While Christmas in many places is defined by brilliance and bustle, in Lapland, the heart of Finland, the festive season begins with a very different kind of light. That is the aurora borealis – a calm, gentle band of light moving across the winter night sky.
That beauty seems to exist only in a distant world , but is becoming more and more familiar to many Vietnamese families, who find a common ground in Finland: loving peace, appreciating simple things and striving for sustainable values.
When Lapland light touches Vietnamese hearts
Many Vietnamese students who arrived in Finland said that the first winter was an unforgettable experience, not only because of the sub-zero cold or the long nights, but also because of the moment of standing in the middle of nature and feeling small but not alone.
One Finest Future student wrote about seeing the aurora for the first time: “We huddled together to keep warm, and no one said a word. I felt connected to nature and other people in a special way that I had never experienced before.”
That quiet moment has a very Finnish feel, but the warm feeling is very Vietnamese because of the connection, the sharing, the way people come closer together in beautiful moments without words. That is the subtle intersection between two cultures: one side is the calmness of Northern Europe, the other side is the warmth of the South.
Rovaniemi - where winter stories are told with kindness
When talking about Christmas in Finland, it is impossible not to mention Rovaniemi - a small town located near the North Pole, where Santa Claus is said to live and work all year round. What surprises Vietnamese tourists is not the splendid constructions or the grandeur of the Christmas symbol, but the simplicity and sincerity in the way Finnish people show kindness.
Santa Claus does not appear in a mythical manner, but with a gentle smile in a rustic wooden house. Children do not prepare long gift lists, but write about the things that make them happy, sad or grateful. A Vietnamese parent once shared that a visit to Santa Village made her feel like she was returning to her childhood, not because of the magic, but because of the authenticity it brought.
Rovaniemi makes Vietnamese people feel close not because of similarities, but because of kindness, which is a common value of all hearts, whether coming from the white snow of Northern Europe or the warm sunshine of Southeast Asia.
Finest Future brings Lapland to Ho Chi Minh City
As a Finnish company with ties to Vietnam, Finest Future clearly sees the cultural resonance between the two countries. On one side is the Sisu spirit - a quiet but enduring inner strength; on the other side is the resilience and warmth of the Vietnamese people. On one side is the quiet winter, on the other side is the vibrant pace of life; and it is this contrast that creates a very unique harmony.
With the desire to connect those values, Finest Future organizes Sisu Christmas - Journey to the Hometown of Santa on December 20, 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a journey to recreate the Finnish Christmas spirit with emotion and depth: soft aurora light, the warmth of wood, rustic music , the story of Sisu, and the connection between the Vietnamese - Finnish community.
In that space, Lapland is no longer a distant land; it becomes close when we feel it with our hearts. And Ho Chi Minh City, a city that is always associated with liveliness, also wears a new layer of peace, very Finnish.
And because of that, Finest Future believes that Sisu Christmas will not just be a festival, but a cultural bridge, where two cultures meet with softness, peace, and the clear light of winter.
Christmas in Lapland begins with lights in the sky. Christmas in Vietnam this year may begin with lights in our hearts.
Finest Future is a Finnish educational organization operating in many countries, including Vietnam, with the mission of connecting global students with Finland's high-quality secondary and vocational education system. Founded in 2020 with the first 15 students, Finest Future will bring more than 2,000 students from many countries to Finland by 2025. The company also builds a Finnish educational and cultural ecosystem in Vietnam through consulting programs, student support, experiential events and close cooperation between Finnish schools and businesses. Finest Future believes that education is not just about learning, but also a journey of building character, happiness and courage - core qualities that help the young generation step into the future with confidence and kindness. |
(Source: Finest Future)
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/finest-future-mang-trai-nghiem-giang-sinh-phan-lan-den-tphcm-2470869.html
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