A fairytale-like Swiss landscape captured through the lens of a Vietnamese photographer.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh (nicknamed Nguyen Anh Lukas, 34 years old) is from Hanoi and has been a student in France for 6 years. Currently, he is a freelance photographer working mainly in Paris.

In early August, he took a three-day trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. Despite the short time, he felt like he was immersed in a fairytale setting and didn't forget to capture the dreamy moments of Zermatt.

Zermatt is known as a small town, but it's a well-known tourist destination for those who love the beautiful scenery of Switzerland. It's an ideal destination for those who enjoy mountain climbing and skiing. Upon arriving in Zermatt, visitors will feel as if they've stepped into a fairytale, with its tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, clear streams, and charming wooden houses lining the hillsides.

Ngoc Anh's journey from Paris to Zermatt Mountain took 8 hours, totaling 16 hours on the train. The journey from Paris to Zermatt required traveling on three different trains, with only 5-minute intervals between transfers. If you weren't familiar with the route, you would have to wait a considerable amount of time for the next train. Specifically, the trains were: Paris - Geneva, Geneva - Vips, Vips - Zermatt.

In Zermatt, Ngoc Anh conquered three main destinations. The first destination was Gornergrat peak. This is a rocky mountain slope with an altitude of 3,000 m, offering views of the Alps and the Gorner Glacier in southeastern Zermatt, Switzerland.

Zermatt can be reached by the Gornergrat railway – the highest open-air railway in Europe. Here, in addition to stunning mountain views, there is an astronomical observatory installed in the two towers of the Kulmhotel Gornergrat.

The second destination was the ancient village of Zermatt. Ngoc Anh had visited many villages and cities in Switzerland, but Zermatt felt much more ancient and beautifully decorated, with flags and flowers hanging on almost every house along the street. In particular, the old wooden houses, with very little concrete or newly built houses in a faux-antique style, gave the impression of a small rural village.

The final stop is Sunnegga. The journey from Zermatt Valley Station to Sunnegga by funicular railway takes only 4.5 minutes. Sunnegga is the starting point for many hiking trips around Zermatt.

“The Matterhorn is a symbol of Switzerland. Because it's a symbol, its image is everywhere, from tiny chocolate boxes to huge posters at the airport. But it's not as well-known as other Swiss tourist destinations like Lucerne, Geneva, Jung Frau, Interlaken... Perhaps it's because the route to get there isn't suitable for short, sightseeing trips?” Ngoc Anh shared.

Once you've reached the summit of the Matterhorn, visit the observation deck and you'll be amazed by the 38 colossal peaks of the French, Italian, and Swiss Alps, as well as 14 glaciers. At the cinema, enjoy short films about mountaineering, local flora and fauna, the use of lifts, and the snow and ice.

In Switzerland, Gornergrat is also one of the equally famous tourist destinations. To reach the summit of Gornergrat, you have to take a train ride, but the best part is that this journey is unforgettable because it is the highest train in the world and the surrounding scenery is incredibly beautiful.

After climbing another 1500 meters, you will be warmly welcomed by the natural beauty of Zermatt. First, at an incredible altitude of 4,634 meters, you can admire the highest peak in Switzerland, the second highest glacier in the Alps, and gaze upon Dufourspitze.

As a country with some of the world's best air quality and living environment, Swiss citizens frequently use modes of transportation such as trains and trams.

Like many destinations in Switzerland, Zermatt has no gasoline-powered cars; all vehicles in the village run on electricity, from taxis and buses to delivery trucks. Therefore, the air here is clean and there is virtually no engine noise.

Ideally, one should take a stroll around the beautiful mountain lakes of Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grunsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee. These are the five most well-known lakes in the town of Zermatt for various reasons. The trip was quite short, so Ngoc Anh only managed to visit Stellisee and Leisee, two lakes that mirror the Matterhorn peak. It's safe to say that at an altitude of around 2000-2500 meters, strolling around this stunning natural landscape was an unforgettable experience for him.

The only difficulty Ngoc Anh encountered on this trip was the extremely long distance and the numerous train changes required.

“There were times when the time between two trains was only 3 minutes, so I almost had to run at full speed to catch the next one. The reason was that it was already dark when I arrived in Zermatt, so it was the last train of the day. Sometimes I even considered sleeping at the station if I missed the last train. Luckily, the train driver seemed to speed up on the final leg of the journey to get back to the station on time,” Ngoc Anh said.

Ngoc Anh shared some tips for Vietnamese tourists planning a trip to Zermatt: “Prepare warm clothes, even in summer there is still snow on the mountaintop and it can be quite cold. Also, you should bring a pair of hiking boots or at least a pair of athletic shoes; flip-flops and high heels should be left at home. Especially, a hat, sunglasses, or hiking poles will be essential if you are a cautious person.”

“Switzerland is already beautiful with its cities and valleys, but standing on a mountainside 3000 meters high and looking out at the majestic landscape is an indescribable feeling. Come once to admire and fully appreciate the beauty of this place,” shared Nguyen Anh Lukas.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao - Photo: Provided by the interviewee