VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Record Organization has awarded the "centenary longevity" record certificate to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ban, 105 years old, in Yen Phong District of Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam.

Ban has nine children (seven sons and two daughters) and nearly 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her eldest daughter is Mrs. Nguyen Thi Xoan, 88, and her eighth son is Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Khien, 67, former Deputy Director of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Ban can still walk around, eat and drink without help from others. She can also remember the names of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, said her sixth son Nguyen Huu Nghien, 71.

Her eyes are still good so she can thread a needle and watch TV.

"Every day she chews betel, reads poems, and listens to Quan ho songs and taps her fingers to music. At this age, she still has quick responses, but her hearing ability has declined,” Nghien said.

“She still remembers stories about her village and her neighbors from the old days. She eats everything; she particularly likes banh duc (plain rice flan) with tuong (soybean jam). Each meal she takes two small bowls of rice and half a glass of beer,” he added.

Nghien said she has visited the hospital twice. When she was 99, she was admitted to the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi for ten days for pleural effusion and the next time to the Bac Ninh General Hospital for heart failure.

"Whenever the weather changes, she suffers from headaches and feels tired but she could still walk around. Sometimes she wanted to wash her clothes by herself," Nghien said.

On March 7, the Vietnam Record Organization’s Chair, Thang Van Phuc, former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Interior, presented a record certificate to Mrs. Ban.

Ban’s first paternal grandson, Nguyen Huu Vinh, 57, Party Secretary of Cho Town, Yen Phong District, said: "This is a great honor for my family. She is the oldest person in Yen Phong District."

Ban is one of a number of people aged 100 or more in Vietnam who have been honored by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings).

Tri Thuc Tre