A 45-day camping trip across Vietnam from South to North by a family in their 20s.

A unique journey across Vietnam.

As originally planned, Minh intended to travel from South to North, but coincidentally met friends who shared the same passion, so they formed a group and traveled together for over a month. Therefore, this trip was completely unplanned, with no specific destination in mind. During their 45-day drive across the country, his family passed through 22 provinces and cities, covering a total distance of nearly 9,000 km.

Unlike previous trips, Minh decided to camp instead of renting a room to fully enjoy the beauty of nature. He, his wife, and their 18-month-old daughter spent 35 days camping in tents, and 10 days in homestays and hotels. Regarding living necessities such as electricity, water, cooking utensils, and a refrigerator, the whole group had everything they needed, making eating and living very easy and comfortable.

Having previously done two cross-Vietnam motorbike trips, this time, the 9x generation family chose to camp in their 4x4 pickup truck. Compared to motorbike trips, traveling by car combined with camping offers several advantages. According to Minh, these include more freedom in packing; more control over time and location; lower accommodation costs for multi-day trips; and the ease of bringing the family, especially young children, along. However, there are also disadvantages such as the initial cost of purchasing camping equipment and the expense of repairing the car in case of breakdowns.

Captivated by the beauty of nature.

Every place Minh's family has visited has brought them memorable experiences. The camping spots he chooses are mostly pristine locations with beautiful scenery, offering a close connection with nature, such as: Mai Nha Island (Phu Yen); Hai Van Pass (Da Nang); Gianh River ferry terminal (Quang Binh); Khau Pha Pass, La Pan Tan Sticky Rice Hill (Yen Bai); Tan Uyen (Lai Chau); Suoi Thau Grassland (Ha Giang); Vu Nong, Co La Waterfall, and Mat Than Mountain (Cao Bang); Mau Son Peak (Lang Son)...

As a native of Southern Vietnam, Minh spent a considerable amount of time exploring the natural beauty of the northern mountainous region. One of the places that particularly impressed him during his trip was the pristine village of Hang Tau. Located in a valley nearly 20 km from the center of Moc Chau, Hang Tau belongs to Ta So 1 hamlet, Chieng Hac commune. Nestled in the high mountains of Moc Chau, isolated in a valley nestled against rocky mountains, it remains a place that still preserves its traditional way of life, unspoiled and peaceful.

Here, lush green meadows and Hmong wooden houses form an isolated cluster, surrounded by mountains and forests. It's likened to a primitive village with "three no's": no electricity, no internet, and no mobile phone signal. Hang Tau is home to nearly 20 Hmong households in isolation. Despite the lack of electricity and mobile phone coverage, their lives are quite comfortable; they cultivate crops and raise livestock, achieving impressive self-sufficiency.

Things to keep in mind when traveling with young children.

The biggest reason for Minh's cross-Vietnam camping trip is his young daughter. "When I researched how children's thinking and personality develop, it started between the ages of 0 and 6. During this period, I wanted to take her on as many experiences as possible so she could adapt and become familiar with outdoor activities. Besides, during long-term trips on challenging routes like this, she will adapt to different weather conditions. This will help her strengthen her immune system and protect her from various bacteria," shared travel creator Min on the go.

Having been introduced to camping by her parents since she was three months old, on short trips and to locations within a 200km radius, Minh's daughter was very cooperative and enjoyed the cross-Vietnam trip. He also offered advice to families with young children who are still passionate about backpacking: "To be able to take my child along on a long trip like this, I started camping with her on short trips and introduced her to solid foods early. I equipped the car with a baby seat so she could rest safely and comfortably throughout the journey. Regarding items like warm clothes, formula, nutritious porridge, diapers, and other necessities for the baby, I always prepared extra. In my opinion, parents should introduce their children to experiences early on so they get used to playing freely and exploring comfortably; this will make the trip much easier for the parents."

Sharing his future plans, Minh said: “In the future, my family plans to travel across Europe in a mobile home. I'm sure this new trip will be full of exciting experiences.”

Let's take a look at some impressive images from the 45-day cross-Vietnam camping trip of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh's family:

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai