For Nhu Diem, a young person with a passion for traveling, 2024 is not only filled with trips but also a journey of self-discovery through each route.
“I am proud to have lived a full year through every step, being grateful for every little thing around me and loving life more,” Diem shared when recalling the destinations that have colored the past year.
The trekking trip to Lung Cung opened a promising year for Diem. “The feeling of crossing steep slopes, welcoming the sunrise over the sea of clouds, and counting down the last moments of the year with friends in the middle of a mossy forest still makes me feel elated every time I remember it.” Lung Cung was not only a challenge with a journey of nearly twenty kilometers, but also an opportunity for Diem to connect with new friends in the warm atmosphere, despite the howling winter wind outside the camp.
Sunrise at Bai Chuoi - Ninh Thuan
The trekking trip to Lung Cung opened a promising year for Diem.
After Lung Cung, Diem returned to her hometown Quang Ngai to celebrate Tet. The visit to Dien Truong Ba in Tra Bong gave her a feeling of closeness but no less sacred. “This is a cultural intersection of Kinh, Cham, Kor and Hoa people. The road leading to the temple is covered with cool green trees, in front are rice fields, behind is a cinnamon forest and the gentle Tra Bong river”. For Diem, Quang Ngai not only has products such as Ly Son garlic or Song Tra goby fish, but also attracts expatriates with its rich culture and hometown flavor.
From Quang Ngai, Diem went to Hoi An and Da Nang. Hoi An, with its nostalgic beauty and moss-covered houses, brought her back to the memories of a bustling trading port in the past. Da Nang - "a livable city" made her understand that the title was not just a compliment. "In addition to famous places like Ba Na Hills, Da Nang also has beautiful natural corners such as Hai Van Pass or Son Tra Peninsula", Diem shared.
Hoi An with its nostalgic beauty and moss-covered houses, brought her back to the memories of a bustling trading port in the past.
The trekking routes continued to leave their mark with Ta Chi Nhu and Ha Giang. Despite the unfavorable weather, Ta Chi Nhu still left a deep impression on Diem with the pure white color of hawthorn flowers. Diem said: "The flowers bloomed white all over the valley, so beautiful that I felt like I was entering a fairy dream."
Ta Chi Nhu is the next trekking route of the year.
As for Ha Giang – the land of flower seasons, she cannot choose the most beautiful time. “Each season, Ha Giang has its own charm, from buckwheat flowers, plum blossoms, to orange chrysanthemums or ancient yin-yang roofs immersed in frost. Everything is like a vivid picture that is constantly changing,” Diem said.
In every season, Ha Giang fascinates tourists.
Sharing with Travellive, Nhu Diem said that for her, trips are not about meaningless wandering, nor are they about completing a mission that requires reaching a certain age and a certain number of trips. There are completely spontaneous journeys, she just goes with the mindset of accepting new things, sometimes going to new lands or returning to old places but feeling from a different perspective. For example, on the trip to Moc Chau, Diem initially wanted to stand at the top of Pha Luong, feeling the scene of "Whose house is Pha Luong, the rain is far away". But for some reasons, she went in a different direction and luckily arrived at Ba Phach village, about 5-7 kilometers from Moc Chau town.
“I went there when the canola and plum blossom seasons were over, so I could only imagine the pure white color running along the road, stretching to the horizon in the distance. But this place is not only brilliant because of the flower seasons. After Tet, when all the flowers have faded, it is also the time when millions of green buds that have been waiting after a long winter begin to sprout.
Cao Cat Mountain - Phu Quy
Each gust of wind carries the cool scent of grass and trees, a bit of the warmth of spring sunshine. Whether it is the sound of early morning dew tapping on the roof, the red sunset quietly against the dark purple sky or the smell of burning copper wafting through the winding smoke, it all makes me linger here. Days without phone signal, without rushing here and there, having a quiet space with myself, not thinking about anything and not doing anything is also a good idea. And then when I wake up early in the morning, I can welcome the gentle sunlight pouring through the wooden-scented window, wrapped in a blanket like a lazy cat, slowly welcoming a new day", Nhu Diem recalls.
Phu Quy Flagpole
Meanwhile, Phu Yen - the land of "yellow flowers on green grass" reminds her of the familiarity of the Central region. This destination makes her love the enthusiastic nature, the voice, the sunshine and wind, the wild and rustic beauty of the sea. Welcoming the first dawn here is a magical moment, when the sun appears from the horizon and the whole sea seems to light up.
Phu Quy, Binh Thuan, is a place Diem wants to return to many times. “There are few places as safe and friendly as here. The people are so enthusiastic that I feel like I am being cared for like a grandchild away from home,” she said. The beauty of the lava rocks eroded over millions of years and the lush green of the grass and trees covering it make this place special in the hearts of many visitors.
Phu Quy is idyllic, with picturesque destinations.
In Ninh Thuan, the coastal roads and unique Cham culture surprised the female tourist. Diem said that not only the ancient Cham towers, but also the brocade weaving and handmade pottery here are still maintained, each product has its own mark.
During the last days of the year, Diem visited the town of D'ran pass and Vung Tau. D'ran brought gentleness and tranquility, with classic houses covered with flowers. As for Vung Tau, besides the blue sea and white sand, Diem discovered a poetic scene at Mui Dinh, which she compared to "a real-life Ghibli film".
Every journey, seeing and exploring new lands, we discover more interesting things from within ourselves.
“The year 2025 is knocking on the door, I am packing my luggage and preparing for upcoming trips. My luggage is the most open heart. Perhaps I will not set a goal to check in at any place, because I believe that every place has its own beauty, as long as I pay attention to receive beautiful things,” Diem shared.
