A couple in Lam Dong decided to sell their wedding gold to travel across the country for over two months, creating an unforgettable honeymoon.
With the same amount of money, instead of choosing to travel to Europe for a few days like many other couples, Minh Khoa (29 years old) and Thuy Ai (28 years old) from Lam Dong chose to travel to all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam. "We think that if we want to explore the world , we should first understand our own country," the couple shared.
Khoa and Ai were classmates in college and worked together at the same company after graduation. On January 1st this year, they tied the knot after knowing each other for 10 years.
Wedding photos of the couple Minh Khoa and Thúy Ái.
The idea of traveling across Vietnam originated from Ai, as a way to enjoy their honeymoon and celebrate their 10th anniversary. Fortunately, their superiors and colleagues enthusiastically supported them, allowing them to work online while undertaking the trip.
Khoa and Ai planned their 11,000 km road trip by private car two months in advance. They set off on March 11th, traveling for a total of 71 days at a cost of 109 million VND. Part of this came from selling their wedding gold, and the rest from their savings.
Over two months traveling across the country, the couple experienced almost all the coastal routes from Kien Giang to Quang Ninh; set foot on the two extreme points of Vietnam: the southernmost point (Dat Mui, Ca Mau) and the northernmost point (Lung Cu, Ha Giang ); visited the two southernmost and southernmost points of the country: Sa Vi Cape (Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh) and Ca Mau Cape (Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau); climbed Fansipan Peak - the highest mountain in Indochina; visited the Indochina Tripoint; the beginning and end points of the Ho Chi Minh Trail; and experienced the four great mountain passes (Ma Pi Leng, O Quy Ho, Khau Pha, Pha Din).
They also participated in the flag-lowering ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; and visited the landmarks printed on banknotes with denominations of 20,000 dong (Chua Cau Pagoda, Hoi An City, Quang Nam), 50,000 dong (Nghinh Luong Pavilion, Phu Van Lau, Hue City), 200,000 dong (Dinh Huong Island, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh) and 500,000 dong (Thatched house in Sen village, Nam Dan district, Nghe An).
Upon arriving in each region, Khoa and Ai always try to experience the local specialties, such as picking plums in Moc Chau; exploring caves in Quang Binh; visiting floating markets and fruit orchards in the Mekong Delta; and watching frogs fly and fish jump in Cu Lao Son, Can Tho. The couple also enjoys some local delicacies such as Vung Ang's fresh squid, Pa Pinh Top (grilled folded fish) of the Thai ethnic group in Son La, and Lang Son's roast duck.
Thanks to thorough preparation, the trip went quite smoothly, with only a few instances of getting lost. The most memorable was when, following a mountain trail to the northernmost point in Ha Giang, we both got lost and ended up near the border, forcing us to turn back and find another route.
After the trip, both of them significantly improved their knowledge of Vietnamese geography and culture. This was also a more visual and memorable way to acquire knowledge compared to learning from books. When visiting some historical sites, Khoa and Ai listened to explanations from local guides. "Each event was recounted authentically and vividly, with historical evidence right before our eyes, which moved us deeply and left a lasting impression," Thuy Ai shared.
When asked which province or place was the most beautiful, both shook their heads, unable to answer. For them, the North was blessed with majestic natural landscapes, the Central region with its islands and beaches, the Central Highlands with its mountainous beauty, and the South with its waterways and the friendliness of its people.
"But the coastal route from Vung Tau to Quang Ninh is definitely worth experiencing," Thuy Ai suggested.
Minh Khoa and Thúy Ái at Eo Gió (Bình Định)
What displeased them was the widespread litter at many tourist spots, along with the aggressive touting and price gouging that alienated tourists. Khoa and Ai struck up conversations with a few foreign tourists, who expressed their admiration for Vietnam's scenery, but not many said they would return. "We feel sad that our country is blessed with such natural beauty, yet the investment and management of the tourism industry are limited, missing out on opportunities for development," Khoa said.
This was a meaningful trip for both of them before turning 30, with a like-minded partner. "My husband and I don't regret selling our wedding gold because what the trip brought us is something money can't buy," Ai said. The couple plans to take many more trips in the future to learn new things and discover more beautiful landscapes of the country.
Quynh Mai
Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
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