4 places Vietnamese tourists should visit in winter

Travel bloggers suggest that Hakuba village in Japan or Hallstatt in Austria promise to attract Vietnamese tourists in winter thanks to their pristine landscape and rich culture.

From their experience traveling to many countries, bloggers Vinh Le (Vinh Gau) and Nguyen Lan Uyen (Saru) have selected four destinations that Vietnamese tourists will love to visit in winter. What these places have in common is pristine landscapes, strong cultural imprints, and many experiences worth trying in winter.

Hakuba Village, Japan

Lan Uyen suggests Hakuba village in Nagano prefecture, Japan as a unique destination to experience winter. Hakuba has heavy snowfall in winter, making it a paradise for sports activities such as skiing, ice fishing and onsen bathing.

Bloggers suggest that tourists who love peaceful scenery should also visit Hakuba to see the clear, mirror-like lakes and rows of snow-covered pine trees.

Hakuba also has an interesting culture with many foreigners living there. Lan Uyen commented that the village is a rare place with a strong Western character because many Europeans come here to settle down and build families.

"When I arrived in Hakuba, I hardly saw any Asian tourists. I thought I was in a European country," she said.

Bloggers advise tourists to pay attention to choosing bright-colored clothes to match the white snow scene. In addition, specialized snow boots with waterproof ability to avoid cold should also be brought. When going out, tourists should bring two pairs of socks, a spare pair of shoes to change immediately when soaked with snow, causing hypothermia.

Mongolia

Vinh Le suggests Mongolia because this country exempts visas for Vietnamese visitors and has direct flights, helping to save time and money. Coming to Mongolia in winter is also the time for tourists to approach the nomadic Tsaatan tribe in Khuvsgul province when they migrate from deep in the forest to the forest edge. Tourists can stay in traditional Ortz tents (also known as Teepes) and live with this tribe. Riding a horse-drawn cart on the frozen Khuvsgul lake is also an experience worth trying.

Mongolia has a unique culture where people store wood months in advance to prepare for the harsh winter, where temperatures can drop to -44 degrees Celsius. Each family has a wood-burning stove in the middle of the house to keep warm and take turns tending the fire to avoid getting cold. Bloggers commented that the winter landscape in Mongolia is like a fairyland with white snow fields, crystal clear ice lakes and majestic snow-capped mountains.

According to him, what makes Mongolia different from other destinations is the harshness of the weather, making many curious tourists wonder "How do they live in such cold weather?". While many people prefer destinations with modern and warm facilities, Mongolia offers a simple, deprived, and challenging experience. Visitors will clearly feel the rusticity and resilience of the people here.

If you want to fully experience your trip in Mongolia, Vinh recommends preparing good thermal clothing and wearing many layers to keep your body warm. A pair of high-top snow boots is essential because visitors will be walking on snow a lot. In addition, you should also bring familiar foods from Vietnam such as instant noodles or canned food and prepare cash because tourist attractions are often far from the city center, and it is not easy to find an ATM.

Egypt

Egypt is famous for its hot climate all year round, ranging from 28-34 degrees Celsius. However, blogger Saru suggests that this place is suitable for tourism between December and January when the temperature is much cooler, ranging from 10-20 degrees Celsius. If lucky, visitors can also see snow falling in the desert.

Experience riding a camel to see the pyramids. Photo: Saru

During this time, visitors to Egypt can participate in outdoor activities such as visiting pyramids, tombs, ancient temples or cruising on the Nile. In particular, visitors can also ride camels to travel along the areas near the Giza pyramids. With a pleasant climate and few tourists during this season, Egypt is an interesting choice for Vietnamese visitors to change their perspective on Africa - not only a hot place but also has cool, ideal winters.

Hallstatt, Austria

Vinh Le commented that Hallstatt village in winter is a beautiful destination because of the image of ancient houses nestled by the lake. Coming to Hallstatt, visitors can experience a short boat ride from the train station through the village, admiring the panoramic view of the ancient village from afar. Walking around the village and exploring beautiful corners such as the iconic Evangelical church is also an experience not to be missed.

On a cold afternoon, Vinh suggests enjoying grilled river fish at the central market, where the fish is pulled up and sold on the same day, ensuring freshness. Another interesting point is exploring the Hallstatt Charnel House cellar with thousands of human skulls located next to the church.

A corner of Hallstatt village. Photo: Vinh Gau

What sets Hallstatt apart from other places is the peaceful, quiet atmosphere of the ancient village. Hallstatt has no skyscrapers or modern buildings. Bloggers say visitors should check the weather forecast to choose a day with snowfall because Hallstatt in the snow season offers "a wonderful sight".

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