Two days in the happiest country in the world

Finland Vietnamese tourists choose Finland as one of 8 destinations in their independent travel itinerary to Europe to experience the happy life of the local people.

Reader Hong Hanh, 42 years old in Ho Chi Minh City, shares her 2023 trip to Finland - the happiest country in the world .

In mid-March, the 10th World Happiness Report published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network revealed the top 10 happiest countries in the world. Finland topped the list for the seventh consecutive year.

The rankings are based on a survey of people's happiness levels, combined with information such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, personal freedom, generosity, social support and corruption.

On my self-guided tour to explore 8 European countries in the summer of 2023, I scheduled to set foot in the happiest country in the world.

From Stockholm, Sweden, I chose to travel to Finland by boat. Cruise tourism is a typical strength of the Nordic countries and so I did not want to miss this type of tourism. The round-trip cruise ticket from Stockholm to Helsinki costs about 100 euros (2.6 million VND) including a buffet breakfast.

The train departed from Sweden in the late afternoon and early the next morning Finland appeared before our eyes.

The first impression is the image of Soumenlinna fortress - the world's largest sea fortress in the capital Helsinki, so beautiful and majestic. This is also a World Cultural Heritage recognized by UNESCO in 1991.

The fortress was built by the Swedes between 1748 and 1757. At that time, the island was under the control of the Swedish crown. They built the fortress as a garrison against Russian ambitions to invade Helsinki and to strengthen the Swedish Navy's military position in the Gulf of Finland.

Soumenlinna Fortress is also the first attraction for tourists coming to Finland by sea. The ancient and majestic scenery of the fortress surrounded by beautiful nature, many ancient trees, blooming wildflowers and seagulls flying in the sky makes visitors feel peaceful, even though they are standing on the world's largest military fortress at sea.

The ancient church on the island where the local people hold wedding ceremonies, the beautiful cafes full of flowers and the pheasants wandering on the island as if it were their own private forest bring visitors many poetic experiences and above all, a feeling of happiness.

My impression of Finnish people is that they are friendly, cheerful, open and gentle. People speak softly, dress simply in the Nordic style with neutral colors. Perhaps, living in love with nature, being close to the natural environment and knowing how to balance life is one of the main reasons why they are always happy.

The center of Helsinki is the place for you to explore and learn more about the country and people of Finland.

Right in the center of Helsinki, there are many green parks with many beautiful statues. The statues are carved in the form of naked men and women holding doves, a symbol of peace. The free spirit of the statues attracts my attention and the attention of many tourists. You can also see famous people of Finland carved in the parks.

A must-see attraction in Helsinki is the Temppeliaukio Rock Church – a hidden beauty underground. The church was built in 1930, called the rock church because it was created from a block of blasted rock, they used the huge cavity after the explosion to build the church. Only a small part of the church is exposed to the ground, the rest is hidden deep in the rock below. The entrance fee to the church is 3 euros/person.

Finland is known as the land of Santa Claus, so around churches, grocery stores, souvenir shops, ice cream shops often name and take the image of Santa Claus as a symbol and this really creates a good impression attracting tourists to shop and spend.

In Finland, the locals walk a lot. That is why they are always seen as active and full of positive energy. Walking and traveling by train, bus, public transport in the green nature and fresh environment is also an experience that brings a pleasant and comfortable feeling when coming to this country.

While exploring the capital of Finland, I came across a group of protesters demanding gay rights. It was a peaceful protest, no noise, just the sound of trumpets, music and a very orderly procession of gay people. And what was more surprising was that behind the procession were police cars and ambulances to support the participants. It was so peaceful and orderly that at first I thought it was some kind of local music and cultural festival.

Finland may seem far away to many Vietnamese tourists, but it is not difficult to find Vietnamese food here. Entering a pho restaurant in Helsinki, what caught my eye was the long queue of customers from Europe, Asia and the Middle East waiting for their turn. The pho space here is similar to the Vietnamese pho restaurants in Paris that I have visited. The atmosphere of customers enjoying pho slowly and gently makes me excited and proud of the attractiveness of Vietnamese cuisine in Europe. A Middle Eastern woman living in Finland, standing in line with me, told me that she often comes here to buy pho for her children.

The general feeling in this happy country is one of joy and friendliness.

A bowl of chicken pho, almost twice as big as a bowl of pho in Vietnam, costs 14.5 euros with delicious chicken that is not mushy and the broth is authentic, I think the price is really not expensive. The delicious taste is no less than in the homeland of pho, and the accompanying vegetables are also plentiful.

I realized that Vietnamese dishes in European cities are always crowded with diners. The restaurant owner keeps the flavor of pho and the feeling of eating better in the temperate climate of Europe. If it is not delicious, it cannot retain customers and cannot survive with the expensive rent here, the Vietnamese pho restaurant owner told me.

Leaving the pho restaurant, I went to the National Museum of Finland, learning about the history of this country through vivid exhibits and videos. The entrance fee to the museum is 12 euros/person.

The museum has an ancient architecture, surrounded by many old trees, so when your feet are tired from sightseeing, you can sit under the old oak tree and watch the birds, pheasants walking around and flowers blooming in the cool spring weather. In Finland, life and scenery have made me think more about happiness, a life that is richer in spirit and a good spiritual life. Peace, balance and closeness to nature are probably the true happiness. Happiness is not synonymous with financial capacity - something that many people often misunderstand and easily trade.

The National Museum in Finland has many green spaces for visitors to stop and rest while visiting.

A happy life is also partly reflected in schools in Finland. As one of the countries with the best education in the world, people are free of education and health care. A life without the headache of worrying about schooling, paying for tuition and medical treatment also easily brings happiness to the people. Most people have a leisurely life, they have a high level of enjoyment of social welfare and spiritual and cultural needs compared to the Nordic countries. Especially the people's trust in the government and the social welfare policies of the state makes me understand why this country is the happiest country in the world.

Although it is a peaceful country, when you come to Helsinki, don't forget to spend some time drinking beer on the cruise ship, enjoying the famous caviar of Northern Europe and exploring the beauty of Finland from the sea, it will be an unforgettable experience.

Two days in the happiest country in the world brings positive energy, making those who visit once find a more meaningful way to live, richer in spirit and soul to feel themselves and feel life more colorful and beautiful.

Some additional information for visitors:

Traveling to Finland from May to August is the best season, with temperatures ranging from 12-21 degrees Celsius.

Public transport is the main means, tram ticket is 9 euros a day.

Must try dishes: caviar, salmon, salmon soup.

Hotels in Helsinki range from 2 million to 5 million VND/night, so book in advance to get a good price.

Hong Hanh

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