Vietnamese people are astonished by the Greenland iceberg.

Stunned, astonished, and speechless by the breathtakingly beautiful spectacle, this is an unforgettable feeling for the few Vietnamese who have ever set foot on Greenland, the world's largest ice island.

Young Vietnamese people experience an unforgettable and amazing feeling on the icy seas of Greenland - Photo: NAM THAI

The autonomous island nation, part of Denmark , which President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared "will belong to the United States."

Vietnamese citizens can now use a Schengen visa to enter Greenland , provided the flight originates from Denmark (considered a domestic flight).

In June 2025, a large group of 16 Vietnamese people from both North and South Vietnam traveled together to Greenland.

Experiences in some of the world's most pristine wilderness areas, like Greenland, help you understand the immense value of nature, of the unspoiled life on our planet, and increase your awareness of the need to work together to protect nature and the environment in your own homeland.

HOANG PHUNG HIEU

Drifting on the ice to watch whales.

Sharing her unforgettable memories, Ms. Phan Nga, a 70-year-old member of the group, said: "From Vietnam, we went on a long journey, transiting through Türkiye, Denmark, stopping in the Faroe Islands and Iceland before finally arriving in Greenland."

We spent three days exploring this icy, diamond-like land in what we considered lucky weather, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius, which is considered warm and ideal for Greenland.

Hoang Phung Hieu (born in 1985 in Hanoi ) said that although he has visited 101 countries around the world, he was still very excited to set foot in Greenland because it is the "largest island in the world" with an area of ​​nearly 2.2 million square kilometers.

Phung Hieu exclaimed: "My fellow Vietnamese and I were quickly overwhelmed when we found ourselves in the magical world of ice and snow here, with experiences that thrilled all the senses, such as viewing the entire town of Ilulissat from the air by helicopter, and then taking a boat tour to see the giant icebergs in Ilulissat Icefjord (recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site since 2004)."

We also had the opportunity to visit the fishing village of Oqaatsut, which has only about 30 residents, with colorful wooden houses scattered across a rocky peninsula.
"A stunning location."

According to Mr. Phung Hieu, nature has bestowed upon Greenland some of the most spectacular sights to captivate tourists, such as towering white icebergs as multi-story buildings, the azure aurora borealis in the night sky, and the wild Northeast Greenland National Park, which is the largest national park in the world...

The people here have had a unique lifestyle since ancient times, such as painting houses according to their specific functions; for example, hospitals are painted yellow, schools are painted green, and so on.

Today, Greenland has neighborhoods with many colors (red, black, yellow, green, blue) which, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, also help to distinguish the different areas.

"Besides its stunning natural beauty, life in Greenland is also fascinating. There aren't many road networks connecting cities in Greenland. The main modes of transportation are airplanes, ships, boats, and dog sleds."

Therefore, you can see thick-haired, strong dogs almost everywhere in town because these animals, which are close to humans, become very useful when pulling heavy carts during the winter.

The island still retains the ancient spirit of the indigenous Inuit people who lived in the Arctic regions of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Russia (Siberia), and the United States (Alaska), making a living by hunting whales and seals, and fishing.

"Now the Inuit in Greenland warmly welcome tourists, making handicrafts to sell to visitors from all over the world," Phung Hieu recounted.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh fished for cod during a 15-day voyage around Greenland in September 2025 - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

It's not easy to get there, but once you're there, you can't forget it.

Due to its remote location and proximity to the frigid Arctic Circle, Greenland is obviously a selective destination for visitors. The limited number of flights and seats to Greenland makes airfare quite expensive. Accommodation, food, goods, and sightseeing services are all high-end, resulting in a significantly higher cost of travel compared to other Nordic countries.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, a telecommunications technology businessman in Ho Chi Minh City, said he had a 15-day voyage around Greenland in September 2025, on his Tecla sailboat, which was built in 1915 in the Netherlands.

"Our crew consisted of 12 people and 4 crew members, each of whom participated in raising and lowering sails, working three shifts day and night, and steering the ship through rough seas, strong winds, freezing rain, and harsh ice-covered waters."

In return, I witnessed white ice floes drifting across the sea, melting ice waterfalls along the Greenland coast, jagged cliffs, narrow gorges, exotic vegetation, and the aurora borealis shining overhead...

Every day on deck we had the pleasure of fishing for cod, a popular fish in the cold waters of Greenland. It was a mix of battling seasickness and enjoying the feeling of truly being part of a ship sailing the seas, conquering the ocean."

"Stunned, amazed, and speechless by the breathtaking beauty of Greenland" is the sentiment of Trinh Nam Thai and Pham Bich Ngoc, a young couple in their 20s currently living and working in information technology and translation in Budapest, Hungary.

"Before coming to this remote, icy land, we were curious to know if endless glaciers really existed, how whales hunted in pods, and how the local people lived in this place amidst the freezing temperatures..."

"Seeing and hearing it firsthand is even more impressive than imagining. For example, we were lucky enough to witness families of humpback whales hunting, with more than a dozen of them writhing, swimming, flicking their tails, and spraying water into the air—a truly spectacular sight," Nam Thai said.

As for his wife, Bich Ngoc, she "can't forget the exhilarating feeling of sitting on the boat, being skillfully steered by the captain, right next to the crystal-clear or mystical turquoise icebergs, towering majestically straight up into the sky."

The enchanting natural scenery of Greenland made Bich Ngoc feel the insignificance of humanity in the face of majestic nature, fully absorbing the Danish philosophy of "Hygge"—meaning finding joy in simple moments of life—or the Norwegian "Friluftsliv," signifying happiness with "outdoor life" in harmony with nature.

Nam Thai and Bich Ngoc enthusiastically shared: "Visiting Greenland will instill in you a deep love for nature, and this brings mental and physical health benefits, helping to regenerate energy and reduce stress."

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh fished for cod during a 15-day voyage around Greenland in September 2025 - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Tours to Greenland must be booked six months in advance.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (Au My Travel Company, Ho Chi Minh City) said that tour operators often organize tours from Vietnam to Greenland with combined itineraries such as Denmark - Iceland - Greenland or adding the Faroe Islands.

"Those who love designer shopping and those who demand 5-star luxury services shouldn't go on this tour!" - Ms. Hien quipped. According to her, "a trip to Greenland is for those who love pristine natural landscapes, experiencing rare and unique things, conquering a diverse world, or for photographers capturing one-of-a-kind scenes."

Accordingly, tourists can experience the ice wonder in Ilulissat Icefjord (Greenland), the ice lagoon on black sand in Jökulsárlón (Iceland), and the paradise island of puffins in Mykines (Faroe), creating a combination for a "trip of a lifetime".

To prepare for a trip to Greenland, in addition to passion, good health, and acceptance of the risks of changing weather, you also need to ensure your finances are secure and plan at least six months to a year in advance to get affordable airfare and accommodation.

Reportedly, many Vietnamese tourists in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have already registered for trips to Greenland in July and September starting in early 2026.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-viet-sung-sot-truc-bang-troi-greenland-20260112222152718.htm#content-1