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"Dad, let's go out!"
Before leaving, like many other parents, Oc's parents had a thousand and one concerns. Would their child be able to make such a long journey? Would he get sick? If he got sick on the way, how would he manage? Would it be okay to travel through many different regions and eat strange foods? Who would look after the house and who would take care of the work? And so on and so forth.
But partly inspired by the situation of a father and son facing many challenges in the reality TV show “Dad, where are we going?”, we left behind the vicious cycle of modern society and set off.
And the 60-day journey across Vietnam begins…
Central coastal route:
Hanoi – Quy Nhon – Phu Yen – Nha Trang – Phan Rang – Mui Ne
At dawn, Oc's mother packed the rest of her personal belongings into the suitcase and closed the lid. Oc was still sleeping soundly on the bed. Mother gently picked Oc up. It was still dark and cold. The taxi was waiting outside.
Last night, Mom and Dad were busy packing things up until late at night, half asleep from the excitement of the longest trip ever. Oc was still sleeping in Mom’s arms, Dad was carrying the suitcases.
At Noi Bai airport, Oc woke up, dragging his suitcase and still yawning, to check in and drop off his luggage.
Quy Nhon welcomes the whole family in the cool, pleasant air of the sea.
The whole family stayed at a homestay near the beach, so early in the morning the whole family walked to the beach to catch snails and crabs. The snails loved watching the tiny crabs running along the beach.
In Quy Nhon, people are quite friendly, the cost is reasonable, the food is also delicious. In the morning, the whole family went to eat fish noodles, jellyfish noodles for about 20,000 VND - 25,000 VND. The coffee shops have spacious spaces, lots of trees, and the price is about 12,000 VND - 17,000 VND for a cup of coffee. On the way from the city center to Eo Gio, passing Thi Nai bridge, the wind blew people away. When reaching Eo Gio, the wind blew very strongly. Oc's mother stood out for a while and then went in, and when she got home in the evening, she got sick. But Oc was excited, always calling out "oh sea, oh sea".
At night, Quy Nhon streets are deserted, everything is much slower and more leisurely than in Hanoi.
Nha Trang welcomes the whole family with a bustling atmosphere and the streets are much more bustling than Quy Nhon.
Although the family was scheduled to go to Phu Yen first, but because they wanted to go out with Kent's family (Oc's cousin), the family changed the schedule to go to Nha Trang first. The city was bustling with tourists, countless Russian and Chinese tourists. When my parents took Oc to Hon Tam, the beach was very beautiful, Oc really liked it.
In Nha Trang, there are many good places to eat, not too expensive. If you stay away from the crowded tourist areas, there are many restaurants with delicious seafood, reasonable prices. There was a day when the whole family was at sea, doing nothing, and Oc sat playing in the sand all day by the sea. Dad bought Oc a very beautiful phoenix kite. Oc loved it very much.
The day we said goodbye to Nha Trang, Oc said: "Goodbye Nha Trang, I'm going to Phu Yen now."
Tuy Hoa – Phu Yen train station on the day the family arrived was cool, a little chilly, and quiet. Oc held Mom’s hand and walked slowly. Dad pulled the suitcase along. It was like on some journey long ago, when Dad was wandering around Europe.
During the 60-day journey across Vietnam, Oc's parents let her stay in many places, sometimes in a homestay, sometimes in a hotel, sometimes in a resort, sometimes near the beach, sometimes in the mountains. But July homestay in Phu Yen is one of the most favorite, most comfortable, most memorable places. When arriving, Oc ran from room to room, chatting with the girl there, playing with two sisters who were about the same age as Oc. It felt comfortable like being at home. Going to the market together, buying fish to cook noodles the way the people here do.
The following days, the whole family rode motorbikes to Bai Xep area and climbed up to the filming location of “I see yellow flowers on green grass”. Went to Ghenh Da Dia, then went to Mui Dai Lanh – the easternmost point of the country. During those days, Oc was very cheerful, singing all day long, singing as soon as he got in the car. I will always remember Oc’s voice, remembering when the whole family sang the song “Dad, where are we going?”
Saying goodbye to Phu Yen, the whole family still craved the delicious tuna eyes and the delicious oyster eggs for breakfast.
