The image of an older couple on a sporty motorbike, traveling 600 kilometers from HCM City to Mang Den, was shared among netizens last week, with comments such as “you look healthy and energetic”, "look at the man, he is snowy haired, but still full of energy", "the woman looks kind and happy”.

Nguyen Le Duy An, who took a picture of the couple in Mang Den and posted the image on social media, said he met the couple during a journey in 2023. 

Cam, 70, and Truong Thi Cam, 66, who now live in HCM City, were a surprised the photo got ‘likes’ from young people.

“I have had a passion for travel since my younger days. I like driving a motorbike to explore local beautiful landscapes. In 2022, we stopped doing business and began long journeys,” Cam said. 

In late 2023, they took a 600 kilometer journey from HCM City to Mang Den in Kon Tum. On the first day, they rode 300 kilometers and stayed in Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak. On the second day, Cam drove 300 kilometers to reach Mang Den, called a miniature Da Lat.

The couple met An in Mang Den and asked him to help take pictures of them.

“It was very kind of him. An also introduced us to beautiful destinations, and led us to Dak Lo Bridge and Truong Son Dong Road to enjoy landscapes,” Cam recalled.

The couple and An have kept contact with each other since then.

Cam and his wife, who have three sons, ran a fabric shop which always kept them busy. After Covid-19, the business became more difficult so they decided to stop doing business to relax and enjoy their golden years.

Cam has many years of experience in traveling by motorbike. In 2021, at the age of 67, he drove a motorbike alone from HCM City to the northwest region, a trip that lasted 30 days.

“My principle was that I rode in daytime. In the evening, I found a place to rest and I always tried to sleep well to ensure good health to continue my itinerary,” Cam recalled.

“We had the habit of making video calls to each other at 6-7 pm. I told her where I was and what I had eaten,” he added.

Later, when they began traveling together, Cam had the responsibility of drawing up travel schedules and acting as a guide. 

They practice physical exercise every day, and before every trip, Cam has his motorbike maintained by professionals.

“At first, we went to places around the city, and then to Vung Tau and Dong Nai. After that, we traveled hundreds of kilometers to Bao Loc and Da Lat,” he explained.

“She likes Da Lat very much because of beautiful landscapes, peaceful atmosphere, fresh air, flowers and cafes. We cannot even remember how many times we have been there,” he said.

It taked 9-10 hours to reach Da Lat on motorbike. “We don’t book hotel rooms before departure. Where to stay depends on our feelings. On the way to Da Lat, we suddenly wanted to admire the sunset in Bao Loc, so we decided to stay there instead of continuing to Da Lat,” he said.

“We stay at hotels in central areas so that we can walk on streets in the evening and enjoy local food,” he said.

The most special trip for him was with their daughter in law to the Vietnam-Lao border area in Nghe An province to do charity work in 2023.

Asked about their plans in the near future, Cam said they will take a trans-Viet journey to discover Ha Giang in the rice ripening season. If their health is good, they will first drive a motorbike from the south to the north, and enjoy the beautiful coastal road of Phan Rang – Phan Thiet. But they might consider taking a flight from HCM City to Hanoi and then drive their motorbike to Ha Giang.

Linh Trang