Hanoi busily prepares for Christmas

The spirit of Christmas has filled streets, shopping centers and many other places in Hanoi with striking colors, decorations and items.

The most jubilant places are public amusement areas, shopping centers such as Vincom, as well as restaurants and hotels, including Sofitel Metro-pole Hanoi, Melia, Sheraton, Daewoo and Sofitel Plaza , which are decorated impressively, splendidly and colorfully.

In front of souvenir and fashion shops in Luong Van Can, Hang Can, Ba Trieu, Cau Giay and Hang Ma streets are pine trees which are decorated with many colorful items.

Christmas trees, Snow White, ribbons and artificial reindeer can be seen in many offices in Hanoi .

Coffee shop owners have even decorated their shops with laurel wreaths and pine trees.

Churches have been well-decorated to welcome Christmas and the 2012 New Year.

The nearer Christmas day comes, the higher the demand for seasonal services, such as Santa Claus gift delivering, pine trees and Santa Claus clothing products.

Bich Tram, owner of a souvenir shop in Ton Duc Thang street said that a Santa Claus gift delivery service at home costs VND100,000/time within the inner Hanoi area. In previous years, the service was available between Dec.15-25. But this year, the service started from Dec. 5. The number of customers is forecast to double or even triple numbers from last year.

Artificial pine trees are still the first choice of customers. This year, trees ranged in price from VND800,000 -1,800,000. Meanwhile, Santa Claus clothing products are VND60,000-300,000 for a set of clothes, and a Santa Claus hat is about VND30,000-60,000. The prices have increased by 20 percent over the same period last year.

This year, there are more made-in-Vietnam goods on the market, however Chinese goods still dominate Christmas sales.

From oratrip.com