The train arrived in Phan Rang late at night.
The whole family took a taxi to My Nghiep handicraft village to stay at the Cham uncle’s homestay. It was pitch black, the homestay was in the middle of a wild field, surrounded by the sounds of frogs, dogs, cats, pigs and chickens.
The days there were really different experiences. Early in the morning, Oc went out to herd sheep with his father. At night, many students came and sat around the campfire, gathered around the fire and played guitars.
After days of wandering around Phan Rang, visiting Cham towers, sandboarding at Nam Cuong sand dunes, visiting Bau Truc pottery village, picking grapes at Ba Moi vineyard, we headed to Phan Thiet, Mui Ne. In Mui Ne, the whole family stayed in a beautiful resort, didn't go anywhere, just rested and regained our strength.
The following days, the whole family went to Saigon, took Oc out to eat, drink coffee, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, and go to the book street.
Western route:
My Tho – Ben Tre- Can Tho- Nam Can – Ca Mau- Chau Doc- Ha Tien- Phu Quoc
From Saigon, the whole family went on a one-day tour in My Tho - Ben Tre. The feeling of rivers and boats is really enjoyable for people from the North, but who were born in the city and rarely experienced life on boats. All day, Oc went on boats, saw beehives, saw pythons, fed fish in Con Phung, and then tried Western dishes. When returning to Saigon, the whole family was exhausted.
The bus arrived in Can Tho late at night.
Oc's parents had never been to the West before, so it felt strange and exciting. From the bus station, the whole family took a taxi to the homestay. The homestay was huge, like a resort. Early the next morning, when we opened the door, we saw people racing, singing, and having a great time. The people of the West were open and friendly, and the food was very typical.
The following days, Oc went to see the animals, visit the gardens, and enjoy the fruits. This was the first time he saw a durian tree with his own eyes. Then Oc went to Cai Rang floating market, sat on a boat, had breakfast, drank coffee, and ate fresh rambutans bought from the boat.
Leaving Can Tho, the whole family went down to the southernmost region of the country: Nam Can region.
There is nothing here but the canals, the sound of frogs, birds, fish, and boats on the river. Completely different from life in Hanoi.
The next day, I went down to Ca Mau Cape. The sun was blazing hot, but I was really excited to set foot in the farthest place of my country to the South. Even though I left, I still regretted it, still hoping that if there was a better way to do tourism here, and knew how to exploit it better, there would be more things for visitors to experience.
Before leaving Nam Can, Oc's parents took him to Tu Mau stork garden, filled with flocks of storks flying back and forth, perching everywhere. There were also crocodiles raised here. Going back up to Ca Mau, Oc's parents took him for a day to the U Minh Ha forest, to witness the immense U Minh forest with their own eyes, and to eat delicious eel hotpot. On the way, many monkeys ran out, Oc loved it very much.
What he saw with his own eyes and felt with many senses made him remember for a long time, and he often talked about it when he returned to Hanoi. That was his parents' wish for him.
The bus from Ca Mau to Chau Doc was late at night.
The next day was scorching hot, the heat of the border region. Oc and his mother were both exhausted, so they had to change their plans. The whole family stayed in Chau Doc for two more days than planned. In the cool afternoon, they went out, took Oc to visit the Lady Temple, rode a rickshaw, and ate delicious fish sauce hotpot. The day after that, they went to Tra Su cajuput forest. Sitting on a boat, getting lost in the middle of the immense cajuput forest, surrounded by green water fern carpets, beautiful like in a painting.
From Chau Doc, the whole family went to Ha Tien, then took a speedboat to Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc has developed rapidly and become a hot spot in recent years. On the way back to the accommodation, I heard the taxi driver tell stories about the land fever here.
Sao Beach in Phu Quoc is beautiful, truly one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, like a painting with blue and white tones. It's just a pity that it is being overexploited and there is too much waste. The days in Phu Quoc passed very quickly, my parents didn't let me go out much, only let me go swimming for one day. But Oc was also burned black, making my mother complain, no longer the young lady, white as when I first left. My father liked it, because I was more mature, stronger and more solid.
