Christmas festive atmosphere is trickling into every corner of the country, with Catholics and Protestants holding a range of festivities in celebration of the holiday.

In the northern provinces of Nam Dinh, Hoa Binh and Hai Duong, Catholic followers and youngsters flocked to churches and streets to enjoy holy rituals and music performances.

While in Kim Son district, the northern province of Ninh Binh, Catholics and visitors are streaming into the well-known stone church of Phat Diem, which is sparkling with thousands of lights.

In the central city of Thanh Hoa, thousands of Catholics and locals braved the chilly winter temperature to gather around dazzling churches and entertainment areas, in anticipation of the Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile, in the central city of Da Nang, a solemn ceremony was held to celebrate the event, expected to bring a merry and warm Christmas to all local parishioners.

In the “city of thousands of flowers” Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, churches and parishes are decked out with lights, pine trees, flowers and decorations, luring tens of thousands of local believers and tourists at home and abroad.

The festival “colours of winter” is also a highlight closing the 2014 National Tourism Year and ringing in the New Year.

The Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum also welcomed large numbers of revellers coming for shopping and praying.

Resorts and hospitality facilities in Mui Ne, the central province of Binh Thuan, offered Christmas and New Year parties as a draw for tourists, with buffets, music shows, dancing and gift-giving. Many of them are packed to full capacity.

Over 1,500 Russian visitors are there to welcome the holiday, compared to 41,000 foreigners hailing from other countries.

The Christmas atmosphere is also overwhelming the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, with streams of people flooding well-decorated churches, parishes and streets.

Christmas atmosphere overwhelms Hanoi

Over 230,000 parishioners in Hanoi flocked to churches and streets to celebrate Christmas in warm and cheerful atmosphere.

Major gathering places for Catholic dignitaries and followers such as the St. Joseph’s Cathedral or the “Big Church ”, Ham Long, Thai Ha and Lang Tam churches were colourfully-decorated.

The X-mas festive atmosphere also overwhelmed the Hanoi Old Quarter and trade centres such as Trang Tien Plaza, Vinhomes, Royal City, Metropole and Hilton Hanoi, which were dazzled with giant pine trees, Santa Clause, reindeer figures, and lovely ornaments.

In every corner of the capital, the melody of popular Christmas song “Jingle Bells” was kept turning on, signaling a Christmas season with excitement and cheerfulness.

The Christmas atmosphere also prevailed over other cities and provinces across the countries, with streams of people gathering around churches and entertainment areas in anticipation of the Christmas Eve.

Hue City celebrates Christmas in cheerful atmosphere

Continued rain would not hold off cheerful Christmas atmosphere that were prevailing over every corner in Hue city, central Thua Thien-Hue province for days.

Churches, hotels, and restaurants in the city were dazzled with evergreens and Santa Claus, reindeer and snowflake figures decorated outside, filling the air with excitement that often comes when Christmas Eve is just hours away.

Pre-Christmas visits to and gatherings with dignitaries and followers were held by municipal authorities, with the latest honouring those who stood out in 2014.

In the year, Catholic and Protestant communities have worked closely together with the administration and followers of other religions in programmes and campaigns that help all enjoy a better life.

Prominent campaigns were “Kinh Chua yeu nuoc” (Believe in your country as you believe in God), “All people unite to build a cultural life in residential areas” and “Day for the poor”.

The Catholic community of Phu Cam parish in Phuoc Vinh commune, which is home to Phu Cam Main Cathedral, the oldest one in the city, has been praised in those activities.

They have enthusiastically participated in reducing poverty, helping ensure social order and security, and encouraging education in the area.

In 2014, the parish presented 300 million VND (14,000 USD) worth of gifts to 125 students from disadvantaged background and awarded 37 million VND (1,730 USD) to 32 students who passed university entrance exams. Its programme “Rice jar of love” has been providing the poor and elderly followers with 10kg of rice each per month.

Meanwhile, the municipal Evangelical Church has offer financial assistance totalling 65 million VND (3,040 USD) to parish inpatients and granted 15 scholarships worth 33 million VND (1,540 USD) to students with outstanding academic performances.

Archbishop of Hue Diocese Le Van Hong pledged to encourage Catholic believers to work closely with the local authority and other residential communities in the national construction.

Christmas night in Hanoi and HCMC.

VNA/VNE/VNN