(VOVWORLD) -Locals and tourists celebrated Christmas Sunday night at churches and public entertainment spots in the center of Hanoi city, whose streets were lit up with sparkling lights.
 The Cathedral shimmers in lights and is filled with Christmas atmosphere and colors. Photo: VOV
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The Hanoi Cathedral and Ham Long Church have been decorated with colorful caves and Christmas trees. Crowds of people, mostly families and youngsters, visited churches and parishes for check-in and preserve the Christmas moment.
Nguyen Thi Thu, a Hanoi resident and her family visiting the Hanoi Cathedral area, told VOV, “Christmas means warmth, the Christmas season brings joy of the coming new year. I have brought my children here to enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery.”
In Ho Chi Minh City downtown, Nguyen Hue walking street, Notre Dame Cathedral, and shopping centers welcomed crowds of people having fun, taking photos, and visiting the churches.
 A church on Pham The Hien Street, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City, is decorated with colorful and eye-catching nativity scenes. Photo: VOV
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Ms. Patty, an American who is traveling to Ho Chi Minh City, said she spent three weeks exploring many places in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc and some northwestern provinces. And now she enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere in Vietnam and this was a very special Christmas for her.
"It's overwhelming. I mean it's so much Christmas and the Christmas population isn't that large. I'm Catholics and Christmas Eve I am so excited. It's very vibrant, a lot of energy," Patty said.
The Christmas Eve celebration was joyful in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum even though it was windy and quite cold. The local churches like Wooden Church and Tan Huong Church sparkled with lights and brilliant flowers.
Priest of Kon Tum Cathedral Parish Tran Tan Viet said, “We encourage parishioners to participate in Parish affairs, assigned missions and activities in the village and in the commune. My policy focuses on education of children to help them improve their knowledge, thereby improving their lives to be able to build their homeland and country and live the Gospel."
"On behalf of the parishioners, I would like to wish a peaceful Christmas to all listeners of the Voice of Vietnam," the priest said.