Though scattered by work and life, four generations of one Vietnamese family have kept an eight-year promise to travel together every summer and preserve their family bond.
A journey spanning four generations
Summer travel has become an annual tradition over the past eight years for the extended family of Pham Thi Minh Huong, born in 1983 and originally from Nam Dinh, now Xuan Giang Commune in Ninh Binh Province.
Huong’s maternal family has more than 90 members. At its heart is her 94-year-old grandmother, Nguyen Thi Teo, affectionately known in the family as Grandma Tuong.
Their annual trips are more than holidays. They are occasions for family members across generations to reconnect, spend time together, share their lives and better understand one another.
In previous years, the family traveled to destinations in the former Quang Binh Province, Phu Tho and Ninh Binh, among other places. Because of her health, however, Grandma Tuong was unable to join them.
This year, the family wanted its beloved matriarch to finally be surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on the trip. They therefore chose Giao Ninh Beach in Ninh Binh, just 15 kilometers from home.
The two-day, one-night trip took place on August 8-9.
“My grandmother is already 94. We thought that as long as she is still able to travel with her children and grandchildren, we should arrange an itinerary that makes it possible for her to come along,” Huong said.
“Young people still have many summers ahead of them. But for the elderly, the opportunities to see their children and grandchildren gathered together and hear the laughter of generations of their family are truly precious,” she added.
Grandma Tuong with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during the family’s summer trip. Photo: Family courtesy
Because most family members live and work away from home, the trip required careful planning.
On the morning of August 8, a 35-seat bus picked up family members in Hanoi before traveling to Ninh Binh to collect others and continue to the destination. In all, 82 people joined the trip.
The family rented a multi-bedroom villa to ensure everyone had enough space to rest and spend time together comfortably.
During the trip, they organized a range of activities designed to bring the generations closer. They celebrated the birthdays of children and great-grandchildren, held a lucky draw with gifts for the older generations and played family games together.
Young family members who had won provincial-level academic awards or achieved strong results at school also received gifts of encouragement. Those who had graduated and entered the workforce shared their own journeys, offering inspiration and encouragement to the younger generation.
Tuong with her sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Photo: Family courtesy
Young family members with strong academic achievements receive gifts of encouragement. Photo: Family courtesy
Another cherished tradition is the joint birthday celebration held each year for the younger members of the extended family. It gives the children a chance to gather, sing birthday songs, play and strengthen relationships with cousins and relatives they may not see regularly.
This year, more than 80 family members gathered around the cake, blew out candles and celebrated together.
The most emotional sight was Grandma Tuong sitting among her descendants, surrounded by their voices and laughter as she enjoyed the rare moment of togetherness.
She carefully held onto the small gift her family gave her that evening. Several times, she told her six daughters how happy she was to see so many of her descendants together, close and caring for one another.
“For my grandmother and our entire family, having four generations together on one trip is not simply about having fun. It helps everyone become closer and understand one another better,” Huong said. “Seeing four generations in a single photograph makes us truly feel how a family continues from one generation to the next.”
The family’s ‘great old tree’
The summer trip created treasured memories for members across four generations. Photo: Family courtesy
Tuong has 10 children - four sons and six daughters. Two of her sons have died, including one who was a fallen soldier.
Since her husband died, she has lived alone at her home in Xuan Giang Commune. Her six daughters live nearby, while her two surviving sons regularly return to visit her three or four times a month.
At 94, Tuong remains healthy and mentally sharp. She can still cook rice for herself and manage her daily personal routines independently.
Although her eyesight has deteriorated and she can no longer clearly see who is around her, she can accurately recognize her children and grandchildren by their voices.
Grandma Tuong enjoys precious moments surrounded by her descendants. Photo: Family courtesy
Family members blow out candles, cut the cake and celebrate birthdays together. Photo: Family courtesy
“My grandmother is extremely careful and remembers everything,” Huong said. “She has a small cabinet that she locks several times over, but inside there are only old clothes and a few packets of expired sugar. We think of it as her own little world, so none of us disturb it.”
Tuong now has more than 90 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
For family death anniversaries, public holidays, Tet or birthday celebrations, her descendants return home and gather around her. The small courtyard that is usually quiet becomes lively and crowded, filling her home once again with the warmth of a large family.
“My grandmother is our family’s great old tree, the bond that connects all the generations,” Huong said. “We only hope she stays healthy and lives for many more years so she can join us on many more family trips.”
Vietnamnet.vn
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