No longer solely a religious festival for Catholics, Christmas has become part of everyday social life, a time for reunion and sharing, marked by charitable activities, cultural events, and social welfare initiatives that reflect the spirit of compassion, national solidarity, and the ethos of “good citizenship and faithful living”.
Christmas across the regions
In flower-rich Lam Dong, Christmas Eve is illuminated by lights and carols echoing across the Lang Biang Plateau. From central Da Lat to surrounding areas, churches and Catholic households are beautifully decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and nativity scenes.
Le Huu Phuoc from Thanh Mau Parish in Lang Biang Ward, Da Lat, said Christmas today is shared by many beyond the Catholic community, fostering a collective aspiration for a caring and harmonious society.
In former Lao Cai City, Christmas celebrations at Coc Leu, Bac Cuong, and Cam Duong churches were organised in close coordination with local authorities to ensure security, traffic safety, and fire prevention. According to Father Peter Nguyen Dinh Den, parish priest of Lao Cai, Christmas is for everyone. Alongside religious activities, social welfare has been prioritised, with Coc Leu Church mobilising more than 2 billion VND (about 76,000 USD) in 2024–2025 to support disaster-affected communities.
In Sa Pa, the 2025 Snow Festival opened during Christmas, combining festive music with winter-themed performances and boosting year-end tourism.
In Ho Chi Minh City, streets, parishes, and churches were brightly decorated. Thang Long Parish, established in 1954 with more than 1,300 parishioners, has worked closely with local authorities and benefactors to carry out charitable activities without distinction of faith, strengthening community solidarity and contributing to local development.
In Ha Noi, churches such as the Ha Noi Cathedral, Cua Bac, and Ham Long attracted large crowds. With around 227,000 Catholics, Christmas has become an occasion for reflection, unity, and shared pride in the city’s socio-economic achievements.
In Ninh Binh, Christmas was solemnly celebrated at Phat Diem Cathedral and other major churches. In Nghia Hung Commune, where Catholics account for about half the population, families prepared carefully, expressing hope for a peaceful new year.
A spirit of solidarity and sharing
Ahead of Christmas, leaders across provinces and cities visited and extended greetings to clergy and parishioners, acknowledging the contributions of religious communities to national development. Catholic communities continue to uphold unity and actively contribute to social welfare, reinforcing national solidarity through practical, compassionate actions.
In Lam Dong Province, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the provincial Fatherland Front Committee Pham Thi Phuc affirmed that religious communities continue to uphold traditions of unity and solidarity, practising the principle of “good citizenship and faithful living”.
At Bang So Parish in Hong Van Commune, Ha Noi, Chairwoman of the Ha Noi Fatherland Front Committee Bui Huyen Mai conveyed her best wishes to clergy and parishioners for a peaceful and happy Christmas. She noted that Ha Noi has been exemplary in implementing the Party and State’s religious policies, with religious organisations working alongside authorities in socio-economic development and national defence and security, becoming an important social resource in strengthening great national unity.
Catholics consistently trust and comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, remain united with the community, and make practical contributions to social welfare.
Head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Thach Nghi Xuan
According to Head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Thach Nghi Xuan, Catholics consistently trust and comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, remain united with the community, and make practical contributions to social welfare.
A notable example is Thang Long Parish, which under the leadership of Father Nguyen The Thu over the past two years has prioritised charitable activities such as distributing 700 Tet gift packages to disadvantaged households, providing 120 free meals each week for the needy, and caring for vulnerable people. These deeply humane actions have spread the spirit of “good citizenship and faithful living” throughout the community.
