Spending 53 million VND to go to North Korea, customers tell of many unexpected surprises

For many people around the world , North Korea is still a strange country, but Russian tourist Anastasiya Samsonova thinks differently.

The 33-year-old, who works in human resources, recently returned home from a week-long vacation in North Korea. She was among the first group of 15 Russians to arrive at the new seaside resort, which was opened by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June.

With a 2,000 USD tour package for a 7-day trip, Russian tourists can enjoy services including meals, accommodation, and airfare (excluding additional entertainment services).

Wonsan-Kalma resort is now open to international tourists from Russia.

Her vacation photos show white sand beaches, sparkling blue seas and high-rise hotels, complete with grandly designed lobbies.

"The hotel is brand new. Everything is beautifully designed, the interior is sophisticated and the infrastructure is well-developed," commented a Russian guest.

Sharing her feelings on this trip, Anastasiya said she felt completely free when visiting North Korea. The purpose of the trip was because she wanted to learn how people here live.

Anastasiya is among a growing number of Russians choosing to visit neighboring North Korea as relations between the two countries continue to strengthen. North Korean products, including apples and beer, have begun to appear in supermarkets in Russia’s Far East.

A representative of the Moscow office of the Vostok Intur travel agency said that North Korea will be a popular tourist destination in the near future. The company currently organizes tours to North Korea twice a week and is looking for customers.

“North Korea is an amazing country, unlike anywhere else in the world. It is a country where you will not see any billboards on the streets. And it is very clean, even the asphalt is washed,” director Irina Kobeleva excitedly shared.

According to Ms. Kobeleva, tours to North Korea are increasingly popular, with about 400 bookings per month. Customers seeking these tours are mainly older people who want to rediscover the feeling of life in the former Soviet Union. Along with that, the demand for information from young people is also increasing sharply.

Pavel, a young travel blogger who has visited dozens of countries around the world, confirmed that North Korea will be the 89th country in his milestone.

“This country has opened its doors to us, so I will take advantage of this opportunity,” Pavel shared his reasons.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/chi-53-trieu-dong-di-trieu-tien-khach-ke-nhieu-bat-ngo-chua-tung-nghi-toi-20250808103214067.htm