German christmas market: record number of visitors

More than 1,000 visitors from more than 20 nations were counted at this year’s IGS Christmas market.

At the traditional market with its wooden huts, a glassblower from Thuringia showed how traditional Christmas ornaments were made. There were also ceramics and pottery from the region, German children’s books, textile prints, jewellery, a proper merry-go-round, and of course gingerbread, stollen, cottoncandy, and other seasonal specialties.

The IGS choir and a school band opened the market with Christmas songs. The colourful hustle and bustle continued against the background of Christmas music: children decorated gingerbread, poured candles or had themselves photographed with Santa Claus. Some pupils handed out greeting cards and biscuits on hawker’s trays.

Suddenly, pupils and teachers alike moved to the brightly lit Christmas tree. A canon sounded from all directions. A flashmob! The visitors were initially taken aback but then reacted enthusiastically to this surprise. At around 10 in the evening, our last guests left this traditional German Christmas market, unique in HCMC.

Market stall with traditional pottery

Luminous christmas tree

Glassblower from Thuringia