A quick look at Hanoi's Christmas Festive Season
As the year draws to a close, central streets across Hanoi are filled with twinkling lights, giant Christmas trees, and colorful displays of bears and reindeer. The festive Christmas atmosphere not only draws locals and visitors out to stroll and take photos, but also helps energize year-end shopping and commercial activities.
These days, the Christmas spirit is clearly visible along Hanoi’s main streets. Office buildings and shopping malls are dressed up with shimmering LED lights, reindeer models, and towering, elaborately decorated Christmas trees. Stepping into the city center, people can instantly feel the lively, warm, and colorful energy of the holiday season.
This year, many office buildings and malls have invested heavily in Christmas trees ranging from 10 to 15 meters tall, covered in LED lights and sparkling ornaments. Along major streets such as Pho Hue, Hai Ba Trung, and around Hoan Kiem Lake, these giant trees placed at building entrances have become ideal “check-in” spots, attracting large crowds of locals and tourists eager to take photos.
Beyond traditional Christmas trees, shopping malls have added creative outdoor displays such as oversized bears, reindeer, and Santa Claus figures. At Vincom Ba Trieu, a nearly five-meter-tall giant bear dressed in a red coat has delighted many children, creating a lively festive mood right from the entrance.
Alongside the decorations, many supermarkets and shopping centers are running promotions on Christmas decorations, gifts, and sweets. According to representatives from a Hanoi shopping mall, visitor numbers and shopping activity have increased noticeably since early December, especially on weekends, with foot traffic up by around 20–30% compared to the same period last year.
Display areas are designed with wide spaces and clear walkways, ensuring safety while allowing visitors to comfortably admire the decorations. Some locations have even set up children’s play areas, offering families a more complete holiday experience.
Not only shopping malls but also many cafés and small fashion boutiques have joined the Christmas spirit with blinking lights, mini Christmas trees, tinsel, and festive accessories. Young people in Hanoi often choose these cafés as gathering spots, where they can enjoy drinks while taking photos and checking in. Cozy street corners and small cafés have become popular for a more intimate, street-level Christmas experience.
The Christmas atmosphere not only creates a vibrant and warm environment for residents but also boosts economic and commercial activity. Shops, supermarkets, and malls report a significant rise in revenue during the holiday season.
Eye-catching decorations combined with promotional programs help attract visitors and encourage spending, while also promoting the image of Hanoi’s streets as lively and modern.
Central streets such as Ly Thuong Kiet, Trang Tien, and Hang Bai glow with Christmas lights, colors, and sounds. Groups of friends and families stroll, take photos, and shop together, blending into the bustling crowds and creating a vivid picture of a lively, energetic Christmas season.
With careful preparation from businesses and the excitement of residents, the Christmas atmosphere in Hanoi is spreading strongly—signaling a warm, bustling holiday season and ushering in a new year full of optimism and positive energy.
