Hanoi girl lived a nomadic life for 8 months, had no fixed job, and sometimes had 'empty pockets'

Minh Hang (30 years old, Hanoi )

Exactly one year ago, Pham Minh Hang embarked on a journey south from Hanoi, traveling along coastal roads and traversing long, winding mountain passes, fulfilling her dream of crossing Vietnam.

"Initially, I planned to keep going until I was tired and then send my motorbike back to Hanoi. But along the way, I kept thinking, 'Why not try living differently for once?' To live closer to nature. To slow down and listen to myself," Hang shared.

And the girl from Hanoi decided to shift her focus to experiencing a nomadic lifestyle – without a home or a fixed job.

Minh Hang has had a memorable journey, full of wonderful memories.

Find new sources of inspiration.

Minh Hang works in the field of photography. This is a job that aligns with her passion and also provides a stable income. About six months before the trip, Hang was constantly worried about not being able to make a breakthrough in her career.

"I decided to take a break and seek new inspiration and experiences. At this time, I had just finished a project and had enough income to afford a long trip," Hang said.

Hang chose to travel by motorbike. "I didn't prepare too much for the trip. To ensure safety, I avoided traveling late at night and always tried to get back to the homestay before dark. I was also prepared to turn back if I got tired," Hang said.

Hang chose a motorbike so she could easily find new and interesting places.

A month before her departure, Hang told her mother about her plans. Her mother strongly objected, worried about her daughter. Hang tried to reassure her mother and asked her to support her daughter's dream.

"When traveling alone, I can stop wherever I like. There are places that make me feel so relaxed and comfortable that I want to sit there for hours, just to take pictures and admire everything."

"When I travel in a group, I usually chat with my friends. But when I travel alone, I'm more proactive, more curious, and find it easier to strike up conversations with locals and strangers on the street," Hang said.

Four months spent in Vinh Hy, a place full of sunshine and wind.

The female tourist rode her motorbike from Hanoi to Binh Thuan. In some places, she only stayed for a few days, while in others she stayed longer, such as when she volunteered at a farm in Da Nang, or when she rested for several days due to a fever in Phu Yen .

After more than a month of traveling, Hang arrived in Ninh Thuan , a region she had visited in 2022. Upon arriving in Vinh Hy, a small fishing village surrounded by mountains and forests, Hang felt a strong desire to stay longer and experience the place more fully. She plans to stay there for 5-7 days.

"Everyone in the village is so lovely," Hang said.

February to October is the ideal time to visit Vinh Hy.

From where Hang lives, looking to the right, you can see a stream that flows gently day and night. After the rain, it transforms into a cascading waterfall. In front of her is the famous dolphin-shaped promontory of Vinh Hy Bay.

Every day, Hang wakes up to the sound of birds chirping in the garden and gently drifts off to sleep to the soothing sound of the babbling stream.

The scene right where Hang is staying in Vinh Hy.

Hang remembers vividly that right at the entrance to the village, there was an old woman selling delicious fish cake sandwiches, rice noodle soup, and grilled pork vermicelli. Every time she went to eat and ordered a glass of gum arabic (a type of tree sap with a sweet and refreshing taste), the old woman would always say, "Add an orange juice for this little girl too."

Walking around the village, Hang often encounters children carrying guavas, leisurely eating them while playing. She frequently asks, "Would you like to trade guavas for candy, kids?" and the whole group excitedly rushes over. These moments make the female tourist love this simple land even more.

Then the landlord of the place where Hang was renting a room offered her a job: "Why don't you stay and work for me? I really need someone."

"I nodded, officially starting my nomadic lifestyle," Hang said. Besides working at the campsite in Vinh Hy, Hang tried her hand at leading experiential tours for tourists. With her advantage in photography, the girl from Hanoi quickly had a full schedule.

Working in tourism in Vinh Hy, the girl from Hanoi met many new friends.

"The place I live is exactly what I've always dreamed of, but life isn't just about enjoying it. Every day I wake up and have to complete fixed tasks to make ends meet."

"I also experienced health shocks and the death of a small dog that I was very attached to, like a friend, when I went to Vinh Hy. It was the first time I had a dog, so its passing haunted me," Hang recounted.

"There was a time when I considered returning to Hanoi, facing several problems at once, including a car accident and a 'crisis in the economy.' But I chose to confront them, seeing them as opportunities to become stronger," Hang said.

Luckily, living near the sea and streams, whenever she encounters stressful situations, the young woman chooses to swim in the sea, take a walk to visit the streams and forests, or simply lie in the sun.

With the beach tourism season ending and the weather turning unpredictable with rain and wind, and income from tourism no longer being stable, Hang decided to leave.

Before leaving, Hang had the opportunity to experience the Kate festival of the Cham people in Phan Rang - Thap Cham, and returned to Phu Yen to join friends on a trekking trip to Mui Doi - considered the place to witness the first sunrise on the Vietnamese mainland.

Hang experiences the Kate festival of the Cham people in Phan Rang - Thap Cham.

Four peaceful months in Mang Den.

In October, Hang drove away from the sunny, windy coast and headed towards the Central Highlands. She decided to stay for an extended period in Mang Den – a pristine and peaceful region.

"I often hear people say that Mang Den is the second Da Lat, that Da Lat of 10 years ago was boring, that there was nothing to see in Mang Den. But after living and experiencing it for 4 months, I found that neither of those things is true," Hang said.

"I had a bit of a hard time coming here during the Central Highlands' windy season. Many nights I could clearly hear the wind howling in my room," Hang recounted.

For Hang, Mang Den is not only beautiful but also has many interesting things to offer.

Life in Mang Den moves at a very slow pace. Hang learned to adapt and enjoy it. She cooks and reads under the pine trees. On days when it's too cold, she wraps herself in a blanket and allows herself to rest after the long journey.

While in Vinh Hy during the summer, Hang used swimming to maintain her fitness, but upon returning to Mang Den, she switched to jogging. The straight paths through the primeval forest gave her the feeling that nature was running alongside her.

During her time in the Central Highlands, Hang lived at a slow pace but was never bored.

Hang admits that there were times when she was "broke." She worked many different jobs, not fixed in one place: photography, tour guiding, tent pitching, coffee making, house cleaning… anything to cover the costs of maintaining her "close to nature" lifestyle for longer.

Hang experiences and learns about the lives of the local people.

"If you intend to live a nomadic life like me, in addition to finding a short-term job locally, you should have at least one other source of passive income," Hang said.

Hang was fortunate enough to witness the most beautiful cherry blossom season in many years.

After eight months of traveling, the girl boarded a bus to return to Hanoi to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with her family. Hang traveled along the Truong Son mountain range, with its winding, treacherous, wild, and majestic stretches. At times, she drove for hundreds of kilometers without encountering a single house.

After the Lunar New Year celebrations, Minh Hang continues her journey to the provinces of the Northeast and Northwest regions.

Nomadic life isn't all rosy, but Hang feels she's gained invaluable experiences.

It won't be until May 2025 that Hang officially returns to work in Hanoi with renewed inspiration and energy.

"A year of traveling across Vietnam and living a nomadic life helped me learn to listen to my heart, live in the present, confront hurt, let go of things that are no longer important, and gradually realize that my inner strength is greater than I thought," Hang confided.

Photo: Provided by the interviewee - Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/co-gai-ha-noi-song-du-muc-8-thang-khong-viec-co-dinh-co-luc-rong-tui-2407287.html