Minh embarked on a road trip through 32 provinces and cities on a three-wheeled vehicle before his birthday as a gift to himself after a long battle with an illness that left him confined to a wheelchair.
At the age of 12, Phan Vu Minh (32 years old, from Vinh Long ) was diagnosed as the second case nationwide with a spinal cord vascular malformation, for which there is currently no cure. At 20, his condition worsened, rendering him unable to walk and forcing him to rely on a wheelchair ever since. He had to put his studies on hold, leaving Ho Chi Minh City to return to his hometown so his parents could support him financially.
After more than 10 years in a wheelchair, Minh has become accustomed to his current life and is now running a plant business to earn an income. In 2017, he took his first long trip since becoming wheelchair-bound, traveling to Bac Lieu and then to other provinces and cities. "On shorter trips, I go for a week, and on longer trips, sometimes a whole month. I want to travel to admire and explore new places, to make up for the long time that illness has confined me," Minh said.
Phan Vu Minh and his three-wheeled motorbike used for touring.
The vehicle Minh uses on each trip is a three-wheeled motorbike built by a friend who studied mechanical engineering. Initially, his parents were worried when they learned of his intention to travel alone. But understanding the difficult times their son had gone through, they agreed to let him fulfill his long-postponed dream. After Minh returned home safely several times in a positive state of mind, his parents completely trusted and supported his decision to go backpacking.
In early July this year, Minh embarked on a 20-day (July 3-23) cross-Vietnam road trip ahead of his 32nd birthday, visiting 32 provinces and cities. This was the longest and furthest trip of Minh's life. Because he needed assistance with transportation and daily activities, his nephew was his travel companion. However, throughout the journey, he was the one driving.
Minh planned the trip three months in advance, from detailed itineraries, accommodation, clothing, personal items, to vehicle maintenance. Health is especially important when backpacking. Minh exercised regularly every day to build up his strength to fight off illness and complete this special trip.
Starting from Vinh Long, Minh traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, then followed the coastal road to Hanoi. After that, he visited northern mountainous provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, and Thai Nguyen before returning to his hometown.
"Perhaps because I spent many years withdrawn within my own limitations, when I ventured out, I loved every place I visited. The hills, the sea, the rivers, the sunshine and wind in the highlands or the plains all had their own unique beauty. The cuisine was also incredibly diverse and had the distinctive flavors of each region," he said.
What touched Minh the most was that wherever he went, he received so much affection and help from the local people. There were meals where the restaurant owners didn't charge him, and people gave him water to take away.
A memorable event for Minh was a serious incident while descending a mountain pass in Ha Giang. The pass was steep, with a sheer cliff on one side, and the motorbike was hurtling down at high speed, forcing Minh to constantly apply the brakes, which resulted in brake failure. With years of experience in motorbike touring, Minh handled the situation. To descend safely, after a short distance, he stopped the motorbike, used a bottle to collect water flowing from a mountain stream, and poured it onto the engine and brake system to cool them down before continuing.
When Minh arrived in Dong Van town, someone recognized him through news and social media and helped him by pouring a bucket of coolant down the brake system to dissipate heat and prevent brake failure. Thanks to this, Minh's journey was more comfortable and safer. "Even though they were strangers, their kindness and enthusiastic help warmed my heart," he said.
Minh also faced some difficulties such as drowsiness during long drives and fatigue from prolonged exposure to sun and rain. In particular, he couldn't sit for long periods to avoid developing bedsores on his lower body, so he had to carefully plan his travel time and find places to lay down a mat and rest.
The trip cost around 30 million VND. Since the main purpose was backpacking, food and accommodation were quite simple. Minh usually chose roadside eateries to avoid excessive travel, and stayed in hotels or guesthouses where he could enjoy the natural scenery the next morning. He avoided driving at night, especially when crossing mountain passes or rough roads.
When he set foot in new lands, gazing at the majestic mountains and forests of Northwest Vietnam or the romantic beauty of the coastal strips, he felt that his efforts and determination in undertaking the trip were well rewarded.
Minh hopes to spread positive energy to those in similar circumstances, giving them a different perspective on life. "I won't sit idly by and accept my disadvantages. I want to prove that even with a disability, you can still do anything as long as you have enough passion and courage," Minh said.
Minh has visited 45 provinces and cities across the country. He aims to obtain an international driving license so he can drive to Cambodia to visit a friend he was once a fellow patient in. "But first, I will continue exploring the entire S-shaped land of Vietnam," Minh said.
Quynh Mai
Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
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