Russian Impressions through the Eyes of Vietnamese Travelers

You will glide on a serene canal amidst lush greenery, revealing glimpses of church spires, rustic wooden houses, and waterfronts adorned with gently swaying sails.

The Beauty of Russian Tourism as Seen by Vietnamese Tourists

Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Van, from Hanoi, recently embarked on a journey to the land of the White Dews. Here are her reflections after the trip.

A large ship, doubling as a 5-6 story floating hotel, departs from the Moscow Canal, upstream of the Volga, taking tourists across artificial and vast natural lakes. Countless breathtaking natural and man-made scenes unfold every second, resembling fairy tale paintings.

You will hear the soothing sounds of waves and the melodious hum of the wind, gaze at seagulls gracefully gliding under the morning light through your room window, vibrant with white fluffy clouds drifting in the azure noon sky, or the radiant hues of sunset sparkling on the water's surface, or the glittering gold reflections in the middle of the night. Witnessing such scenes, you will undoubtedly exclaim, 'Russia's nature is majestic and exquisite,' just like me and fellow travelers of various nationalities aboard the Lev Tolstoy on this maritime journey.

The term 'canal' often conjures up narrow, limited notions. However, you'll be amazed when traversing the Moscow Canal – a waterway stretching over a hundred kilometers, connecting Moscow to the Volga River. Thanks to it, Moscow is linked by water to 5 major seas – the White Sea, Baltic Sea, Caspian Sea, Azov Sea, and the Black Sea.

You'll glide on the tranquil canal amidst lush green forests, with glimpses of church spires, rustic wooden houses, and colorful sails in the distance. At certain spots, children joyfully splash in the water, waving at passing tourists on boats. Then, before your eyes, a wide river junction unfolds. As the evening descends, amidst the serene scenery, you'll feel the essence of 'Moscow suburban twilight' more profoundly than ever.

Passing through ancient towns, you'll marvel at numerous churches with diverse architecture lining both shores – majestic yet charming, reflecting in the river. In some places, there's even a long stretch of beach resembling a true seaside. The most impressive sight is around the bends, standing under the tail of the boat, watching your white boat slowly emerge in the river, meandering between lush green banks, under the azure sky with a full moon hanging, while the sun on the opposite side continues to cast its radiant evening rays, and the water sparkles like golden foil. It resonates with the old song lyrics, 'Volga, blue and green, sinking into the evening mist. The river bends around, the sun imprints on both banks…'

Largest Artificial Lake in Europe

Among the anticipated highlights of this maritime journey is the awe-inspiring sight of Mother Volga after the ship leaves the lock to enter the Rybinsk Reservoir – the largest artificial lake in Europe.

As two large ships, resembling buildings, snugly fit into the lock from the river (with water levels lower than the reservoir), within a few minutes, hundreds of cubic meters of water are pumped in, raising the water level of the lock to match the reservoir. The rear gate is locked, and the front gate swings open. The ship slowly glides into the heart of the lake, unveiling before you a vast expanse of water and sky.

Explore tips from Mytour travel guide