Minh Hang (30 years old, Hanoi )
Exactly one year ago, Pham Minh Hang started her journey from Hanoi to the South, running along coastal roads, crossing long mountain passes, fulfilling her dream of traveling across Vietnam.
"At first, I planned to drive until I was tired and then park my car in Hanoi. But on the journey, I kept thinking: 'Why not try living differently for once?'. Live closer to nature. Slow down to listen to yourself," Hang shared.
And the Hanoi girl decided to switch to experiencing the nomadic life - no home, no fixed job.
Minh Hang has a memorable journey, full of memories.
Find new inspiration
Minh Hang works in the field of photography. This is her passion and also brings in a stable income. About half a year before the trip, Hang was always worried when she felt she could not make a breakthrough in her career.
"I decided to take a break and look for new inspiration and experiences. At this time, I had just finished a project and had enough income for myself to be able to take a long trip," Hang said.
Hang chose to go by motorbike. "I didn't prepare too much for the trip. To ensure safety, I limited my travel late at night and always tried to return to the homestay before dark. I was also ready to return if I was tired," Hang said. 
Hang chooses motorbike to easily find new places.
A month before departure, Hang told her mother about her plan. Her mother strongly objected because she was worried about her daughter. Hang tried to convince her mother and hoped that she would be reassured and support her daughter's dream.
"Traveling alone, I can stop wherever I like. There are places that make me feel so relaxed and comfortable that I want to sit for a few hours, just to take pictures and admire everything.
When I go in a group, I often chat with my friends. But when I go alone, I am more proactive, more curious, and can easily start conversations with locals and strangers on the street," Hang said.
4 months of attachment to sunny and windy Vinh Hy
The female tourist drove her motorbike from Hanoi to Binh Thuan . Some places she only stopped for a few days, some places she stayed longer, like when she volunteered at a farm in Da Nang, or when she was sick with a fever for a few days in Phu Yen.
After more than a month of traveling, Hang arrived in Ninh Thuan , a land she visited in 2022. When arriving at Vinh Hy, a small fishing village surrounded by mountains and forests, Hang felt like she wanted to stay and experience this place longer. She planned to stay here for 5-7 days.
"Everyone in the village is very nice," Hang said.
February to October is the ideal time to travel to Vinh Hy.
From where Hang lives, looking to the right is a stream that flows day and night. After the rain, this place "transforms" into a white waterfall. In front is the famous dolphin cape of Vinh Hy Bay.
Every day Hang wakes up to the sound of birds chirping in the garden and falls asleep gently to the sound of a babbling brook.
The scene right where Hang stayed in Vinh Hy
Hang remembers clearly that right at the entrance to the village, there was a woman selling delicious fish cake sandwiches, rice noodles, and grilled pork vermicelli. Every time she came to eat and ordered a cup of gum tragacanth (a type of tree with a sweet and refreshing taste), she would say: "Squeeze an orange for this girl too."
Walking around the village, Hang often saw children carrying guavas, leisurely eating and playing. She often asked: “Do you want to exchange guavas for candy, kids?” The whole group enthusiastically rushed over. Those moments made the female tourist love this simple land even more.
Then the landlord of the place where Hang rented a room made an offer: "Why don't you stay and work for me? I really need people."
"I nodded and officially started living nomadically," Hang said. In addition to working at the campsite in Vinh Hy, Hang tried her hand at leading tours for tourists. With her photography skills, the Hanoi girl quickly became "full of work."
Working in tourism in Vinh Hy, a Hanoi girl meets many new friends
“The place I live is exactly what I dreamed of, but life is not just about enjoying. Every day I wake up, I have to complete fixed jobs to make ends meet.
I also suffered health shocks or after the death of a small dog that I had become attached to like a friend when I came to Vinh Hy. That was the first time I raised a dog, so the dog's death haunted me," Hang said.
“There was a time when I wanted to return to Hanoi, when I encountered several problems at the same time, a car accident and an ‘economic crisis’. But I chose to face it, seeing it as an opportunity to become stronger,” Hang said.
Luckily, she lives near the sea and the stream, so whenever she is stressed, the 9X girl chooses to swim in the sea, go for a walk in the stream or forest, or simply lie in the sun.
The beach tourism season ended, the weather turned erratic and rainy, and the income from tourism was no longer stable, so Hang decided to leave.
Before leaving, Hang had the opportunity to experience the Kate ceremony of the Cham people in Phan Rang - Thap Cham, and returned to Phu Yen to join her friends on a trekking trip to Mui Doi - considered the first place to welcome the sunrise on mainland Vietnam.
Hang experiences the Kate ceremony of the Cham people in Phan Rang - Thap Cham
4 months in peaceful Mang Den
In October, Hang drove away from the sunny and windy coastal area to the Central Highlands. She decided to stay for a long time in Mang Den - a pristine and peaceful land.
"I often hear people say: Mang Den is the second Da Lat, the Da Lat of 10 years ago or that Mang Den is very sad, there is nothing. But after living and experiencing 4 months here, I see that both of the above are not true," Hang said.
"I had a little difficulty coming here during the Central Highlands monsoon season. Many nights lying in my room, I could still hear the wind whistling," Hang said.
For Hang, Mang Den is not only beautiful but also has many interesting things.
The pace of life in Mang Den is very slow. Hang has learned to adapt and enjoy it. She cooks and reads under the pine trees. On cold days, she covers herself with a blanket and sleeps, allowing herself to rest after the long journey.
If in the summer in Vinh Hy, Hang went swimming to keep fit, then in Mang Den, Hang switched to jogging. The straight roads in the middle of the primeval forest made her feel like nature was running with her.
During her days in the Central Highlands, Hang lived slowly but not boredly.
Hang admits that there were times when she was "empty-pocketed". She did many different jobs, not fixed: taking photos, leading tours, setting up tents, making coffee, cleaning rental houses... as long as she had the expenses to maintain a life "close to nature" longer.
Hang experiences and learns about the lives of 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 lucky to witness the most beautiful cherry blossom season in many years.
After 8 months of wandering, the girl got on the bus and returned to Hanoi to celebrate Tet with her family. Hang crossed the Truong Son road with its winding, zigzagging, wild and majestic sections. Sometimes she drove hundreds of kilometers without seeing a single house.
After the Tet holiday, Minh Hang continued her journey to the Northeastern and Northwestern provinces.
Nomadic life is not all rosy, but Hang feels she has received invaluable experiences.
It was not until May 2025 that Hang officially returned to work in Hanoi with new inspiration and energy.
"A year of traveling across Vietnam and living nomadically helped me learn to listen to my heart, practice living in the present, face my 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: NVCC - 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
Comment (0)