Watch the Northern Lights in Norway in the biting cold.

Hugo Võ works in the import business and is passionate about travel, often saving up to pursue his passion. Returning from a trip to Norway, Hugo couldn't hide his excitement as he talked about his recent trip to Tromso. Seeing the aurora borealis had always been a childhood dream, and only now, with a more stable financial situation, was he able to fulfill it.

"Besides choosing the location and weather conditions, personal luck also plays a crucial role in the success or failure of a trip," Hugo Vo said.

According to Hugo, the aurora borealis is an optical phenomenon characterized by the colorful display of light in the night sky. This light is produced by the interaction of charged particles from wind, the sun, and the upper atmosphere of the planet. Importantly, auroras usually appear in the sky for a very short time, about a minute before disappearing, requiring a wait for another one. Therefore, Hugo Võ feels extremely fortunate to have witnessed this rare natural wonder so many times.

Hugo Vo had planned this trip three months in advance, but had to cancel his flight to London for personal reasons. After researching, he concluded that there are many places in the North to see the aurora borealis, such as Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Alaska (USA)... However, the Tromso region in Norway has a high frequency and a very high probability of dense auroras (brightness of the band). Hugo decided to visit Tromso in late October and early November.

"To see the aurora borealis in Tromso, you have to book a tour through a travel company," Hugo Vo shared.

Tourists can use apps like Get Your Guide or Viator to find suitable tours or register directly at the tourist center in Tromso. If the trip encounters unfavorable weather, the tour operators will notify you of the cancellation and reschedule it for the next day free of charge. If you don't see the aurora borealis, you can retake the tour the next day free of charge.

"Each experience of the aurora borealis is a different emotion. Because you never know how many or how few you'll get to see it. And the feeling of seeing the aurora borealis for the first time was overwhelming because my childhood dream had finally come true. It was like a blue light seeping into my soul amidst the freezing cold of -6 degrees Celsius," Hugo Vo said about his feelings when witnessing his childhood dream.

When asked about the best places to see the aurora borealis in Tromso, Hugo said that tour guides would proactively choose locations that fit the time frame for their clients. On the first day, he participated in an aurora viewing trip on a boat. However, it was raining heavily and very windy, making navigation difficult for the tour guide. Due to the unfavorable weather, the guide asked to return and postpone the trip to the next day. But as the boat was nearing the dock, the guide shouted, and everyone went back to the deck to see the blue light – the aurora borealis.

"I felt incredibly happy at that moment because it was my first time seeing the aurora borealis. But the feeling wasn't quite there yet, because they were very small streaks and disappeared too quickly," Hugo said.

On the second day, the weather in Tromso grew colder, with heavy snowfall all the way to the aurora viewing spot. Hugo had traveled nearly 600 km (round trip) by bus, crossing the Finnish border. Upon disembarking, everyone huddled together, shivering from the biting wind. A short while later, Hugo Võ fulfilled his childhood dream for the second time. On the horizon, swirling blue streaks began to dance across the sky.

On the third day, Hugo Võ experienced aurora viewing at a beach in Tromso. The weather wasn't too harsh, there was no wind, but the temperature was significantly colder than the previous two times. He and the group sat silently waiting in the freezing darkness, and after a while, the first blue streak appeared.

"This time I was lucky enough to see more, there were many auroras, and on average, a new aurora appeared every 30 minutes," Hugo Võ said.

According to Hugo Vo, the biggest challenge in experiencing tourism here is the high cost of tours and the high cost of living. Most independent travelers are surprised to find that everything is so expensive. He suggests that tourists should research and plan carefully before coming. Especially when participating in aurora viewing, tourists need to prepare warm clothing suitable for temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius. Additionally, visitors should consider purchasing an internet SIM card to proactively find information that suits their budget and preferences.

"Tourists should plan to stay four nights or more. Because if you can't see it this night, you can see it another night, as the flight to this near-Arctic spot is not short at all," Hugo said.

Anh Thi