During the tour that lasted 10 days, Ngan enjoyed beautiful and pristine beaches in Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Quang Nam.

“My luggage was a few sets of clothes and my puppy. I just wandered along the road, looking for deserted, pristine beaches to enjoy their beauty, leisurely setting down tables and chairs, and sipping a cup of coffee,” Ngan said. “Nature helped me regain my merry mood."

The images of Ngan’s trip have had thousands of interactions on social media. Viewers have expressed their admiration about the optimism and strong spirit of the 23-year-old.

Ngan said she loves nature and travel. When she was 18, she went from Vung Tau to Hanoi to study at Hanoi Foreign Trade University. She traveled a lot during her 4-year stay in Hanoi. She liked traveling to northern mountainous provinces to discover the beautiful landscapes, and learn about culture and the life of local people.

“When I was in Hanoi, I traveled to the north once every 2-3 weeks. In summer, I spent time to travel with relatives and friends,” she said.

In early 2024, Ngan faced some psychological problems after graduating from university. At that time, she could not find a suitable job and had troubles in her relationship. So she  decided to travel to heal herself and seek new inspiration for her life.

“I did not know how long my tour would last and how many cities and provinces I would visit. I just decided to pack and depart,” she said.

Before departure, Ngan spent time to have her pick up maintained. The girl equipped her car with a tire pressure check kit, some repair items, and Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray in case of emergency. On the journey, she checked the tires after traveling 200-300 kilometers.

"I just brought minimal personal items, just enough for use. I also financially prepared well to ensure a smooth trip," Ngan added.

Some days before departure, Ngan read posts on social networks on experiences in traveling in a car. She believed that she had good health and experience in long-distance car driving. On average, she traveled 150-200 kilometers each day.

“If I found that the roads ahead were too long and I might not find any eatery on the roads, I would buy something to eat and put them in my car before departing. When I reached a place where I could park the car and enjoy beautiful landscapes, I would stop, set up a tent and put a chair and a table on the place, enjoying my food and relaxing,” Ngan recalled.

“Whenever I felt sleepy, I would stop the car immediately, find a suitable place and take a nap,” she said.

During the day, Ngan often chose to go to deserted, pristine beaches, while in the evening, she drove to the central areas of cities to book a room, and experience the bustling nightlife atmosphere. 

"I usually booked a room the night before, but sometimes I only began looking for hotel room when I arrived,” she said.

The rooms she chose had to be comfortable and safe, and accept pets.

“Night sleep is very important because it affects your health condition, endurance and safety for the whole journey,” she explained.

Ngan estimated that the journey cost VND15 million, most of which was spent on food and local specialties. Instead of reading comments about eateries on social media, she decided to choose food at shops which looked old and had a lot of diners.

“The dish that I favored the most during my journey was rice with chicken. I tasted rice with chicken in Nha Trang and Phu Yen,” she said, adding that Phu Yen’s tourism was still underdeveloped, but there were many delicious and cheap dishes.

Ngan feels refreshed after the trip and believes that the best way to heal is a "return to nature".

Linh Trang