Central Highlands route:
Da Lat – Buon Ma Thuot – Da Nang – Hoi An – Hue
From Phu Quoc, the whole family flew to Saigon, slept one night and early the next morning flew to Da Lat.
Arriving at Da Lat airport, all the excitement came back, the air was fresh and cool.
The whole family has never stopped loving Da Lat, every time we go, we love it. We love the pine forests, the hills, the Da Lat food, the poetic and peaceful cafes. The whole family stayed in Da Lat for 4 days, instead of 3 as planned. On cool evenings, the whole family wandered on the hills, above our heads was the magical moonlight, on both sides were the rustling pine forests, and Oc sang the song Twinkle twinkle little star.
From Da Lat to Buon Me Thuot by car, the road is quite winding. Parents are worried that Oc might get carsick, but he is very healthy. The days in Buon Me Thuot, drinking coffee is really enjoyable, parents let Oc ride elephants in Yok Don national park. Entering Don village, visiting the cocoa garden.
From Buon Me, the whole family flew straight to Da Nang then took a taxi to Hoi An on a rainy afternoon.
Unlike his parents, Oc became stronger, more active, and more adaptable as he walked. During the days in Hoi An, the whole family went cycling together. Dad took both mother and child to the old town, to eat sweet soup, cao lau, and chicken rice. Oc loved taking pictures with lanterns and going up the bridge to release floating lanterns into the Hoai River.
Arrived in Hue also on a rainy afternoon.
Arriving at Ana Mandara resort, all the tiredness disappeared when the peaceful and pleasant scene opened before our eyes. The next day, the whole family spent the whole day visiting the mausoleums, garden houses, eating banh beo, eating chè, and freely eating Hue dishes. In the afternoon, Oc ran around in front of the Imperial City, laughing happily.
Final leg:
Quang Binh – Ninh Binh – Sapa – Ha Long – Hanoi
Because I was born and raised in the North, this trip spent more time in the Central and Southern regions.
During the few days in Quang Binh, my parents took me to Phong Nha - Ke Bang.
On the taxi ride with the newlyweds, they asked and learned that Oc, only two years old, had traveled across Vietnam for nearly two months without getting sick, without getting tired, and rarely throwing tantrums.
Leaving Quang Binh, the whole family went to Trang An - Ninh Binh. Take a boat through caves, rocky mountains and vast lakes, as beautiful as in the movie Kong.
After Ninh Binh, the whole family returned to Hanoi, but did not go home immediately but rented a hotel near the Cathedral, to continue to Sapa the next day.
We have been to Sapa many times, but this is the first time my parents have conquered Fansipan mountain.
The whole family took the cable car up the mountain. Standing on the top of the tower, at the 3,143m milestone, Dad and Oc took a photo together holding the Vietnamese flag. Feeling satisfied and ecstatic.
From Sapa, the whole family went to Ha Long and gave Oc a day to visit the caves and Ha Long Bay before returning to Hanoi.
So the 60-day journey across Vietnam has ended, filled with experiences.
Hanoi welcomed the whole family with a bright sunny day. When we got home, both my parents and Oc were still ecstatic about the trip, still feeling like they were riding in the car, checking in, packing their luggage and checking out.
After 60 days, the house was in disarray, tons of clothes, blankets, and mattress covers needed to be washed, the bookshelves were moldy and dusty, the guitars and pianos were dusty, and the plants were withered. Mom and Dad and Oc crawled out all night to clean. But everything was great, Mom and Dad went back to work. Oc went back to school. And we are planning a new journey for Oc, promising wonderful experiences in the future.
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After 60 days across Vietnam…
For two months, my parents took me up the mountain and down to the sea, from the far East - Dai Lanh Cape to the far South - Ca Mau Cape, from the sea to the plateau, into the forest, to the island. The whole family took 4 flights, 10 train trips, 10 car trips. I tried all kinds of vehicles, from taxis, buses, coaches to sampans, boats, basket boats, rafts, ferries, canoes, ships, trains, cable cars, speedboats...
