Visitors to Hoang Trach hamlet in Van Giang district in Hung Yen province can easily find the home of Nguyen Ngoc Quynh because everyone in the locality knows him.

Quynh told VietNamNet that he has three younger brothers – Nguyen Ngoc Giao, 98; Nguyen Ngoc Hoan, 95; and Nguyen Ngoc Can, 91.

Quynh, Giao and Hoan were guerrillas in the resistance war against the French colonialists, and later worked as officers of local state agencies. Currently, they all live in Hoang Trach village. 

Can served in the army and after he was discharged, he worked as a lecturer at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture. Can now lives in Trau Quy, Gia Lam in Hanoi.

Villagers say Quynh’s family members were born under a lucky star, because four of them are long lived and their health remains very good. They can do everything themselves and don’t need assistance from children and grandchildren.

Quynh is 101 years old but is still very lucid. He can do many things on his own, and has good hearing and eyesight.

One member of the family said the great family has 300 members, who live and work in different cities and provinces. Over the years, Quynh and his three siblings maintained good health and rarely fell sick. Despite old age, they have sharp eyes and ruddy skin. They read books regularly without glasses.

Though the family is large, all of its members gather at least once a year at the ancestral house in spring located in Hoang Trach hamlet to worship their ancestors and wish each other good health. The meetings help strengthen the bonds of affection between family members.

Because of the number of members, large banquets are organized at every meeting.

The secret of longevity

All of the four old men gave the same answer when asked about the secret of longevity. They lead an active life, use clean food, and do physical exercise regularly.

Studies show that genetics determines 25 percent of one’s lifespan, while the living environment and habits determine 75 percent. Genetic factors can lay the foundation for a long life, but lifestyle and attitude are important.

All of the men live in an active way, and maintain the habit of reading books daily to get more knowledge. Their meals are very simple. They don’t overeat or oversleep. 

“I usually contact my younger brothers. We together comment about the poems we have composed,” Quynh said. 

Like his elder brother, Giao reads books daily. He likes learning about history.

Giao pays attention to physical exercise. He walks 1,000 steps around his yard in the morning and afternoon. He has three meals a day with a fixed timetable: breakfast before 8am, lunch before 11am, and dinner before 7pm.

“I have not eaten much over the last 20 years. I have one bowl of vegetable first, and then rice. I am leading a happy life, full of joys. I never get angry with anyone. A comfortable mindset is the natural medicine which helps me live well,” Giao said.

Nguyen Ngoc Nham, 55, the eighth child of Giao, said the biggest joy of the great family is seeing the four great grandparents live well. Though there are many family members, they never forget anyone’s name.

Nham said all children and grandchildren of the big family are taught their ancestors’ teachings, using their knowledge and promoting morality as the foundation. 

“My father told me that we are cells of society, and if our family is good, the society will be good. Humans need to have a sense of affection for each other. What makes me most proud is that my father lives compassionately and always loves people,” Nham said

Nguyen Ngoc Hoan, the third brother, said the best way to keep healthy is to stay optimistic. Hoan eats and drinks in moderation and does physical exercise by walking around his yard. Before going to bed and when waking up, he massages his hands and legs for 15 minutes.

The youngest man is 91 years old, but he still is a member of many local organizations, including the elderly club, retired workers’ club and poetry club.

Trong Tung