It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas: Chilly weather brings holiday vibes to Ho Chi Minh City
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 11:59 GMT+7
Young people across Ho Chi Minh City are using the recent spate of cold weather as an excuse to toss on their winter coats and find nice Christmas-themed backdrops for impromptu photoshoots.
With restaurants, diners, and pubs across the city still limiting their dine-in seating due to COVID-19 regulations, open air spaces across the city have skyrocketed in popularity.
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| A woman takes photos of a building decorated with sparkling Christmas ornaments in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
Now, as Christmas nears and holiday-themed decorations pop-up around the city, young people seem to be overtaken with Christmas spirit as they pour into these public spaces.
Many also feel like the recent spate of cold weather makes this year’s holiday season much more reminiscent of the ‘white Christmas’ they are so used to seeing in Hollywood movies.
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| A woman and her child on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
Thu Trang, a resident in District 7, decided to walk her child down the Christmas-themed street at 10:00 pm.
According to Trang, she prefers to hang out late at night because she wants to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere while remaining cautious about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most popular of these public, outdoor spaces are Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, the area around Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, and the area around the Municipal Theater.
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| A woman takes photos with fake snow against a Christmas-themed backdrop at a coffee shop in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
But not everyone wants to be outdoors. Shops and cafes with over-the-top Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, lights, and fake snow have also turned into major attractions.
According to Thanh Thuy, a resident in District 8, taking photos with artificial snowfall was a lifetime experience for her.
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| Thanh Thuy poses for a photo with the Christmas decorations in the background at a coffee shop in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
"I've never seen snow before because I live in Ho Chi Minh City. Even though [this café has] fake snow, I still consider it a very happy memory," Thuy said.
Customers must book an appointment in advance, have proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and make a medical declaration in order to enter this cafe.
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| A young woman holds Christmas ornaments to take photos at a coffee shop in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
According to Dang Hoang Duy, the café's manager, the number of customers visiting the café has unexpectedly surged, but due to epidemic prevention, the cafe welcomes customers by appointment only.
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| A woman poses for a photo against a Christmas-themed backdrop at a coffee shop in Tan Dinh Ward, District 1. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
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| Diamond Plaza in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City is decorated with dazzling Christmas adornments. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
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| According to Tram, the owner of a Christmas shop on Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1, sales are down 60 percent this year compared to last year. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
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| A customer chooses Christmas ornaments at a shop on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
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| A man buys Christmas ornaments at a shop on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre |
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