looking to practise their english with native speakers. They roam the park, pouncing on unsuspecting foreigners, and often end up making friends with their victims and taking them for a beer. If you are a native speaker, go to the park this Christmas and wait for a group of students to befriend, before wandering off to the backpacker strip for a ridiculous amount of laughter, beers and dried squid.

See more: Fun things to do in Singapore at Christmas

Source Vietnam Insider