A young woman recently shared photos of her grandmother and two elderly friends traveling from Tay Ninh to northern Vietnam. All in their late 70s, the three women made their way to the summit of Fansipan, visited Halong Bay, and toured Hanoi.

The post quickly gained nearly 10,000 likes, comments, and shares. “So admirable! I came back from Fansipan with aching legs,” one user commented. Another wrote, “Hope I can do the same with my two friends 50 years from now.”

The poster, Nguyen Thao Vy (28, Ho Chi Minh City), shared that the three grandmothers are her own grandmother Nguyen Thi Sau (known as Ba Bay, 77), Do Kim Quen (Ba Nam, 78), and Mai Thi Tranh (Ba Ba, 73). All three live in Tay Ninh.

“The trip lasted five days and four nights in July 2024. My mom and I accompanied the three ladies. They took a car to HCMC, then flew to Hanoi, and traveled through Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, and more,” Vy explained.

Vy said she uploaded the images simply to preserve memories and didn’t expect such a warm response. “My grandma was so happy. They recently traveled to the Mekong Delta and earlier visited Binh Hung Island in April, but I couldn’t join those trips.”

She explained that the three women settled in the same hamlet in Tay Ninh in 1976. Sharing the common bond of losing their husbands early, they became close friends, supporting one another through hardship. Now that their children are grown, the trio travels often, always with family members accompanying to assist them.

“They’re all very healthy and cheerful, sometimes even looking after us during the trip! Their lifelong bond and positivity are an inspiration,” Vy added.

Their northern trip followed a packed tour schedule, but the group remained enthusiastic throughout. It had been many years since they’d visited the north.

Mrs. Sau, Vy’s grandmother, shared that their favorite destination was Sa Pa thanks to its scenery and cool climate. However, the most challenging part was ascending Fansipan - dubbed “the roof of Indochina.”

“On the day we took the cable car, it was drizzling and only 10°C. We were shivering, our skin turning purple, struggling to breathe. The guide suggested we stay behind, but we told ourselves - if we don’t climb it now, we never will.

We took a short break to steady our breathing, then continued. When we finally reached the summit, we felt so invigorated, like we were young again. We held hands and celebrated - it felt like we had achieved a dream,” Sau recalled.

“We were also deeply moved watching the flag-lowering and raising ceremony at Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum,” she added.

The toughest challenge of the trip? Adapting to regional cuisine. The ladies supplemented meals with instant noodles and milk to stay energized.

Despite her age, Sau still visits the market daily and helps her daughter with a catering business. “Every month, we cook for 10 to 15 events, sometimes 20. I still work as hard as anyone,” she laughed.

Her two friends are just as active, cycling to the market and visiting each other regularly. “If we’re in good health, we aim to travel two or three times a year. Our goal is to visit all 63 provinces,” she shared.