Reporter: With Christmas coming, how are you feeling?

Minh Thao: I see Christmas as a holiday for children, but is also an opportunity for (young) adults to cling to the innocence of childhood. On Christmas, everyone went to the kitchen to make delicious smelling pastries, no matter sweet and salty, but delicious and heart-warming nonetheless. I like the cold weather of Christmas, too. When it's cold, people tend to be closer to each other!

Reporter: Do you have any memorable memories on Christmas?

Minh Thao: My most memorable memories of Christmas must be the year that I stopped believing in Santa Claus. I don't know why I noticed it, I just vaguely remember writing a letter and not knowing how to write the word “Noel”. After that, I asked my parents to give it to Santa Claus for me. On Christmas Eve that year, the whole family went to eat, so there was a “real” Santa Claus delivering gifts to the children. That day, I was given two beautiful books about princesses. Even though I don't remember what I wished for, I certainly didn’t want the story, but I was happy when I received it. Only later did I realize that it was a restaurant service! *laugh*

Minh Thao on Christmas

Reporter: On this holiday, do you do something special to celebrate?

Minh Thao: Every year, I only have Christmas with my family, but because my family has two beautiful 5-year-old sisters, every year I will think of a fun game for them. Last year, Dad dressed as Santa Claus giving gifts to the children and asked to take a photo and pose with him. After that, they would go around the streets together. When they came to a beautiful place, my parents would ask them to take a photo. I also let my two sisters draw pictures for Santa. Christmas is for the family!

Reporter: Having been with Ams for six years now, how do you feel about the Christmas atmosphere in Ams and how does it change each year?

Minh Thao: Oh, it's been six years since I entered the school! I'm almost out of school *laughs*… Honestly, Christmas in Ams middle school isn't as hectic as it is in high school, at least in my memory. On Christmas, everyone will play traditional music of the festival, and some students will give each other cookies. But when I was in high school, I felt the "essence" of Christmas more clearly when everyone was in the same spirit. Partly because the class was full of boys back then, so the activities weren't as exciting as they are now. I find that the older I get, the more excited I am for Christmas. Last year, a month before Christmas, everyone turned on the music, singing and dancing, and I really liked it. My class even bought a big and majestic pine tree, and it was in my class for a long time after Christmas. Unfortunately, there are no such activities at home this year, but everyone still made cakes and traveled ten kilometers to bring them to each other, and even posted pictures of bustling Christmas. In general, the Christmas atmosphere has not changed, but my memories and feelings for Ams are more intense, so it feels different.

Reporter: Due to the complicated epidemic situation this year, do you have any other plans for this holiday?

Minh Thao: Actually, not yet. This year's Christmas, I have to go to Yen Bai, so I can't even enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in Hanoi. I'm also regretting not being able to celebrate Christmas in Hanoi... I want to go out with the whole family, and play with my sisters when we go to Hang Ma. I also  want to hang out with friends on my motorbikes, even if it breaks down in the middle of the road. But wherever I am, I can still feel the atmosphere.

Reporter: If you were given one wish for Christmas this year, what would it be?

Minh Thao: Now that I'm older, I don't wish for toys or material things anymore, I just wish that I would can my best to meet my expectations, I wish everything would get better so that everyone can worry less about what’s going on. 

Minh Thao had shared some very real and interesting stories about her Christmas

Reporter: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers on this special holiday?

Minh Thao: Everybody, please cherish your relationships and love people around you a lot because love and care is the best gift of all!

Reporter: Thank you Minh Thao for this interesting interview! We wish you a merry and warm Christmas with friends and family!

On behalf of the Ams Wide Web Editorial Board, we would like to wish Minh Thao and all Ams Wide Web readers a Merry Christmas with family and loved ones!

Reporter: Tran Ngoc Ha - 2023 Russian

Photo: Provided by interviewee

Translator: Nguyen Khanh Linh - English 2 2023