70 days behind dad traveling across Vietnam

Hoang Thien Hai (11 years old) just finished an impressive summer vacation when he and his father traveled for 70 days across Vietnam, with nights camping on the beach, and many firsts in his life.

Mr. Hoang Manh Thang (41 years old, in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi ) became a single father when his son was just 6 years old. His job as a driver did not pay much, so to travel across Vietnam for 70 days with his son, he had to save money for 5 years.

Little boy Hai spent 70 days sitting on his father's back traveling across Vietnam.

"Five years ago, I set a goal to take a trip after my child finished primary school. The journey would help my child experience and also fulfill my dream," he said.

Summer behind dad

Mr. Thang quit his job to travel with his son. Determined to be able to eat and sleep anywhere, he prepared quite a lot of things. He added a luggage rack on the car to carry clothes, personal belongings, tents, mini cooking utensils... On the morning of June 30, the father and son set off from Hanoi, planning to travel along the coastal route to the south. However, after 4 days of swimming and diving at Ly Son Island ( Quang Ngai ), Thien Hai wanted his father to take him to the Central Highlands first.

Arriving at Mang Den ( Kon Tum ), the 11-year-old boy felt the "fascinatingly cool" air for the first time. Hai was also taken by his father from Bo Y border gate to Laos for a day. "I traveled on open, wide roads with lush green trees that are not found in the city," Hai excitedly said. Because they were so busy traveling, it took more than a month for the father and son to reach Ho Chi Minh City. After that, they both traveled to the Western provinces. "For my father and I, the West is another world full of newness and many interesting things," said Mr. Thang.

Besides the Central Highlands, the West is where Hai and his father spend the most time exploring.

The same goes for Hai. He was surprised by the accent, the way of life, and the food of the people here. What he liked most was trying many kinds of special fruits . Hai was naturally healthy and ate well, so he praised every dish. Sometimes he missed home, but he didn't want to end the journey early. When he reached Ca Mau Cape, for the first time Hai saw mudskippers crawling on the sandbank, which was very interesting. He also loved the mangrove forest, where the mangrove trees were tall and had roots deep in the water.

"When I was a child, I read the novel Southern Forest Land by writer Doan Gioi and wished to visit the West one day. Now, being able to take my son with me is such a happy thing for me," Thang shared.

Will continue on the road

On the way back to the North, afraid that his son would be tired, Mr. Thang decided to go by bus, but Thien Hai was still determined: "We can continue by motorbike, Dad." "I didn't expect my son to be so healthy and have such a strong spirit. With previous short trips, he has been to all 63 provinces and cities," Mr. Thang proudly shared.

The luckiest thing on the journey was that the weather was favorable to the father and son, only a little uncomfortable on the section through Ha Tinh because of the heat. Hai asked his father: "Why is there wind but I don't feel cool?". So Thang had the opportunity to tell his son about the characteristics of Lao wind.

Mr. Thang shared that he always taught his son to be grateful, not only to his father but also to all the friends he met, the places he went to... From there, the father made a suggestion, that after this trip back, Hai will study hard in middle school, be independent in life so that his father can work with peace of mind. The goal is that in 4 years, when Hai finishes 9th grade, his father will take him on another trip, maybe abroad.

At the end of summer, Hai prepared clothes and books to start the new school year , while Thang also just got a job as a driver, continuing his work. "I think children often don't care how much money their parents have, but only care about how long their parents have been with them today. I will spend everything, as well as all my time, to be with my children as much as possible," the father confided.

Mr. Thieu Si Nghia (50 years old) - the father who was mentioned by Thanh Nien when he drove his 17-year-old son across Vietnam for 30 days, also followed the journey of Thang and his son on social networks. "The younger the child, the harder it is to travel with, the father has to be very psychological. Letting an 11-year-old boy like Hai go with him for 70 days is not an easy thing," Mr. Nghia commented.

thanhnien.vn