My parents and I have tried almost all the dishes in Vietnam, from grilled Ninja fish in Quy Nhon, tuna eyes in Phu Yen to Hoi An chicken rice, braised snakehead fish and Chau Doc fish sauce hotpot. Then grilled monitor lizard, vermicelli with crushed fish, Ca Mau crab, chicken hotpot with basil leaves, grilled rice paper in Da Lat, burnt rice in Ninh Binh, salmon hotpot in Sapa...
And below are some other impressive statistics.
Total damage:
# A pair of sandals that Oc dropped in Phan Rang
# A pair of "revolutionary" shoes of Oc fell in Ninh Binh
# Mom dropped glasses in Ca Mau
# Mom forgot a stylish hat in Sapa
# Snail forgot a book in Nam Can.
Spoils of War:
# Two boxes full of clams and snails that the whole family collected from all over Vietnam's seas
# A pine box I picked up in Da Lat
# A box of cocoa beans in Buon Ma Thuot
Results:
# 200Gb Photos
# About 60,000 image files
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Tips for you:
Experiences when traveling across Vietnam for a long time with children
+ Time:
Everyone has different conditions, choices, and priorities. If it is difficult to arrange work to go on a trip of up to 60 days, you can absolutely go on a trip with your child within 2 weeks. Whenever you can arrange the time, go right away. On such a trip, you can spend all your time with your child, no work, no email, no Facebook.
+Schedule:
Traveling with children and the whole family will be completely different from backpacking or traveling with a group of friends. When going to new destinations, you will always want to go all out, because there are many new things. But you need to always determine that experiencing the whole journey with your children is more important. Do not go too much, go continuously or have too many activities in the same day. In each place, you only need to choose 1, 2 main points, and 1, 2 most typical experiences for your children. Be flexible about the schedule depending on the health of the whole family.
+Health & Safety:
-Medical: Always carry basic first aid medicine and bandages with you, so that you can respond on the spot in any situation. When going to cold areas, or when going up the mountain, always bring enough warm clothes, sweaters or thin windproof and rainproof jackets for your baby. When going to the beach or windy areas, you need to bring sunscreen, hats and masks for your baby.
-Safety: Children have difficulty walking like adults, they cannot walk continuously. When traveling by any means, you must pay attention to safety. Always let your child wear a life jacket and you yourself need to wear a life jacket when traveling on a boat, like in the West, Trang An - Ninh Binh or Phong Nha - Ke Bang.
+ Means:
-Self-driving car: When driving a private car, there are many advantages, you can move around proactively, but there are also disadvantages, usually if the father drives alone continuously it is quite tiring, there are many places where he is not familiar with the roads.
-Public transport: The most convenient and safest way is to fly. However, the cost of air travel is often more expensive, and flight times are not always convenient. Major cities are almost always connected by air, you can go by Jetstar, Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet. Trains are also a reasonable, safe, low-cost option and can go to most of the main locations on the North-South route. Traveling by train can also take in the scenery on both sides of the road.
+ Accommodation:
The experience of booking a room is that you research online in advance, look for hotels and homestays with good reviews, convenient locations, find the hotel's phone number on Google, and call directly to book a room. Everywhere there are options that suit your budget with many types of accommodation, from homestays, hotels to resorts, each with its own interesting features.
+ Food and drink:
Trying local food is a way to enrich your travel experience. Information on what to eat and where to eat is available online, so you can find it easily. When eating a new dish, remember to eat a little at a time, not too much at once to avoid stomach aches or food poisoning. When traveling with children, you should practice with them at home first, so that they get used to eating many different foods.
+ Cost:
Each family will choose a different cost level depending on their conditions. Normally, when traveling domestically, depending on the location, the cost for a day for the whole family, including food, accommodation, transportation, and entrance tickets will be around one million. Always bring spare cash and more than you expect. But you should not bring too much cash, and should divide it into several places to keep cash.
+ Luggage:
Always bring just enough, bring exactly what is necessary. Even if you are traveling with a baby, you should only bring enough. If you are greedy at the beginning, buying this and that at every place you go, after two or three weeks, the luggage will become too much. It is best to bring only two suitcases for the whole family, and a small bag. The two large suitcases will be checked in when you arrive, and the small bag will be for diapers, milk, or a camera for going out.
Article and photos: Harry Trung Nguyen
