In mid-May, Nguyen Luong Ngoc, 65, and Thieu Thi Ngoc Dung, 63, who live in Lam Ha, Lam Dong, kicked off their latest driving journey to explore the northern provinces.

This marked Ngoc’s 17th cross-country road trip over the last 26 years. This time, his primary goal was to take his wife to iconic destinations she had yet to see, including Muong Phang (Dien Bien), Bac Ha love market (Lao Cai), Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang), Mau Son peak (Lang Son), and Tra Co beach (Quang Ninh). Ngoc doubles as both the driver and tour guide for his wife.

“Throughout the 26 years, whether directly accompanying me or not, my wife has always supported and trusted my driving skills,” Ngoc said.

Both Ngoc and Dung worked in education. Before retiring, Ngoc was a high school principal and Dung was an elementary school principal.

In 1999, Ngoc pooled his savings and took a bank loan to buy a used car.

During Tet 2000, Ngoc drove his wife from Da Lat to Son La and back, traveling about 3,600 km. He still remembers that at that time there was no Google Maps, roads were poor, and the old car had many problems, including a broken fan belt and a punctured fuel tank on the road.

When the fuel tank was punctured, they were in a remote area. Unable to find a repair shop, Ngoc bought a jerry can and some tools, and rigged a temporary connection from the can to the carburetor. Dung then had to sit in the passenger seat holding the gas can for several hundred kilometers.

“It was not until we reached Hanoi that we managed to find a shop to weld the fuel tank, waiting until the next day to resume our trip,” he recalled.

“That journey was full of hardships. But it was also from that point on that I grew more confident, nurturing the desire to take my wife and children across the entire country by car,” Ngoc said.

When their children were young, on summer vacations he drove his family back to their hometown and went sightseeing. As both spouses held management positions, their workplace pressure was substantial. The road trips offered the perfect window for them to rest, unwind, and dedicate quality time to their children and each other. The couple revealed that these journeys deepened their marital bond.

Later on, their trips expanded to include their son-in-law and maternal grandchildren. In 2014, the three-generation extended family traveled from south to north in two cars, admiring the country’s natural landscapes while experiencing local culture and daily life. 

Daily sports training

Ngoc shared that since his youth he has loved sports like soccer, table tennis, and athletics, and has kept up running 5–10 km every day. He joined the Lam Dong trail running race three times, at the 21 km distance, in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

At age 57, Ngoc started cycling. Every morning he rides 40–50 km regardless of rain or sun. In the afternoon, he spends another hour at the gym. 

In February 2023, the retired teacher and an older friend cycled for five days, traveling more than 700 km from Lam Dong to Ca Mau, then returned to Lam Dong by car. After two days of rest, the pair set off for Huu Nghi Border Gate in Lang Son. That trip lasted 24 days and covered 2,500 km by bicycle.

More than a year later, Ngoc transported his bicycle to Hanoi by car, then with two friends cycled to northern mountainous provinces like Phu Tho, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh. The journey lasted 29 days and covered 1,900 km.

This route was mostly mountain passes, forests, or remote areas without houses or shops. Ngoc’s group carried a stove, utensils, and food for “field cooking.”

Ngoc has cycled through all of northern Vietnam's most legendary passes: Da Trang, Pha Din, O Quy Ho, and particularly conquered the Ha Giang rocky plateau with the challenges of Tham Ma slope, Chin Khuc slope, Quan Ba heaven's gate slope, and the breathtaking passes of Ma Pi Leng, Khau Coc Cha, Na Tenh, and Ma Phuc.

For many years, his wife Dung has also maintained a disciplined routine, walking around 10 kilometers per day to stay in shape.

Linh Trang