Hanoi Christmas 2025: Experiences from budget-friendly to luxury.
From church services at the Grand Cathedral, strolls along Hang Ma Street, shopping malls, to parties in 5-star hotels, Hanoi has Christmas options for every budget.
Christmas 2025 in Hanoi offers options for every budget: from solemn church services, free strolls and photo opportunities, to lavish parties in 5-star hotels costing up to several million dong per person. Below are suggestions categorized by budget that tourists and locals can refer to when planning their Christmas Eve.
Spending under 300,000 VND per person on a budget for Christmas
With a budget of under 300,000 VND per person, you can still have a perfect Christmas Eve by combining free activities and dinner at restaurants around the church.
At Hanoi Cathedral, the Christmas atmosphere usually begins early with crowds flocking to the square in front. The Christmas Eve service starts at 6 PM, followed by a carol program at 7:30 PM and a midnight Mass at 10:30 PM.
Besides the main cathedral, the churches at Cửa Bắc and Hàm Long also hold services from around 7 PM to 8 PM, and there is no entrance fee. These are suitable stops if you want to immerse yourself in the religious atmosphere, listen to hymns, and admire the decorated nativity scenes and Christmas trees.
After attending the ceremony, you can walk to nearby restaurants to end the evening with a warm dinner. Some suggested places:
- Quan Cu Restaurant (Phan Dinh Phung Street)
- Shrimp and lotus seed hot pot (Cua Bac)
- Eel vermicelli (Yen Ninh)
- 1946 Restaurant (North Gate)
- Fungha Dimsum (North Gate)
- Nguyen Sinh Restaurant (Ly Quoc Su)
- Hot Pot Restaurant (Ly Quoc Su)
These locations are situated around the Old Quarter and the Cathedral area, making it convenient for you to walk to after Mass, saving on transportation costs while enjoying the Christmas atmosphere on the streets.
From 300,000 to 1 million VND per person: a combination of entertainment and food.
If you're willing to spend between 300,000 and 1,000,000 VND per person, you can combine free street activities with paid experiences such as dining at mid-range restaurants, having fun in shopping malls, listening to live music, or watching movies.
Large shopping malls such as Trang Tien Plaza, Lotte Mall (Kim Ma and Tay Ho), Royal City, Aeon Mall (Long Bien and Ha Dong), Times City... are usually decorated brightly for Christmas, with many activities for locals and tourists. For families with young children, these are places where it's easy to find play areas, meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, or games with a festive theme.
Besides shopping malls, the streetscape is also a highlight on Christmas Eve. Hang Ma Street displays Christmas decorations in various shades of red and lights. This year, the business area here is smaller due to regulations on sidewalk management in the Old Quarter, but it remains a popular spot for people to buy decorations or take photos.
In the Hoan Kiem Lake area, visitors can take photos at familiar spots such as the old Shark's Mouth area, the Hanoi Post Office, and Thuy Ta restaurant. Combining a stroll around the lake, admiring the Christmas-decorated streets, and then stopping for coffee or dinner is a suitable itinerary for a mid-range budget.
If you enjoy music, you can choose from live music performances at the bar. Some suggestions include:
- Long Waits a modest jazz club (Nguyen Quang Bich)
- Ay Lounge (Hang Bun Street)
- Purple Blues Bar (Hang Muoi)
- 1976 Space (Minh Khai)
- Blake's House of Jazz (Nguyen Huu Huan)
These bars offer free entry; customers only pay for drinks, making them suitable if you want to listen to music and chat with friends in a cozy atmosphere.
Another option for Christmas Eve is to watch a late-night movie at the cinema with new releases like Avatar 3, Clash of the Pythons, Heartbeat, The Agarwood Inn, Generation of Miracles... Some cinemas also offer Christmas and New Year gifts, adding to the festive atmosphere of the movie-watching experience.
In terms of food, with a budget ranging from a few hundred thousand to about one million VND per person, you have many mid-range restaurant options:
- Le Monde Steak (Phan Chu Trinh, Dao Tan)
- Ashima Mushroom Hot Pot (Phan Dinh Phung, Giang Van Minh)
- Don Duck Old Quarter
- Italian restaurant Mediterraneo (Church)
- Pepperonis (Hang Trong)
- Food courts in large shopping malls
These destinations are perfect for evening gatherings with friends or dates, combining dinner with enjoying the Christmas atmosphere on the streets and in shopping malls.
Over 2 million VND per person: a high-end all-inclusive Christmas party.
With a budget of over 2 million VND per person, tourists can opt for all-inclusive experiences at high-end restaurants or restaurants in 5-star hotels, often lasting throughout Christmas Eve from around 6 PM.
Here, in addition to a specially prepared Christmas menu, guests can enjoy the festive atmosphere with Santa Claus giving out gifts and musical and artistic performances.
Here are some suggestions for Christmas parties at major hotels:
- Pacifica Restaurant (Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel): Christmas party from VND 1.9 million per person, children from VND 950,000.
- JW Café (JW Marriott Hanoi Hotel): Buffet dinner from VND 2.5 million on December 24th and lunch from VND 1.7 million on December 25th.
- Ngan Dinh Restaurant (Hanoi Daewoo Hotel): Cantonese banquet from 1.92 million VND per person.
- Oven D'or restaurant (Sheraton Hotel): Christmas dinner from 2.2 million VND per person.
In addition, there are upscale restaurants and Michelin-starred establishments, perfect for those who want a more private dinner while still enjoying the festive atmosphere.
- La Table Hanoia (Ly Dao Thanh): From 2.9 million VND.
- Hemispheres Steak and Seafood Grill (Xuan Dieu): From 2.4 million VND.
- Samolnoid (Cao Bá Quát): From 1.2 million VND.
- El Gaucho (Trang Tien): From 1.5 million VND.
- La Badiane (Nam Ngư): From 1.8 million VND.
These upscale restaurants often have a limited number of tables on holiday nights, so diners should contact them in advance to secure a seat and choose a suitable time slot.
A few things to keep in mind when planning Christmas in Hanoi.
Depending on your budget, you can choose to celebrate Christmas with a private party in a restaurant or immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the streets. When planning, consider your budget beforehand and determine your priorities for religious experiences, photography, food, or music to choose the appropriate area and form of entertainment.
With crowded destinations like churches, the Hoan Kiem Lake area, shopping malls, or upscale restaurants, proactively planning your time and making reservations in advance (if necessary) will help ensure your 2025 Christmas Eve in Hanoi is complete and less stressful.
