Thousands of people flocked to popular places in downtown Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Christmas Eve on Saturday night.

In Hanoi, a lot of people including local residents and foreign tourists crowded St. Joseph's Cathedral to witness the giant Christmas tree and shimmering decorations.

Matheu and Emily, two visitors from France, said it is their first time traveling to Vietnam and that Christmas in Hanoi is very similar to that in Paris.

Minh Duong and Thuc Trinh, two Hanoi residents, said they had arrived in the downtown area quite early to find a parking space for their motorbikes.

The two had walked about one kilometer to reach St. Joseph's Cathedral.

“Although it is cold, I decided to wear a skirt to take some photos during this special occasion,” Trinh stated.

As of 10:00 pm, a lot of vehicles were still heading toward Royal City shopping mall, another popular hangout spot in the capital city.

Traffic congestion was recorded near Phung Khoang Church.

In Ho Chi Minh City, people flocked to Bach Dang Wharf Park in District 1 to watch a colorful performance by thousands of drones.

The 20-minute show ended with a low-range fireworks display.

Thieu Vy, a resident in District 6, said he and his family arrived very early to secure the best spot to watch the performance.

Many other people chose to spend their Christmas Eve at Binh An Catholic neighborhood, Binh An Church, and Binh Thai Church in District 8.

Along Pham The Hien Street in District 8, many houses were outfitted with shimmering and fanciful Christmas decorations.

Minh Nhut, 20, said he and his friends had traveled from neighboring Long An Province to enjoy the festive spirit at Binh An Catholic neighborhood.

“This year’s Christmas is much more bustling and vibrant than previous years,” My Hanh, who lives in Binh Chanh District, commented as she and her family celebrated the occasion at the Catholic neighborhood.

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