Hanoi Guide
Christmas in Hanoi: A Christmas & New Year Guide
By Ngo Thu Thuy (Jenny), founder of Anamoi Villa · Updated
Christmas in Hanoi is not a public holiday, but the city still dresses up for it. Streets fill with lights and red-and-gold decorations, the Old Quarter is packed on Christmas Eve, and the air is cool enough for a jacket — a very different December from the beaches further south.
The short answer
Come for the atmosphere, not for a quiet holiday in the centre. Christmas Eve around St Joseph’s Cathedral and Hoan Kiem Lake is busy and festive, 1 January is a public holiday, and December is cool and mostly dry. For a family or a group, a private villa in West Lake lets you cook your own Christmas dinner and still reach the Old Quarter in 10–20 minutes by car. Book early: large houses go first for Christmas and New Year.
What Christmas in Hanoi is like
Vietnam is mainly not a Christian country, and 25 December is a normal working day. Even so, Hanoi takes Christmas to heart as a festive season. Shopping centres, hotels and cafés put up trees and lights from early December, and on Christmas Eve young Hanoians head out in their thousands to take photos and walk the streets.
For visitors, that means a lively, cheerful city rather than a closed one. Shops, restaurants and sights stay open as usual. The flip side is traffic: on the evening of 24 December, the roads around the Old Quarter can be slow and crowded, so plan to walk the last part.
Where to see the Christmas lights
- St Joseph’s Cathedral, the neo-Gothic church in the Old Quarter, is the centre of Christmas Eve. The square in front is decorated, and the crowd outside is part of the experience. If you would like to attend Mass, check the parish schedule closer to the date and arrive early.
- Hang Ma street in the Old Quarter is lined with shops selling decorations, lanterns and Christmas trees — colourful and fun to walk through with children.
- Hoan Kiem Lake and the streets around it are lit up and busy every evening through the holidays.
- West Lake has a calmer feel. Many of its international restaurants, cafés and hotels serve Christmas menus, so book a table early if you want to eat out on the 24th or 25th.
The weather in Hanoi in December
December is one of the coolest months in Hanoi. Days are mostly dry and often grey, typically in the mid to high teens Celsius, and nights can be noticeably colder. It is comfortable for walking all day, but it is not beach or swimming weather.
- Pack layers: a warm jacket or fleece, long trousers and closed shoes.
- Bring a light scarf or hat for the evenings, especially if you will be out late on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve in Hanoi
New Year’s Eve is the bigger night out. Crowds gather around Hoan Kiem Lake for the countdown, and bars and restaurants across the city stay open late. 1 January is a public holiday, so expect some offices to close and the city to have a slow, relaxed morning.
A practical tip for groups: getting home after midnight is the hard part. Ride-hailing apps such as Grab are busy and prices rise, so agree on a meeting point in advance, or book a car for the return trip. From our West Lake villas, Hoan Kiem Lake is about a 10–20 minute drive on a normal day; on the night itself, allow much longer.
Our villas normally keep quiet hours from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM out of respect for our neighbours, but we relax them on New Year’s Eve. Many groups have a long dinner at the villa and count down together at home, then sleep in on the public holiday.
Christmas at your own villa
Christmas in a hotel usually means separate rooms and a restaurant booking. In a private villa, the whole family or group shares one home, one long table and one kitchen — closer to the Christmas you have at home.
- Cook your own Christmas dinner. West Lake French Colonial has a restaurant-grade kitchen with an oven and a custom dining table that seats up to 16.
- Stay in for the evening. The French Colonial has a basement with a karaoke room, a movie projector and board games, which is welcome on a cold December night.
- BBQ setup assistance is available on request at our West Lake villas, if you would rather grill than roast.
- Christmas decorations and a warm welcome. Our villas are decorated for Christmas, and every group is welcomed with tea and local Vietnamese cakes on arrival.
Where to stay in Hanoi for Christmas and New Year
The big choice is between West Lake and the Old Quarter. If you are not sure, our Old Quarter vs West Lake comparison explains the difference in detail.
| West Lake | Old Quarter | |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas feel | Calmer, international restaurants with Christmas menus | In the middle of the lights, the crowds and the cathedral |
| New Year’s Eve | 10–20 minutes by car to Hoan Kiem Lake; quieter at night | Walk to the countdown; noisy until late |
| Space for groups | Large villas with 5–8 bedrooms | Townhouses with more stairs and less outdoor space |
| Best for | Families and groups who want space and a home-cooked dinner | Shorter stays and guests who want to be in the action |
Our Hanoi villas for the holidays
- West Lake French Colonial — 8 bedrooms, sleeps up to 16, from 9,500,000 VND per night. The restaurant-grade kitchen, 16-seat dining table, karaoke room and rooftop hot tub make it our most complete house for a Christmas get-together. About 10 minutes by car to Hoan Kiem Lake.
- West Lake Peaceful Villa — 6 bedrooms, sleeps up to 14, from 7,000,000 VND per night. A quiet, green house a minute’s walk from the lake, with a panoramic rooftop terrace and a private jacuzzi.
- West Lake Pool Villa — 7 bedrooms, sleeps up to 20, from 10,500,000 VND per night, for the largest groups. Its indoor pool is not heated, so in December it is a beautiful space rather than one for swimming.
- Old Quarter Artist House — 5 bedrooms, sleeps up to 14, from 6,000,000 VND per night, a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Expect stairs, and a lively street outside on Christmas Eve.
- Hidden Courtyard Studio — a 1-bedroom studio for up to 3 guests, from 1,500,000 VND per night, for couples who want a quiet base near the Temple of Literature.
For more on each area, read our West Lake Hanoi guide and Old Quarter Hanoi guide, or see where to stay in Hanoi with a large group.
Booking tips for the holiday season
- Book early. Large houses are limited in Hanoi, and Christmas, New Year and Tet fill up first.
- Think about the next holiday too: Tet, the Lunar New Year, falls on 6 February 2027, and many shops and restaurants close for several days around it.
- Book direct at anamoivilla.com for 3 nights or more and the airport pickup is free for your whole group. Noi Bai Airport is about 30–40 minutes from West Lake by car.
- Free early check-in or late check-out is offered subject to availability, and stays of 5+ nights get 5% off room charges (10% off for 7+ nights).
Frequently asked questions
- Is Christmas a public holiday in Hanoi?
- No. 25 December is a normal working day in Vietnam, and shops, restaurants and sights stay open. The city still celebrates with lights and decorations, and Christmas Eve is very busy around St Joseph's Cathedral and Hoan Kiem Lake. 1 January is a public holiday.
- What is the weather like in Hanoi at Christmas?
- Cool and mostly dry. Days are often in the mid to high teens Celsius and nights are colder, so bring a warm jacket and layers. It is good weather for walking, not for swimming.
- Where should a group stay in Hanoi for Christmas?
- West Lake suits families and groups who want space, a full kitchen for Christmas dinner and a quieter night, while staying 10 to 20 minutes by car from Hoan Kiem Lake. The Old Quarter puts you in the middle of the lights and crowds but has smaller houses with more stairs.
- When should I book a villa in Hanoi for Christmas and New Year?
- As early as you can. Large villas are limited in Hanoi and are the first to be booked for Christmas, New Year and Tet.
Send us your dates and group size — we’ll check which Hanoi villas are free over Christmas and New Year.
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