Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City: The Best Churches for Foreign Guests

2025-12-17

Many travelers wonder whether they can attend Christmas Mass in Ho Chi Minh City. Absolutely yes. The city has a large Christian community and more than 200 churches, from Catholic to Protestant. Several of them offer services in English. So if you’re visiting Saigon during Christmas, you’ll definitely find a place to worship and a community to connect with.

What is the weather like in Ho Chi Minh during Christmas time

Ho Chi Minh City has two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. December to May is the dry season, so Christmas usually comes with cool weather, sunshine, and clear skies. It’s actually the best time of year to visit because the weather is so ideal. If you’re looking for a fresh Christmas experience in a tropical country, Saigon is definitely a great pick and you’ll also find plenty of churches to attend during the holiday.

Ho Chi Minh City churches are not just about Pink Church and Notre Dame Cathedral Church

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

Address: No. 1 Cong Truong Cong xa Paris St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve mass: 7PM (English Mass)

Christmas day mass: 9AM (English Mass)

Notre-Dame Cathedral is located in the heart of the city and is currently undergoing restoration. From the outside, it is covered by construction barriers, which makes many people think that visits are not allowed. In reality, the cathedral still holds weekly Sunday services, and everyone is welcome to attend and connect with God. The English Mass takes place at 9:30 AM.

In recent years, for locals, Notre-Dame Cathedral is like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York. Once the lights decorating the scaffolding around the cathedral are switched on, it’s a clear sign that Christmas is just around the corner.

Pink Church (Tan Dinh Church)

Address: 289 Hai Ba Trung, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Mass 2025: 7PM & 9.30PM (Vietnamese Mass)

Christmas Mass 2025: 6.15AM, 5.30PM, 7.00PM (Vietnamese Mass)

Cho Quan Parish Church

Address: 120 Tran Binh Trong, Ward 2, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Mass 2025: 6PM & 8.30PM (Vietnamese Mass)

This is the oldest church in Ho Chi Minh City, originally built in 1640. It has undergone eight major reconstructions, with the present structure inaugurated in 1896 after the eighth rebuilding. Designed in Gothic style, the church features curved roofs and intricate carvings. Originally painted in ivory white, it has been renovated several times and is now known for its distinctive pink exterior. Today, the church serves a large Catholic community, with daily and weekly Masses. Within the church grounds, there is also an exhibition space displaying artifacts related to the church’s history. During the Christmas season, it becomes a popular destination, attracting large numbers of visitors.

Huyen Sy

Address: 01 Ton That Tung, Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Mass 2025: 5PM, 7PM, 9PM

Located in the heart of District 1, Huyen Sy Church is a familiar Christmas destination for locals. The church was built in 1902 by the family of Vietnam’s last empress, and it was named after the man who funded its construction.

Church of St. Jeanne D' Arc

Address: 116A Hùng Vương Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Mass 2025: 7PM & 8.45PM (Vietnamese Mass)

Christmas Mass 2025: 5.00AM, 5.30PM, 7PM (Vietnamese Mass)

This church is over a century old and was built in the Neo-Romanesque architectural style. It is named after a French female saint for a special reason: the construction of the church coincided with the time she was canonized, so the parish priest chose her as the church’s patron saint. Few people know that the church was built on land that once served as a Chinese cemetery, which the priest purchased at the time due to its low cost. Today, the church functions as a place of worship for the local Chinese Catholic community living in the surrounding area. During the Christmas season, the church is beautifully decorated and attracts many visitors. Although it currently holds Mass only in Vietnamese, visitors are still welcome to stop by during Christmas to experience the local atmosphere

Saint Joseph Seminary

Address: Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon, 6 Tôn Đức Thắng Street, Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City

⏰ Open hours: 8.00AM-5.00PM

St Joseph’s Seminary, one of the earliest Roman Catholic institutions founded by Bishop Dominique Lefèbvre following the French conquest of 1859, remains a little-known sanctuary of peace in the heart of the city. Within the grounds of the seminary stands a 160-year-old chapel that still retains its original appearance, just as it was designed more than a century ago. The Saint Joseph Seminary holds services only on two special occasions each year: Easter and Christmas so consider spending your Christmas here this year.

Beyond its religious role, Saigon St. Joseph’s Seminary also serves as an archive housing numerous historical artifacts, manuscripts, and documents related to theology, archaeology, and spirituality. If you’re looking to learn about Catholicism in Vietnam, this is one of the best places to visit.

Ky Dong Church

Address: 38 Ky Dong street, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Mass 2025: 6.30PM & 9.30PM (Vietnamese Mass)

Ky Dong Church, also known as the Redemptorist Church, was originally a monastery of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. As there were no churches in the surrounding area at the time, the parish priest requested permission from the archbishop to establish a church here. Today, the church is more than 60 years old and remains a popular destination, attracting large crowds for Christmas Mass every year.

International Churches for Tourists to go to Christmas Eve Mass

1. River Church

Address: 11 Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Him Lam Residences, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Service: 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM

This is an international church serving the English-speaking community in Ho Chi Minh City. It is run by an American and expatriate team. Mass is held weekly on Saturdays at 7:00 PM and on Sundays at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Besides Mass services, they also build a strong community for those looking for a Christian community in Ho Chi Minh City.

2. New Life Fellowship

Address: 110-112 My Kim 2, Phu My Hung, Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

New Life Church was established in 1997 by American Pastor Eric Dooley, just two years after Vietnam and the United States reestablished diplomatic relations. The church holds weekly Sunday services in both Vietnamese and English (Vietnamese service at 11:00 AM and English service at 9:00 AM). In addition, the church offers Sunday programs for children to learn about Jesus. For Christmas Eve services, please check their website and Facebook page for updated service times.

3. International Christian Fellowship

Address: International Christian Fellowship, 453 Tô Hiến Thành Street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

International Christian Fellowship was run by a Singaporean Pastor Rev Leslie Lim.

Sunday Service at 11:00 AM every week.

4. Thu Thiem International Service

Address: 3rd Floor, Thu Thiem Evangelical Church, 11 Street 33 Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

Christmas Eve Service: 6.30PM

Thu Thiem International Service (TTIS) is an English-speaking Christian congregation in Ho Chi Minh City. It began as a house fellowship and officially became part of Thu Thiem Evangelical Church in District 2 in 2010. Today, TTIS is a non-denominational evangelical church that holds English worship services for the international and expatriate community, operating under official approval from local religious authorities and in partnership with the Vietnamese congregation.

Final thought: Is Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City real?

Yes, many people assume that in an Asian country like Vietnam, there wouldn’t be many churches and that Christmas would feel quiet or even boring. But as you can see, Vietnam is home to numerous churches that are hundreds of years old, supported by a large and active Christian community. You can even attend English-speaking Catholic Masses or Protestant services, as there are welcoming communities for both. So why not experience Christmas in a tropical country for a change?

Sang Nguyen - General Manager

I've always been fascinated by the stories behind things. For me, every street corner in Saigon, the historic heart of Ho Chi Minh City, has a tale to tell. For the last 10 years, my passion has been sharing these stories. I want to help you see beyond the surface, to feel the history, and truly connect with the culture that makes this city so special.

Vietnam Travel