In the images, nearly 200 family members line up for a commemorative portrait. Because of the sheer number of people, they had to arrange themselves in five to six rows to fit within the frame.

Online users left emotional comments about the warm reunion captured in the photos. “Such a heartwarming moment, memories preserved across generations”; “The grandparents are truly blessed with so many descendants, and the younger generations are fortunate to still have such towering trees giving shade,” wrote one commenter.

The viral photo series was shared by Tran Lan Anh, born in 1996, originally from Vinh Phuc, now residing in Vinh Tuong commune, Phu Tho province, who is a member of the family.

Lan Anh said the people in the photos belong to her paternal side. Her grandparents are Tran Van Dong and Nguyen Thi Kho, both 95 years old.

The couple have 12 children - seven daughters and five sons. Lan Anh’s father is the eleventh child. At present, her grandparents live with her parents in their hometown in Phu Tho. Most of their other children live in the same commune, except for one daughter who married and moved far away.

Lan Anh added that the extended family currently has 198 members, of whom 175 are grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. The family is well known in the village for its large number of descendants.

In their teachings, Lan Anh’s grandparents have always emphasized unity, which has created a special bond among family members. On occasions such as death anniversaries, children and grandchildren gather in full at the grandparents’ house to cook and share meals together.

“Whenever there is an event, we usually prepare 15 to 16 trays of food. Some relatives living far away cannot always return; otherwise, there would be even more trays. Everyone lends a hand, then we eat and celebrate together. The atmosphere is always joyful,” Lan Anh said.

During Tet, the family organizes many meaningful activities. On the second day of Lunar New Year, children and grandchildren gather at the grandparents’ home to offer incense to ancestors, extend New Year wishes and give lucky money to the elders, before sharing a meal and visiting relatives.

“Our group is very large. Every year we go from house to house to give Tet greetings, starting from those farther away and moving closer, then gather for a meal at the final stop. Because there are so many children, the aunts and uncles have to line up to hand out lucky money,” Lan Anh recounted with a laugh.

On the fifth day of Tet, the family holds a friendly football match. They split into two teams named “FC paternal side” and “FC maternal side,” competing at a field near the commune People’s Committee office. Most players are young adult grandchildren, though in some years, uncles and older relatives also join in when the excitement rises.

“We have maintained this football activity for four years. Our grandparents also come out to cheer. Everyone plays in the spirit of fun over results. Before kickoff, we always take a group photo to mark the occasion,” she shared.

Lan Anh considers herself fortunate to be born into such a large and united family. She feels even more grateful that her 95-year-old grandparents remain healthy and fairly lucid, and that her grandfather still rides a bicycle for exercise.

“They are the great trees giving shade to our whole family. I hope they stay healthy and live long as the spiritual pillars for all their descendants,” Lan Anh expressed.