Spending 140 million VND to chase the aurora borealis in northern Norway.

During his 9-day trip, Bui Xuan Viet had the opportunity to admire the Arctic fjords in the Tromso area by cruise ship and witness the breathtaking aurora borealis. These are two of the most amazing experiences in the world that anyone would dream of having at least once.

“I really enjoy taking landscape photos, especially night landscapes. And of course, besides the Milky Way, the aurora borealis is something everyone wants to see in the night sky. The reason I chose Tromso in Northern Norway to see the aurora borealis is because it's the best place to see it in Europe. It's located at a much higher latitude than Iceland or other places in Southern Norway, so the probability of seeing the aurora borealis is much higher, and the intensity is also much stronger. I chose late 2023/early 2024 because this is when the aurora borealis reaches its peak in the last 20 years; if I miss it, I'll have to wait another 10 years until 2034,” the photographer shared.

Sailing on a cruise through the Arctic fjords.

Bui Xuan Viet began his journey in December, when winter was gradually descending upon Norway. There, he had the opportunity to cruise on an Arctic fjord. A fjord is a channel connecting a bay to the ocean, and is one of Norway's characteristic landforms, formed by geological activity, glaciers, and other factors.

The photographer was particularly impressed by the silent, electric-powered yacht, which allowed him to enjoy the peace and freshness of nature. On the yacht, he was also fortunate enough to spot humpback whales, a rare wildlife species in this area. However, he was unable to photograph them, only seeing the jets of water sprayed out as they breathed.

"I participated in a whale-watching tour, but I was a bit unlucky because after 8 hours at sea, I still missed taking any photos. The waves in the Norwegian sea are very strong, so even on a luxury cruise ship, many passengers still get seasick and dizzy," Bui Xuan Viet said.

In addition to enjoying the cruise, the photographer and the entire group spent the day visiting and photographing the Tromso-Sommaroy region. The stunning natural scenery featured typical Norwegian houses along the coast and winding roads through the mountains.

Hunt for breathtaking aurora borealis in Norway.

Speaking to Travellive, the photographer said: “Tromso isn't a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists, so researching and planning a trip there was extremely difficult. Initially, I considered going to Iceland or Rovaniemi to see the aurora borealis. However, after about two weeks of research, I chose Tromso for the best aurora viewing experience. I had to read and filter a lot of information because most of the promotional images for aurora hunting tours in Vietnam were composites or downloaded from the internet.”

The aurora borealis in Tromso appeared on the very first day Bui Xuan Viet arrived in Norway: "I was quite lucky to see a very strong aurora on that day. It illuminated the entire sky and curved for 30 minutes, which was a spectacular sight."

The aurora borealis is known as a constantly moving, arc-shaped display of light in various colors against the night sky. This phenomenon occurs due to the collision of particles in the solar wind and gases in the atmosphere.

To capture breathtaking aurora borealis photos, the photographer readily shared his secret: "If you just point and shoot with your phone or camera, the photos will 100% not be good. The aurora borealis consists of dancing halos of light with constantly changing intensity in the sky. Therefore, you have to constantly adjust the shooting settings when photographing the aurora borealis to get the best pictures."

All the experience you need to know about aurora hunting.

According to Bui Xuan Viet, the aurora borealis in Norway can only be photographed between September and April each year. The best time to photograph it is during clear, cloudless weather, and you should avoid days with a large moon, as it will overpower the aurora's light.

To capture stunning aurora borealis moments, he advises tourists to prepare a tripod and a camera for stable exposure, as shooting with a phone won't produce beautiful results. Many people focus solely on the aurora in the sky without choosing a suitable foreground, even though it's also an important part of the photo. Additionally, it's necessary to set up the settings appropriately for the intensity of the aurora. Importantly, move to a sufficiently dark location. City lights will significantly affect aurora viewing. Choose a location far from the city for the best photos.

Above all, the photographer advises that whenever you go to a snowy area, wear a red, orange, or yellow coat because these colors will make you stand out against the snow. Tourists should absolutely avoid black and white, if they don't want to blend completely into the surrounding landscape.

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai