After traveling nearly 200km back to his hometown in Hung Yen, a 103-year-old man could not hide his joy as he reunited with his 95-year-old younger brother, embracing him with the excitement of a child.
A joyful reunion
Tran Van Tay, 103, was born and raised in Thai Binh province, now part of Hung Yen. In 1976, he moved to Thai Nguyen to build a life, where he married, raised children and has lived ever since.
He has six siblings, four of whom have passed away. Only one younger brother, Tran Van Kha, 95, remains, living in their hometown in Hung Yen. With advancing age and the distance between them, the brothers rarely meet, keeping in touch mostly through occasional phone calls.
Tran Thien, born in 1989 and Tay’s grandson, said that on special occasions such as death anniversaries or Lunar New Year, the family would usually travel together to Hung Yen to visit relatives and pay respects to their ancestors.
Mr. Tay (in red) and Mr. Kha (in blue) pose with their children.
Thien takes a commemorative photo with his grandfather during his 103rd birthday celebration.
However, over the past three years, Tay’s declining health had prevented him from making the journey. It was not until March 19 this year, on the anniversary of their parents’ passing, that he decided to return home, both to attend the ceremony and to see his brother again after years apart.
“Before the Lunar New Year, my grandfather fell seriously ill. Fortunately, after Tet, he recovered and his health improved significantly. Since then, he kept thinking about going back to visit his younger brother and pay tribute to his parents.
The family arranged for eight people to accompany him on the trip that day,” Thien shared.
When Tay arrived, Kha had no prior knowledge of the visit. At the moment of reunion, he stood stunned before breaking into a joyful smile.
Tay, meanwhile, immediately stepped forward to embrace his younger brother, placing an arm around his shoulders, gently patting his head and laughing with childlike delight.
“At that moment, my grandfather happily said, ‘Brothers are bound together no matter what.’ Everyone around laughed at his humor, then grew emotional witnessing such deep family affection,” Thien said.
During the visit, Tay stayed with his brother for two days and one night. After three years apart, the two had much to share, from their health and family life to memories of a childhood marked by hardship but also warmth.
Reunited with his brother, Tay was in high spirits, singing and even composing poetry. Yet when it came time to leave, he grew teary-eyed, moving those around him. Kha, too, struggled to say goodbye.
“As we were leaving, my grandfather held my great-uncle’s shoulders and said, ‘Goodbye, brother.’ My great-uncle embraced him, too emotional to speak. At such an advanced age, being able to reunite like this is truly something to cherish,” Thien said.
A video capturing the reunion, shared on TikTok, has attracted nearly 300,000 views and thousands of reactions.
Living with optimism at 103
Mr. Tay with his family at his 103rd birthday celebration.
Tay has seven children - four sons and three daughters - and currently lives in Phu Thinh commune with his third son, who is Thien’s father.
At 103, he remains in good health and mentally sharp, remembering the names of all his children and grandchildren. Each day, he rides a bicycle to the market, cooks his own meals and manages his personal routine independently.
Because his diet and preferences differ from those of the rest of the family, he prefers to remain self-sufficient rather than rely on others.
Thien said his grandfather maintains a healthy lifestyle. Each morning, he wakes early to exercise, then has breakfast and spends time weaving brooms.
In the afternoon, he often cycles to visit relatives before returning home to bathe and cook. Every evening, before going to bed, he exercises for 15 to 30 minutes to ensure better sleep.
Beyond physical habits, Tay lives with a cheerful and optimistic outlook, choosing not to dwell on negative thoughts. According to his grandson, this mindset plays a key role in his longevity and clarity of mind.
“He loves his children and grandchildren dearly. Whenever they visit, he gives them snacks and plays with them. Even now, the younger great-grandchildren still like to sleep in his room when they come home,” Thien said.
In guiding younger generations, Tay emphasizes two values: compassion and integrity. For Thien, those teachings have remained a constant throughout his life, reminding him to live with sincerity and responsibility.
Vietnamnet.vn
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