8 days exploring Scandinavia - the home of Santa Claus.

My 8-day journey took me through landmarks in three countries, including Stockholm, Kiruna, Jukkasjarvi, Rovaniemi, Kemi, Saariselka, Kirkenes, and Oslo.

DAY 1: A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME TO THE MIDDLE AGES IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

In Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, I spent an entire day traveling back in time to the Middle Ages by strolling through the narrow, winding cobblestone streets of the over 800-year-old Gamla Stan district, admiring the ancient houses painted in red, yellow, and green, and the frescoes adorning their facades. Most of the city's charm is preserved in Gamla Stan, home to the Stockholm Royal Palace.

Many street names in Stockholm originate from the Middle Ages, such as Kopmangatan (Merchant's Street); Skomakargatan (Shoemaker's Street) from the 14th century; Slottbacken (Castle Hill); Jarntorget (Iron Square); Kåkbrinken (Old Gong Hill) and others from the 5th century.

From the Gambla Stan neighborhood, I went north of Stockholm's oldest square, Stortorget, and visited the Nobel Museum, housed in the old Stock Exchange building, to see exhibits about the Nobel Prize and its winners, as well as information about Alfred Nobel – the founder of the award.

About 200 meters from the Nobel Museum, I strolled to Storkyrkan Church – a medieval church built in 1279, which houses many artifacts, most notably the oil painting Vadersolstavlan (meaning Sundog Painting), depicting a sundog in Stockholm in 1535. A sundog is a phenomenon where a ring or halo surrounds the sun, and they are called sundogs because they follow the sun like a dog follows its owner.

Leaving Storkyrkan Church, I walked another 200 meters in the Gambla Stan old town to take a commemorative photo outside the Stockholm Royal Palace – the official residence of the King of Sweden, built in the Italian Renaissance style, one of the largest palaces in the world with over 600 rooms. Inside the palace is the Treasury – where royal costumes, armor, swords, etc. are displayed.

At the end of the day, I didn't forget to take pictures of Riddarholmen Church – the oldest architectural structure in the old town of Gamla Stan, formerly the site of royal coronation ceremonies. Inside the church are many valuable wooden sculptures with a dominant style of rough red brick construction, creating a unique color and ancient charm. Each ancient architectural structure always exudes a beauty that harmonizes with nature and life. This is one of the most beautiful churches in Sweden and also the only remaining medieval monastery.

DAY 2: SWEDEN'S ARCHIPELAGO ISLANDS AND DJURGARDEN ISLAND

In the morning, I drove from downtown Stockholm to the Archipelago, located right at the meeting point of Lake Malaren and the Baltic Sea. The Archipelago region has about 30,000 islands of varying sizes, with a flat, rocky structure, unlike the undulating landscape of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The islands often have clusters of small wooden houses, which serve as weekend retreats for city dwellers.

There, I booked a 3-hour boat tour of the islands. The boat had many rows of seats for tourists to enjoy the scenery and explore several other islands in the vicinity. Sitting on the boat, I saw dozens of massive cruise ships, dozens of stories high and as long as a street, sailing back and forth on the Baltic Sea, carrying tourists from Sweden to Denmark, Norway, and other countries. It was so peaceful sitting on the rocky shore, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the warm sunshine, and appreciating the beauty of the rocky islands and the deep green color of the Baltic Sea.

On my way back to central Stockholm, I stopped at Djurgarden Island, located right in the middle of Stockholm. It's a great place for locals to stroll, have picnics, or relax at the Grona Lund amusement park. On the island, I visited Skansen Village – considered the oldest open-air museum in the world, preserving the traditional rural culture of Sweden as well as the Sami culture of this northernmost European land. Skansen has over 150 historical buildings including churches, schools, houses, shops… from centuries ago, giving you a glimpse into life in Sweden before industrialization. I also visited the Vasa Museum (also known as the naval museum in Stockholm) to see the 69-meter-long Royal Warship, launched in the 17th century, which is on display in pristine condition.

DAY 3: KIRUNA TOWN OF LAPLAND AND THE NORTH LIGHTS IN THE JUKKASJARVI REGION

I took a 1 hour and 35 minute flight from Stockholm to Kiruna – Sweden's northernmost town, located in the Lapland province. In Kiruna, I traveled to the village of Jukkasjarvi, 20 km away, for a short snowmobile ride. With the help of expert snowmobile operators, I was taken to see the Northern Lights at the Aurora Colosseum.

