In early October, Nguyen Bich Ngoc from Hanoi embarked on a journey to Turkey - the 80th country she has visited.

Over 12 days, she rented a self-driving car and explored Turkey at her own pace - roaming across Cappadocia with its surreal rock formations, enjoying peaceful moments on the Bosphorus strait between Asia and Europe, getting lost in the ancient village of Cumalikizik, and soaking in the timeless charm of Istanbul.

Now in her 50s, while many peers prefer a quiet life at home with children and grandchildren, Ngoc remains passionate about discovering far-flung places - from the grand cities of Europe and the wilds of South America to icy Arctic coastlines and the sun-scorched deserts of Africa.

“For me, travel is not a race to check off as many places as possible. It’s a slow journey - one of listening, observing, and understanding how vast and diverse the world truly is.

The most valuable things I’ve gained aren’t the 80 countries, but the hundreds of stories, unforgettable memories, and a youthful, eager spirit that’s renewed with each trip,” she shared.

Ngoc explained that her love for travel started with a few small trips and gradually grew stronger.

Her first overseas journey was to Spain at the age of 22 to attend the World Folk Culture Festival. That month-long adventure took her through many cities and villages, leaving a lasting impression.

She was captivated by Spain’s liberating beauty and rich cultural identity. But as a first-time traveler, she also faced a few challenges.

“In Spain, stores typically open at 10 a.m. and close by 3 p.m., so I had to time everything - shopping, exchanging money - within that window. Now I’m used to it, but back then it felt inconvenient,” she recalled.

Ngoc officially took early retirement 15 years ago. Since then, she’s worked as a freelance entrepreneur, which gives her the flexibility to travel often. Around 90% of her trips are self-organized. She has explored about 30 countries with her family - mainly more accessible destinations like Europe, the U.S., and China.

For more demanding journeys - those involving trekking, mountain climbing, or long road trips, such as exploring ice caves in Iceland, visiting the frozen island of Greenland, witnessing wildlife migrations in Kenya, or crossing the searing valleys of Namibia - she chooses companions carefully.

“Many of my travel companions were strangers at first. But after one trip, we became close friends and continued exploring the world together,” she said. Her longest trip lasted nearly two months.

Thailand is the country she’s returned to the most - around 40 times. “It’s easy to get to, affordable, has great food, beautiful scenery, and lots of sacred temples,” she explained.

In 2024 alone, Ngoc visited 19 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Thanks to meticulous planning, she has rarely encountered serious issues. However, her most difficult experience happened during a trip to West Africa in 2024.

She was scheduled to travel from Burkina Faso to Benin (with a valid visa), but political instability caused all land border crossings between the two countries to close. Locals advised her to reroute through Togo.

“I had a Togo visa, but it wasn’t yet valid, so I couldn’t enter. We contacted the Togo embassy to request a change in the visa’s activation date. It sounded unlikely - but to our surprise, they agreed.

By then, it was already 9 p.m., and we still hadn’t received the updated visa,” she said.

Stuck at the border, they couldn’t go back - having already exited Burkina Faso - nor move forward into Togo. Border police held their passports and escorted them to a small hotel near the checkpoint to wait.

The next morning, the new visa was issued. However, authorities still required additional verification. Ngoc and her group had to wait until afternoon.

“After two days stuck at the border, in 40°C heat and swirling dust, we finally crossed into Benin. Traveling through West Africa is no easy stroll. Without patience, flexibility, and time, most people would’ve turned back immediately,” she said.

According to Ngoc, trip costs vary based on location and duration, so there’s no fixed amount. For independent travel, a group of four is ideal to split expenses like car rental, accommodations, and meals.

“Many think travel is only for the wealthy, but I disagree. There were times when my business faced hardship, yet I still found a way to travel. Each journey gives me renewed energy, joy, and motivation to keep going,” she said.

“If finances are tight, you can still travel within Vietnam or to nearby countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, or the Philippines - those trips often cost no more than a domestic vacation,” Ngoc added.

Linh Trang - Ngoc Ha
Photos courtesy of the subject