After one month, the family has been recently exploring the riverways of Can Tho, and preparing to head to Da Lat, where they plan to stay for about 10 days.

This is their most special trip to date, bringing together all eight members across three generations of the family.

The group consists of Van Khanh and her husband, their two children, her parents Le Van and Kim Dung (both 60 years old), and Khanh's sister and brother-in-law. The youngest member is 8 years old. The family also has brought along a pet dog and a hamster.

The extended family travels in two cars, with one driven primarily by Khanh's father and the other by her husband.

Khanh said that since childhood, every summer holiday, she and her sister were taken by their parents to explore various northern coastal regions. For the past 15 years, as the children grew up, her parents spent nearly two months every year driving across Vietnam to discover new lands.

Khanh and her husband have accompanied her parents on short trips many times, but this is the longest journey they have ever taken together. Before the trip, Khanh notified her customers about the temporary business closure.

Without a fixed itinerary, the family find accommodation wherever they go, prioritizing hotels or local homestays. Their favorite destinations are pristine, uncrowded places close to local daily life with historical and cultural value.

Unforgettable memories

The family has visited many unique villages from North to South, such as Go Co Village (Sa Huynh, Quang Ngai), Chanh Trach Giant Gourd Village (Gia Lai), where mature gourds can weigh between 40 and 60 kilograms, and Lo Village (Dak Lak).

Three destinations that left a lasting impression on Khanh's family were Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen region), Phu Quoc (An Giang), and Ca Mau.

"In the former Phu Yen region, our family had a delightful experience - going to the morning countryside market, spending 100,000 VND to buy a variety of cakes and fruits. Afterward, the whole family played at Mon Beach and Tien Beach, two very clean beaches with crystal-clear water and peaceful scenery," she recalled.

The family was also enamored with Phu Yen cuisine, enjoying dishes such as shrimp rolls, shrimp salad, beef dipped in fermented rice sauce, seasoned beef salad, and fish cakes.

"My family usually chose local eateries. Not only was the food delicious and reasonably priced, but the owners were also extremely friendly and enthusiastic," Khanh added.

The Hanoi family spent up to 7 days exploring Phu Quoc (An Giang). They rented a homestay in An Thoi featuring a kitchen and a spacious garden. Every morning, Dung went to the market to buy fresh seafood and vegetables to cook at home.

During the day, the family explored the beaches, visited Phu Quoc Prison and historical sites on the island, and ate lunch at local eateries. In the evening, all 8 members gathered around home-cooked meals prepared by the mother.

Ca Mau was the destination that evoked the most emotion for the Hanoi family. The entire group woke up at 5am to take a speedboat through the mangrove forests and watch the sunrise at the southernmost tip of the country.

As the sunlight gradually painted an orange-pink hue across the calm waters amid the vast green mangrove forest, the family stood in silent awe before nature's beauty. Whenever the speedboat bounced over the waves mid-stream, everyone burst into delighted laughter.

In Ca Mau, the family also tasted "exotic" local specialties for the first time, such as Yem Vuong crab, mudskippers, and mantis shrimp as thick as an adult's wrist.

What lingered most with the Hanoi family was not just the scenic landscapes, but the unexpected encounters.

On one occasion, the family was invited to a riverside home for dinner by Ca Mau locals like family members, chatting and listening to rustic vong co folk songs.

On another occasion, while staying at a hotel in Dong Nai, the entire family was captivated by a rambutan tree heavily laden with fruit on the property. Seeing the guests' delight, the hotel owner invited everyone to pick and enjoy the fruit free of charge.

Khanh shared that, on average, the group spends about 3 million to 4.5 million VND per day, including fuel, highway tolls, lodging, food, and entrance tickets.

Linh Trang