In the evening, I gathered around a campfire with other travelers, enjoying dinner served by the river. What could be better than sitting on reindeer hides and admiring the aurora borealis – one of nature's seven wondrous phenomena? The weather was perfect that day, and I clearly saw the aurora borealis shining brightly against the sky above Jukkasjarvi.

DAY 4: SANTA CLAUS'S HOME IN ROVANIEMI, FINLAND

From the town of Kiruna, I traveled about 350 km to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland province, Finland. Through branding campaigns, Rovaniemi is always recognized as the "official home of Santa Claus." Every Christmas, Santa Claus Village becomes an ideal tourist destination, attracting both adults and children. Santa Claus's house is located in a village right on the Arctic Circle, where he lives and works year-round.

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas or Father Snow, is a long-standing figure in many cultures. According to legend, Santa Claus lives in the North Pole on a mountain range shaped like ears, allowing him to hear the wishes of children all over the world. He lives with elves and spends his time preparing gifts for children. He receives many letters from children around the world during Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he begins his journey in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer to deliver gifts and toys to children.

Many believe that Santa Claus is real, actually the reincarnation of Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century and is known as "Santa Claus." Saint Nicholas was the only son of a wealthy noble family in Northern Europe. From a young age, he was kind-hearted and decided to become a priest, but his family was small, so he had to stay home to care for his elderly parents. He dedicated his life to serving God, frequently helping many poor and needy families in the area. After his parents' death, Nicholas entered the seminary and was ordained a priest. Especially in December each year, he had the habit of bringing gifts, cakes, and toys to poor children in the area, also to remind everyone that Christmas had arrived. From then on, people called Saint Nicholas "Santa Claus."

In Rovaniemi, I met, chatted with, and took a souvenir photo with Santa Claus. For a service fee, staff at the Santa Claus Village took my picture and saved it as digital data. You can choose between two options: buy the digital data of the photo and print it yourself, or buy a 20 x 30 cm print. There's also an official Santa Claus post office where visitors can buy postcards, fill in the recipient's information, and send them using the village's "exclusive" stamps.

I visited the Arktikum Science Centre – a museum with a unique and unusual architectural design, featuring a long, cylindrical glass dome built above ground, while the museum itself is entirely underground. Inside, there's a garden where visitors can learn about the plants' adaptation to the harsh winters of Lapland, along with famous Finnish monuments and sculptures.

To add more excitement to the trip, I visited a Husky Farm and experienced a dog sledding ride. The adorable Siberian Huskies acted as my "professional drivers," taking me on a scenic tour of the snow-covered landscape. I didn't forget to take pictures with the Husky "drivers" because they are specially trained, and this helped me capture some amazing photos.

In Rovaniemi, in particular, stepping onto the white line marked "Arctic Circle" earned me a certificate confirming I had crossed the Arctic Circle – one of the five important lines of latitude on the Earth's map. Later that day, I traveled to Kemi, about 120 km away, near the coast, to stay overnight, making it convenient for an icebreaker trip the following morning.

DAY 5: DRIFTING AMIDST THE SEA OF ICE ON THE ICEBREAKER SAMPO AT KEMI

I arrived at Ajos harbor in Kemi (the official port of Santa Claus's hometown) and began my journey aboard the icebreaker Sampo – formerly used by the Finnish government as its national icebreaker. Drifting across the icy Gulf of Bothnia offered me unique experiences and beautiful memories to record in my travel diary.

The Sampo icebreaker, measuring 78 meters in length and 14 meters in width, can carry 199 passengers and navigates through frigid regions with remarkable ease. Many tourists are surprised by the unique operating mechanism of this winter warship as it glides through incredibly thick ice blocks with the same speed as a boat cutting through a river. While tropical beaches are ideal for enjoying water activities, the seemingly frigid ice-covered seas of Finland present a true challenge for the brave.

To try something new, I disembarked and swam in the frozen lake. Beneath the thick, icy ice lay the path of many ocean currents; the crystal-clear water beneath the snow wasn't as frigid as on the surface, as the heat from the Earth's core kept the water warm.

Another famous feature of the Kemi region is the enormous Ice Castle. It's built in winter but melts and disappears without a trace when spring arrives, as its main component is ice and snow. The following winter, they build another ice castle with different shapes.

Surrounding the castle are ice walls nearly 4 meters high, while inside are a hotel, an art gallery, and a church. The castle's interiors are illuminated with colorful lights, making the ice walls even more dazzling. At the castle, if you wish, you can rent a hotel room and sleep on carpets under reindeer hide blankets.

