VietNamNet Bridge – Christmas is a time for family but many people can’t get together with their families on Christmas. Let’s see how foreigners in Vietnam, who can’t return home on this occasion, will welcome Christmas 2008.

John Gallup and his family.

Gallup was born and grew up in the countryside of Connecticut. He is living and working in Hanoi, with his Vietnamese-American wife and two children.

He said his family and the family of his friend will jointly organise a Christmas party at his friend’s house. “We will have a small party for the kids and we will bake cookies together. After that we will return home. I and my wife have prepared some interesting gifts for my children,” he said.

Last year, his family welcomed the New Year in HCM City.

“We celebrated the New Year 2007 at the house of my wife’s uncle. That was my first Vietnamese New Year. I most liked the Vietnamese custom of adults giving money to children as a New Year’s gift,” he said.

Nathalie Miller, former student of the Ethnology Faculty, Harvard University

Miller plans to welcome Christmas by tasting some grilled chicken legs at a street shop. “I like eating grilled chicken legs and throwing the bones on the ground under the table, which I’m never allowed to do in the US,” she said.

Charles Keith will welcome Christmas alone.

“I have come to Vietnam for just four weeks this time, but my visit is on Christmas. The atmosphere in Vietnam is very boisterous. Most shops broadcast loud music. But it is different from the US in that there is now snow here,” Keith said.

He said because he doesn’t have many Vietnamese friends he may stay in the library till it closes.

This is his first Christmas far from home and his wife is about to have a child so Keith said he missed his home very much.

“I will stay here for just two weeks more. Our family’s Christmas is simple. My wife is living with her parents so she will not be too sad when I’m not home,” he said.

Uyen Chi