Disciplined and optimistic living

Vu Thi Nhi, 89, from Ninh Binh gave birth to six children (four sons, two daughters). Her husband passed away more than 10 years ago. Currently, Nhi lives alone in a small house in Phong Doanh commune. Her eldest son lives right next door, looking after and caring for his mother meticulously. Her other children either live nearby or have established careers in Hanoi.

At nearly 90 years old, Nhi earns her children's admiration for her disciplined lifestyle. Every day, she wakes up at 6.00 AM and exercises for about 30 minutes to maintain her flexibility and health. Afterward, she has breakfast, cleans the house, and heads to the garden next to her house to till the soil, plant vegetables, and care for fruit trees.

At noon, she cooks for herself. In the afternoon, she spends another 2-3 hours gardening, and in the evening, she eats, rests, and enjoys time with her children and grandchildren.

“Regarding eating habits, my mother is very meticulous. She never eats out-of-season fruits, and for meat and fish, she only eats items with clear origins. She picks vegetables from her own garden and cooks them to her liking,” said To Thi Sau, 48, Nhi’s youngest daughter. 

“There is one habit my mother has maintained for the past 40 years: drinking turmeric powder with honey every morning. She believes this can cleanse the intestines and help the digestive system stay healthier,” Sau said.

Nhi lives happily and optimistically with a humorous personality, always bringing laughter to her descendants. Notably, she is very independent and self-sufficient in all personal activities, taking care of her own health without bothering her children. 

“My mother is nearly 90, but her descendants haven't had to worry about her yet. She lives independently and does not rely on her children; as long as it is something she can do, she always does it herself. Furthermore, my mother is very open-minded. With her sons, daughters, and in-laws, she never imposes or demands things be this way or that. She lets her children live as freely and comfortably as possible,” Sau shared.

Nhi’s extended family has a total of 52 members. On death anniversaries and Lunar New Year holidays, her descendants gather at her house, preparing more than 10 trays of food to sit together. 

To Sau, her U90 mother is like an ancient tree, providing shade and shelter for generations.

U100 grandma cycles, gardens, and cooks meals In Ninh Binh

At nearly 100, Tran Thi Son, born 1930, remains alert and healthy, able to cook, garden, cycle to the market and visit her children and grandchildren.

She still cooks using a traditional wood stove, gardens, collects water plants and cycles to the market daily. Her image in an old tiled house evokes nostalgia.

She has eight children (three sons, five daughters), one of whom passed away at a young age. For many years, she and her husband lived in an ancestral house. Currently, two sons and one daughter live in the south, while the remaining four live nearby and regularly visit her.

Her husband passed away a year ago. Although her children wanted her to move in with them, she chose to stay in the house filled with memories.

“Relatives living nearby often come to take care of her. Every night, children and grandchildren take turns staying with her, so she is never lonely,” said Luong Quoc Viet (born 1995), her grandson who filmed videos of her daily life.

Son has nearly 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On special occasions, they gather in her small house. Although the house is old and the furniture is not modern, it is a cozy place filled with beautiful childhood memories for the descendants.

At 96, Son is still sharp. Regarding her health, except for occasional leg pain, she remains healthy, self-sufficient in personal care, and able to perform many other tasks.

Next to the house is a small garden where Son grows seasonal vegetables and fruit trees. She particularly likes growing herbs to sell to families hosting parties. When she harvests many vegetables, she cycles to a market about 800m away to sell them every afternoon.

Son eats simply; her meals usually consist of white rice, vegetables, eggs, and tofu. The food is usually cooked until soft and tender to make it easier to eat. She eats and sleeps on time and maintains a healthy lifestyle, resulting in great stamina.

Thanh Minh