DAY 6: WATCHING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS THROUGH A SNOW TENT WITH GLASSES (KAKSLAUTTANE) IN SAARISELKA

From Kemi, I traveled to the village of Saariselka, a perpetually cold and sparsely populated village known for its aurora borealis. Saariselka is located in the mountainous northern region of Finland, within the Urho Kekkonen National Park, about 260 km from Rovaniemi.

The spectacular aurora borealis has attracted tourists from all over the world to admire it through a unique glass-enclosed igloo called Kakslauttanen. This is a hotel complex consisting of igloos designed in the style of the Eskimo people. What's even more special is that these igloos have heat-insulating glass, so even when the outside temperature drops to -30 degrees Celsius and the ground is covered in snow, it remains warm inside.

The Kakslauttanen hotel complex offers a variety of room styles, from glass-paneled circular tents to traditional log cabins, all equipped with modern amenities comparable to a 5-star hotel, including bathrooms, luxurious beds, saunas, and a snow-themed restaurant. Each year, the complex is open for a few winter months, depending on weather conditions.

What could be more wonderful than lying on my comfortable striped bed, gazing through the window at the magical beauty of the aurora borealis? The aurora borealis, at first glance, looks like a colorful curtain hanging over the cold night sky, along with thousands of twinkling stars, covering the snow-covered pine forest.

This optical phenomenon is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the solar wind with the Earth's upper atmosphere. The aurora borealis displays many different magical colors, but the vast majority are green and purplish-pink.

DAY 7: WATCH KING CRAB CATCHING IN KIRKENES, NORWAY

I set off from Saariselka to Kirkenes, a distance of about 213 km – a town in the far north of Norway, near the Norwegian-Finnish border. Kirkenes means "church on the headland," and it sits between two rocky fjords leading to the Barents Sea. It's a haven for the world's largest king crab, which lives only in very cold, deep waters (200-400 meters) such as in the far north, Alaska (USA), and northwestern Canada…

There are three types of king crab: the blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus), the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), and the golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus). The golden king crab is the smallest species, averaging 2.2 kg to 4 kg in weight. The red king crab is the most expensive and is sold worldwide.

Upon arrival, I joined other tourists in watching a king crab fishing tour. King crab fishing is often very challenging because fishermen have to go out to sea during rough seas with temperatures below 0°C.^oC. People use round or square steel cages with woven nets to catch crabs on the seabed. On average, each of these crab cages weighs hundreds of kilograms. King crabs are very large, but fishermen are not allowed to catch all the crabs that surface. Those that are too small must be released back into the sea to mature according to regulations.

Wearing specialized gear, I was also able to experience the exciting thrill of catching crabs and immediately enjoy the delicious, freshly caught King Crab delicacy. The Arctic cold made my sea trip even more enjoyable.

DAY 8: OSLO, NORWAY

In the morning, I went to Kirkenes Airport to catch a flight to Oslo, the capital of Norway. As the oldest city in Scandinavia, Oslo was founded in the early 11th century and became the capital of Norway in the 13th century. Since then, Oslo has developed into a beautiful city with the sea and mountains intertwined on both sides. I spent the last day of my trip combining walking, using public transport, and taking amazing photos of the scenery.

The first attraction in Oslo is Akershus Castle – built in 1299, it was once the residence of the Norwegian royal family, then became a fortress in 1592, and was later rebuilt as a Renaissance castle between 1637 and 1648. Akershus comprises several large halls, the Akershus Church, and the Royal Mausoleum. The castle's model includes the permanent government building and the halls where grand banquets were held. The small historic church at Akershus Castle is now the burial ground of the Norwegian royal family.

The next stop was the Nobel Peace Prize Centre. Most people know that the Nobel Prize is awarded annually in Stockholm, Sweden. But few know that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. In front of the building is a large square overlooking the harbor and Oslo ferry terminal, perfect for taking photos.

Oslo City Hall (Radhuset) has an architecture very similar to its Stockholm counterpart, featuring a landscape mural depicting Norwegian history and legend, and is a free tourist attraction in the city. Inside, the walls are decorated with paintings in the style of the first half of the 20th century, depicting Norwegian culture and life.

After that, I went to the Viking Ship Museum – which displays three ships built in the 9th century and found in southern Norway in the 12th century. These are typical Viking ships, long and narrow, over 20 meters long and 5 meters wide, used for long sea voyages.

At the end of the day, Frogner Park was the perfect place for me to conclude my three-country journey.

This is the largest park in central Oslo, home to the world-famous Vigelandsparken. The park boasts 200 fountains of varying sizes and stunning sculptures created by the artist Gustav Vigeland. Additionally, Frognerparken is home to the largest collection of 14,000 trees and 150 varieties of roses in Norway.

Ngoc Hanh