Russia – Love and a Sweet Dream

Russia in my mind is the nostalgia of the days when I was still a little boy snuggled up to my mother’s shirt, taking a black and white photo at Red Square. After fifteen years away, I eagerly looked forward to seeing the old place again, wondering how Russia had changed after so many historical ups and downs. The eleven-day trip took me back to the peaceful Volga River, with picturesque villages and small wooden houses. Those eleven days were like a peaceful dream that you have to experience yourself to fully feel.

From the moment I stepped off the plane at St Petersburg airport, I knew this trip was the journey of my life. The air was cool and pleasant, the leaves were turning yellow, the people welcomed me with the warmest smiles and the warmest affection. I boarded the Esenin cruise ship, received a Matriutska doll made just for me and began one of the most beautiful journeys of my life.

During the first days of my trip, I wandered through the magnificent palaces of St. Petersburg, admired the perfect patterns on the ceilings of famous churches and visited typical Russian restaurants. Each stop gave me different emotions, I just followed those feelings of excitement to explore this beautiful city. But perhaps the most wonderful thing that reminded me of St. Petersburg was the Swan Lake ballet in the famous Hermitage theater. Nothing can compare to the emotional sounds of a live orchestra and the wonderful performance of professional dancers.

That night, I stayed up all night with the city, wandering through each street and then returning to the cruise ship to watch the blue sky of the white night before the boat drifted down the river from St Petersburg to Moscow. The night on the Volga River was so peaceful, there was only the sound of the train running, the sound of the water and the humming of love songs. All worries and sorrows seemed to disappear, leaving me with only a feeling of being lost in a peaceful world.

On sunny days, I lay on the Esenin yacht and watched hundreds of seagulls fly behind the boat or hover above. The white clouds drifted lazily in the sky, so close that I felt like I could reach out and curl up and dive into any shape I wanted. In those peaceful moments, there was only me, the water and the sky. Far away by the river were small villages that added to the peaceful autumn picture.

I still remember clearly the early morning when we visited Kizhi village. It was quite cold, the village appeared like in an old movie with flowers stretching along the river and wooden churches. People lived a leisurely, simple life. I felt like I was back to my childhood, back to my childhood dreams, letting my soul fly to the blue sky, flying with the wind to wherever I wanted. Here, I met friendly, easy-to-get-to-know, lovable Russian people, enjoyed typical dishes and experienced the most interesting cultural features.

To describe life on the Esenin cruise, the two words "relaxed" and "leisurely" are not enough. Most of the tourists on the boat had never known each other before, but the feelings between us grew with each minute of the journey. We woke up early together, had breakfast, watched the river, did group activities together, learned Russian, learned Russian culture and history from songs, traditional dances to how to draw, make tea or enjoy Russian food. Like a big family, each person in our family tried to bring the best feelings and experiences to the others. The love for this country grew, seeped and permeated through every look and smile. And if Esenin was a house, each cabin would be a warm, familiar room.

When I think back to that trip, I can't help but think of the friendly Russian people. From the receptionist Maria, the food server Natalya to the sailors of the cruise, everyone was lovely and helped us with all their heart. The most special was Liudmila, the Russian tour guide of the group. With her long blonde hair and affectionate smile, she was the image of Russia. Although she was Russian, Liudmila could speak Vietnamese fluently like a Vietnamese. She was the bridge, the person who helped us understand and love Russia more.

The journey ended like a peaceful dream. Returning to Hanoi, I still dreamily imagined myself drifting along the Volga River, visiting fairy-tale villages, without the dust and hustle and bustle, without the pressures of life. I crave the feeling of slowly following the riverbank, wandering through wild grass fields, breathing in the Volga wind and listening to the Russian love song echoing somewhere. I want to call out the familiar names Maria, Natalia and Liudmila. The nostalgia just filled and emptied, becoming unforgettable memories. One day I will return to that place to immerse myself in the gentle golden sunshine of St Petersburg or the misty cold of the Volga early in the morning.

More information:

+ Time: The Russian Volga River Cruise Tour only runs from May to October every year. The two best times are June with the interesting white night phenomenon and September and October with Russia's beautiful autumn.

+ Visa: Applying for a Russian visa is not too difficult. After you receive an official invitation from Russia, applying for a visa at the Russian Embassy in Hanoi takes about 5-6 days with a cost of 50 USD. Even if you do it quickly, it takes about 2 days with a cost of 90 USD.

+ Weather: In Russia, because the tour goes from St Petersburg to Moscow, it passes through many regions with different weather. The weather is cold and sometimes rainy, and there are sunny days at noon. Guests should bring a light jacket, warm clothes, sweaters and other suitable personal items.

+ Food: Food on cruise ships and in restaurants in Russia is quite easy to eat and has many different options. Russian food is quite rich and fatty. Russian soup and black bread are very delicious and will definitely please you.

+ People: Russian people are very friendly, some tour guides can even speak Vietnamese quite well.

+ Some notes: on the boat there should be safety regulations that tourists must follow, emergency drills must be practiced, and instructions from the cruise manager and captain must be followed.

+ Book a Tour: Currently ATLANTA Travel is selling the Volga River Tour program in Russia with an itinerary of 11 days and 10 nights. You can call 04.6291.3809 to book a tour or send an email to contact@atlantatravel.vn and refer to the detailed information + images on the website www.atlantatravel.vn

Article and photos:Harry Trung Nguyen

The Thanh