The three young children: Dang Luu An Tuong, 11, Dang Luu Khanh Linh, 8 and Luu Dang Phuong Dong, 5, were used to travelling everywhere with their parents, and are independent, preparing their personal belongings before departure.       

Truong and his wife set the final destination for the family in Ca Mau Cape, the southernmost point of the country. In the last three trans-Viet journeys, they had to return to Hanoi after reaching Can Tho because of unexpected events.

“The kids felt excited when hearing about the destination. My wife and I had never been to Ca Mau,” Truong said.

They set off in a 7-seater vehicle, which cost VND150 million, equipped as if it is a mobile home. The vehicle has a 3KW electricity system which is enough to serve the family’s basic needs. They also brought100 liters of water, used to bathe or cook at temporary stays. There were also tents, tables and kitchen.

In the first five days, Truong and family were accompanied by his sister’s and brother’s families. They all drove private cars to Quy Nhon. The family stopped when they saw beautiful and pristine beaches, and put up tents for adults to rest, while the children played in the sea.

After the brother’s family left for Hanoi, Truong and his sister’s family continued the journey to Ca Mau. Instead of choosing the coastal road and highways, Truong decided to drive on provincial roads so that his children could see the life of locals.

At 4 pm, the families stopped at beaches so the kids could have a bath. After that, they went looking for restaurants providing local specialties and hotels to rest.

“During last year’s trip, we mostly rested in tents instead of renting guesthouses and homestays, unless the weather conditions were bad. My kids got used to sleeping in cars and in tents in nature, so they don’t like guesthouses,” Truong explained.

“However, we set off late this year, at the time of intense heat. So we have to book hotel rooms to ensure health for all family members,” Truong said.

Truong and his family reached Ca Mau Cape on the 10th day of the journey.

Located 110 kilometers from Ca Mau City, Dat Mui commune in Ngoc Hien district is a favorite destination. This is the last point of the Ho Chi Minh Road. The road starts in Pac Bo in Cao Bang, goes through 28 cities or provinces and ends at the southernmost point of the country.  

All three kids were excited when hearing the story about Dat Mui. They rushed to the Pano ship-shaped miniature, a symbol of Ca Mau Cape, and took a picture with it.

Truong and his wife let their children experience walking on ‘cau khi’, or ‘monkey bridge’, (a handmade bamboo or wooden passway across a stream), and discover the mangrove forest and see the typical local trees. They had a wonderful dinner with Ca Mau specialties such as crabs and ca thoi loi (giant mudskipper).

Truong told VietNamNet that people always ask him why his family likes taking trans-Viet tours, which takes time and a lot of money, instead of summer camps or English classes to practice life skills. 

“We believe the summer holiday is the time to travel, experience, and practice physical exercise and life skills. It is also time for the kids to be close to nature and enjoy the beauty of the country,” Truong explained.

“Maybe in the future, we will travel less and spend more time for kids to study. But for now, we feel secure bringing them with us during travel as they are always good in school,” he said.

Truong said, after the first 10 days, his family had spent VND20 million, mostly on fuel and tolls.

Linh Trang