Why can a buffer be created by the addition of sodium hydroxide to acetic acid, but not from the addition of sodium hydroxide to hydrochloric acid?

NaOH + excess HAc gives a mixture of a weak acid and its salt. HCl and NaOH gives NaCl which is the salt of a strong acid and a strong base and that isn't a buffer. To be a buffer you want a solution that has a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid OR a weak base and a salt of the weak base.