Crowds flood Hanoi, HCMC streets on Christmas Eve

From 6 p.m. Catholics gathered in front of the St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District to attend the mass service to mark the birth of Jesus.

The cathedral, one of the capital's busiest areas during Christmas holiday, is strikingly beautiful at this time of the year with elaborate Christmas decorations.

The junction of Nha Tho (Church) and Nha Chung Streets was overrun by holiday crowds.

"This year, there are no longer Covid restrictions. I took my wife and children down to Nha Tho Street to celebrate Christmas," said Hau, who lives in Ha Dong District.

A more-than-ten-meter-high Christmas tree is lit up outside the St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

A dance performance by little girls outside the cathedral.

Wearing Santa hats, Ollie (R) and Jess from the U.K. take photos in front of the cathedral.

"We have celebrated Christmas twice in Vietnam. I loved the crowded atmosphere here," said Jess.

On Ly Quoc Su Street, a man wearing a Santa Claus outfit performs Christmas songs on his dan nhi, a Vietnamese bowed string instrument with two strings.

In HCMC, downtown streets were heavily jammed from 8:30 p.m.

In the picture, vehicles move at a snail's pace on Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1.

Vehicles are stuck on Ton Duc Thang Street at 9 p.m.

Similarly, Le Duan Street that leads to the city center is crowded with holiday-goers.

Two kids dressed as Santa Claus wait to get out of the congestion.

Crowds in front of Diamond Plaza shopping complex on Le Duan Street near the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral.

A woman prays in front of the statue of Mary, mother of Jesus in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Although the 140-year-old cathedral is under renovation, which is scheduled to extend until 2026, it has been decorated for the occasion and drawn big crowds.