60-year-old man "crosses Vietnam" with old motorbike and 8 types of medicine every day

Cross Vietnam with 8 types of medicine every day

Mr. Pham Son, retired, living in Ha Long City ( Quang Ninh ), has just experienced a memorable journey across Vietnam at the age of 60. This is a trip he has cherished for many years and carefully prepared for many months.

"Previously, I had been on business trips to different countries and passed through many provinces and cities in Vietnam. But there are also some provinces and cities in the Southwest that I have not had the opportunity to visit, such as Ca Mau , Kien Giang... When I retire and have time, I will go there," said Mr. Son.

To have a complete trip, Mr. Son spent 6 months planning and preparing carefully. He even made a "test" trip on the route Ha Long (Quang Ninh) - Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) - Lang Son and a trip to Da Nang in 6 days with a distance of 2,300km.

Mr. Son traveled across Vietnam on the motorbike that has been with him since his humble beginnings (Photo: Character's Facebook).

Around mid-February, Mr. Son set off across Vietnam, accompanied by his nearly 30-year-old Viva motorbike, which had been with him since his humble beginnings, along with a full luggage of "medicine for people, oil for vehicles, blood pressure monitor for people, tire pressure gauge, first aid kit for people, repair tools for vehicles".

He revealed that he lives with a series of underlying diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, blood fat, varicose veins... and has to take up to 8 types of medicine every day, but is always full of enthusiasm for the trip.

"I even bring a kettle and medicinal leaves to boil and drink every day," he shared.

Mr. Son's journey across Vietnam is nearly 5,700km long. He chose his own unique route - "going along the border, returning along the sea". He said he wanted to follow the border route and return along the coastal routes to be able to "embrace" his beloved homeland.

For Mr. Son, the old motorbike is a companion, an important factor in the trip (Photo: Facebook character).

Every day, Mr. Son drives his motorbike about 430km. Some days, he drives up to 570km before resting. Choosing to travel across Vietnam during the rainy season, Mr. Son is also mentally prepared to face unfavorable weather. He sets a rule of not driving at night, always ending the journey at 6pm every day.

Memories of a forgotten wallet

Mr. Son said that traveling alone during the rainy season also caused him many difficulties. However, this weather also gave him unforgettable memories.

On the 11th day of his journey, Mr. Son arrived at the hotel in Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen) when it was dark and pouring rain. The next morning, when he was getting on his motorbike and getting ready to leave, it rained again, hindering his progress.

At that moment, a hotel employee ran after him and gave him back his wallet that he had left on the bed. The wallet contained not only money and personal documents, but also all of Mr. Son’s blood pressure medication for the next 5 days.

"If it hadn't rained, I probably would have gone. The trip helped me meet many kind people. It was a small memory but enough to make me remember it forever," Mr. Son shared.

In total, Mr. Son's journey across Vietnam lasted 13 days, with 6 days of departure and 7 days of return. One day he stayed at a relative's house in Ho Chi Minh City.

When asked how the journey has changed him, he replied simply: "Confidence, easy acceptance of everything in life, good or bad, and makes me ready to continue a new journey."

Mr. Son at Ghenh Da Dia (Phu Yen) (Photo: Facebook character).

Mr. Son shared that during the nearly 2-week trip, he brought 10 million VND, and by the end of the trip he still had some left. His average daily expenses were about 600,000 VND, including gas, food and accommodation.

"The cost of the whole trip is equivalent to about a month of my pension, so I'm quite comfortable. Some nights I stay for 250,000 VND, some days it's more expensive at 300,000 VND. If there are 2 people, the trip will be even cheaper," said Mr. Son.

He said that his meals were simple and the main focus was on the experience of the trip. Other sightseeing and entertainment expenses were not too expensive.

He added that he has many underlying diseases, but his condition has been stable for the past 10 years. Every month, he regularly visits the doctor, has blood tests to monitor his health, takes regular medication, and follows the doctor's instructions. That's why he feels secure to embark on a cross-Vietnam trip.

"To travel, you need four things: passion, money, time, and health. Young people often lack money, middle-aged people lack time, and old people lack health. Passion is present at any age, and courage helps you overcome all shortages.

Whether to go or not depends not on the car or the wallet but on the heart. The important thing is that each person must understand their body and make appropriate choices, not overexert themselves, affecting their health," Mr. Son advised.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/nguoi-dan-ong-60-tuoi-xuyen-viet-voi-xe-may-cu-va-8-loai-thuoc-moi-ngay-20250521223757541.htm