LookAtVietnam – High income earners will attend Christmas parties at five star hotels. Meanwhile, the rest of the populace say they have nowhere to go, since Hanoi lacks entertainment complexes.

On Hanoi’s streeets

One week before Christmas, Hanoians ask each other about where they should go on Christmas Eve December 24. The top priority for young people is flocking to the central streets and the church areas.

“We still don’t know where we will go. However, I think that like previous years, we will drive on streets to enjoy the ‘Christmas atmosphere’. Then we will sit at some cafés and leave the café at midnight,” Van Anh, a student at Hanoi Open University, said.

Like Van Anh, many other young people do not know where to go on Christmas. Hanoi does not have many places for entertainment, save a few parks. However, the parks do not have attractive activities to attract people.

On Ta Hien street, called the ‘westerners’ street’ of Hanoi owing to the many expat bars, you still cannot feel a Christmas atmosphere yet. The tourists here say that if they were not travelling over the holidays they would have Christmas dinner then join the stream of people going around, and around, and around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Gordon, an Australian tourist, told VietNamNet that his friends are touring across the country and will arrive in HCM City on Christmas. Others plan to go trekking in Sapa. He will stay in Hanoi and does not know where to go. He, like many others, will wander the ancient streets of Hanoi.

The World of Games videao game arcade at Vincom tower or Star Bowl ten pin bowling are the few entertainment places in Hanoi.

Going to cinema could be the good choice for young couples. Megastar cinema said that it has already begun selling tickets for films shown on December 24. Generally tickets are only sold two days in advance.

High income earners flock to five star hotels

While people are busy with work on the days leading up to Christmas, high rollers are eager for Christmas parties as they were booked so far in advance.

Though prices at five star hotels are sky high, the majority of diners are Vietnamese, not ’wealthy’ foreigners. At the Sheraton Hanoi, for example, 80 percent of clients of the Christmas parties are Vietnamese “Family groups are always like snug parties and they can afford luxurious parties, while young people would rather go out than stay indoors,” noted Chu Hang, an executive at Sheraton Hotel.

Phan Hung – Ha Yen