Ho Chi Minh City during Christmas: strolling among brightly lit churches.

As Christmas 2025 approaches, many churches in Ho Chi Minh City are simultaneously illuminating their churches, transforming familiar religious neighborhoods into dazzling festive spaces. The lights, Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and biblical-themed displays attract large numbers of locals and tourists who come to visit, take photos, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

A journey through the brightly lit churches of Ho Chi Minh City.

St. Paul's Church (An Lac Ward): A mark left by the stone blocks.

St. Paul's Church in An Lac ward, often called the "stone" church by locals, makes an immediate impression with its ancient appearance. The area around the statue of the Virgin Mary is constructed from large, stacked stone blocks, creating a unique feature that is difficult to mistake for other churches in the city.

This year, the church grounds received early decoration with an artistic lighting system combined with miniature scenes recreating stories from the Bible. Walking along the walkway, multicolored lights illuminated the old stone walls, creating a feeling that was both solemn and warm.

The highlight of the grounds is a Christmas tree, approximately 25 meters tall, densely decorated with lights. In the evening, the light from the tree illuminates the entire courtyard, becoming a familiar backdrop for many young people's check-in photos. According to a representative of the parish, the decorations were done earlier than usual because 2025 has been chosen as the Jubilee Year of the Universal Catholic Church.

Binh Thai Church (Binh Dong Ward): light festival on Pham The Hien Street

Along Pham The Hien street, Binh Thai Church in Binh Dong ward stands out with its dazzling decorative lighting system. From afar, passersby can recognize the church area thanks to the strings of lights wrapped around it, with colors stretching along the facade.

Mr. Joseph Le Hai Son, Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Binh Thai Parish, said that decorating the Nativity scene not only has religious significance but is also a cultural festival, attracting people of different faiths. Thanks to this, the area around the church becomes warmer and more cheerful in the evening as people gather to stroll and take photos.

This year's decorations utilized experience and materials from previous years, ensuring everything went smoothly at a total cost of approximately 100 million VND. The lighting system is switched on after the evening mass, from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM daily; on the nights of December 24th and 25th, the lights will be illuminated throughout the night for the benefit of locals and tourists.

Fatima Church in Binh Trieu (Hiep Binh Ward): a peaceful space amidst the festive season.

In Hiep Binh ward, Fatima Binh Trieu Church offers a more peaceful Christmas atmosphere. The building features Gothic architecture with modern touches, with high arches and artistically illuminated surfaces.

When the lights are switched on, the church's facade stands out against the dark sky, but without being too dazzling. This is a suitable choice for those who want to experience the Christmas atmosphere while also having a quiet moment to admire the architecture and pray.

Catholic neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City: small alleys, lights, and laughter.

Not only the large churches, but also the streets and alleys in the Catholic neighborhoods of Ho Chi Minh City are brightly decorated. Multicolored lights are strung across the alleys, interspersed with nativity scenes, statues, and miniature landscapes recreating the Christmas atmosphere.

In the evening, locals and tourists stroll through the Catholic neighborhoods, stopping to take photos and chat. The pace of daily life slows down, giving way to a warm, festive atmosphere where locals and visitors share a common space.

Tan Dinh Church: A splash of pink in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Located right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Dinh Church (also known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) continues to be one of the visual highlights during the Christmas season. The building's distinctive pink color is further enhanced by the decorative string lights.

Numerous strings of lights draped around the facade and bell tower create a dazzling spectacle. The Christmas atmosphere inside the church is also vibrant with live activities, attracting both attendees and visitors who stop by to watch.

Notre Dame Cathedral (Saigon Ward): a major Christmas center in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Saigon ward, Notre Dame Cathedral remains a popular destination when it comes to Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City. The building is currently undergoing restoration and repair, but the exterior is decorated with thousands of sparkling lights.

As one of the biggest Christmas destinations in Ho Chi Minh City, the area around Notre Dame Cathedral attracts a large number of locals and tourists, especially young people, who come to visit and take photos. The lights from the cathedral blend with the city lights, creating a vibrant atmosphere for evening strolls at the end of the year.

Tips for strolling around Ho Chi Minh City during Christmas

The lighting system at some parishes is switched on after the evening Mass, from around 6:30 PM, which is the ideal time to fully appreciate the beauty of the buildings in the night light. For Binh Thai parish specifically, the lights are on until 10 PM daily and throughout the night of December 24th and 25th, providing additional options for those wishing to visit later.

Because many of the neighborhoods and churches are decorated in a concentrated area, visitors can combine walking to admire the scenery and take photos. Lightweight clothing and comfortable shoes will make moving around easier, especially if you want to visit many places in the same evening.

Besides taking photos and enjoying the light, visitors can also spend time observing community life around the churches: families bringing young children out to play, adults chatting, and activities preparing for Christmas. This is a way to better appreciate the cultural aspects of the community alongside the religious significance of the holiday season.