During his mid-June European exploration, Le Phat Dat, a travel blogger from TP HCM, spent most of his time in Interlaken, a town in Central Switzerland. Beyond the renowned lake scenery, famously featured in the drama "Crash Landing on You", Interlaken also impressed Dat with the experience of swimming in the cool Aare glacial river.

Interlaken is nestled between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, a geographical location that explains the town's name, meaning "between the lakes". The Aare River originates from glaciers in the Alps, flows through the Aareschlucht gorge, then empties into Lake Brienz, passing through Interlaken before entering Lake Thun.

Locals frequently use the river for swimming or floating home after work each afternoon. With current speeds reaching 8 to 12 km/h, swimming in the Aare can be faster than walking.

Locals and tourists swim in the Aare River. Photo: A-Travel

Locals and tourists swim in the Aare River. Photo: A-Travel

Under the 40°C outdoor sun, Dat was fascinated to see locals continuously standing on bridges and jumping into the cool river. After a day of hesitation, reluctant to change into swimwear in public, he decided to follow the local custom.

The cool water, approximately 15-20°C, initially caused a slight shock to his body, but he then felt "incredibly refreshed". The relaxed atmosphere among those around him eased Dat's reluctance. He immersed himself in the clear blue water, with snow-capped mountains visible in the distance.

"I couldn't have imagined this refreshing feeling even in my dreams", he said.

Dat recounts his experience swimming in a melting glacial river in Switzerland. Video: Minh Trang

Environmental policies and its natural terrain keep the Aare River clean. Its waters originate from Alps glaciers, flowing through large lakes where sediment settles before reaching urban areas. While river swimming is popular, local tourism websites warn that the water is deep, swift-flowing, and lacks on-duty rescue personnel.

Minh Trang