Le Ngoc Binh, a 42-year-old tourist from Hanoi, recalls his trip to North Korea in November 2019, just a few months before the country closed its borders due to Covid 19.
The country reopened its border city of Rason to a group of international travelers in February 2025, but closed it down weeks later, according to tour companies, AP reported.
Binh, having visited around 20 countries, was intrigued by the idea of exploring a place often described as "mysterious", so he booked a tour for about VND27 million ($1,055).
Upon arrival, his first impression was the quietness, an empty airport with only one or two flights per day from Beijing and Russia. Security checks were manual, and the local hosts welcomed the tourist group with formality.
One of his memories includes Kim Il Sung Square, with a view across the Taedong River to the Juche Tower.
Tours were conducted during the day, with instructions not to leave the hotel after 6 p.m., not to separate from the group, and not to take photos of government buildings or military areas.
"There was a strange kind of charm in the atmosphere," Binh said.
He noted that in Pyongyang, cyclists carried sacks or farming tools like hoes and shovels on the back of their bikes, indicating involvement in agricultural work.
Binh, seen on the far left in a photo with his friend and two North Korean guides, shared that the presence of two guides - who introduced themselves as soldiers - made the level of control over tourism very clear.
One guide would lead, while the other stayed at the back to ensure the group followed the itinerary. Despite their discipline, the guides were cheerful when gifted instant noodles on the last day.
The most impressive structure for Binh was the Pyongyang metro system - one of the deepest in the world, located about 110 meters underground. At Yongwang Station, propaganda murals lined the walls.
Some metro cars were dimly lit and had manually operated doors, requiring staff to coordinate and ensure passengers boarded and exited safely.
Trams running on tracks are also part of Pyongyang's public transport system. What surprised Vietnamese tourists most about the city were its wide, spotless roads. Most residents traveled by tram or bicycle.
Binh was curious about the lives of local people, but there was no opportunity for direct interaction, only photographs. He also observed that people's clothing on the streets was quite uniform in both style and color.
One photo showed a person exchanging coupons for flowers. In 2019, the rationing system was still part of how goods and essentials were distributed in North Korea.
According to tour guide Nguyen Chi Thang from Flamingo Redtours, visiting North Korea evoked memories of Vietnam during its subsidy period.
Another photo captured the entrance to the childhood home of the late President Kim Il Sung, located in Kapsan District, Ryanggang Province.
Binh noted that North Koreans showed reverence for their leaders. Statues of Kim Il Sung were everywhere, and guides warned that any disrespect toward the leaders would result in penalties.
"This country feels like its own world, with little sign of change," Binh remarked, adding that he saw almost no advertisements or global brands on the streets.
Communication with the outside world was limited. In 2019, tour guides explained that there was only one hotel on the Taedong River peninsula where foreigners could stay. To call home, tourists had to provide a number for the hotel staff to place the call on their behalf. At that time, calling Vietnam cost around one USD per minute.
Most tourist transactions were made in foreign currencies like USD, CNY, or euros. Binh recalled seeing only one supermarket during the five-day trip that accepted North Korean won.
As he left, one thing Binh and other Vietnamese tourists still wished for was the chance to speak with local people, to understand more about their everyday lives.
One photo showed a crowd gathered in front of the Victorious War Museum, which showcases artifacts, documents, and military equipment from the Korean War (1950–1953) from North Korea's perspective.
