Hanoi man spends billions of dong to turn car into mobile home

(Dan Tri) - Passionate about traveling, Mr. Son spent more than a billion dong to buy a TV car and convert it into a mobile home, taking his wife and children on vacation every weekend.

At 7 a.m., Mr. Nguyen Son opened the door of his television van, which he bought nearly a year ago, to give it a thorough cleaning after a memorable trip with his wife and children to Da Trang Pass (Tan Lac, Hoa Binh ) last weekend.

"I'm cleaning up my car to prepare for my trip to Hai Phong on April 30th," said Son, carefully wiping down each wall, the kitchen area, the shelves, and every little corner inside the car.

This unique vehicle is fully equipped like a miniature apartment. Inside, there's a bed, kitchen, refrigerator, toilet, table and chairs, TV, and even a washing machine and dryer – all neatly and efficiently arranged to accommodate long family trips.

"It took me almost six months to transform the vehicle into the mobile home it is today," Sơn said.

A man in Hanoi spends over a billion VND to transform his car into a mobile home (Video: Nguyen Ngoan).

The dream started with YouTube videos.

Sơn recounts that the idea for a "mobile home" was conceived more than 10 years ago, when he was an IT guy constantly glued to his computer. He was immediately fascinated by vanlife videos – life in a camper van – from foreign YouTubers.

"They live, work, travel, and enjoy themselves in their own vehicles. I really admired that, but at the time, circumstances didn't allow it, so I had to settle for a pickup truck for outdoor adventures."

"Tents had to be set up, portable air conditioners were bulky, and sometimes I couldn't even manage a nap in the midday sun," he said with a laugh. The experience was still quite inconvenient, especially for families with young children. His wife and children found it difficult to come along because living conditions were so lacking.

Mr. Son cleaned up his car before heading to Hai Phong with his family for the holidays.

He considers himself a "true camper"—avid travelers to deserted islands, kayaking, and sleeping in tents amidst nature. These survival experiences further fueled his dream of building his own camper van.

From 2018 to 2019, when his finances were more stable, he started repairing his first vehicles, initially old cargo vans. He spent several hundred million dong, repairing them 3-4 times, then taking them apart and rebuilding them again, but he was still not satisfied.

After the van, he modified a trailer for travel, but because this model wasn't popular in Vietnam and obtaining permits was difficult, he had to sell it. From then on, he decided he had to build an independent vehicle with all the amenities of a mini-apartment, but one that could operate on the road.

Mr. Son's car is like a miniature apartment, and he occasionally hosts friends for visits in this very car.

The TV station's van was modified into a "dream home".

In June 2024, Mr. Son successfully bid on a decommissioned television broadcasting vehicle with only 5,000 km on the odometer, still in relatively good condition, for 470 million VND. That was the initial "framework" for him to transform it into a mobile home.

From the moment he brought the car home – when it was just a bare shell with only the air conditioner and steel frame – he discussed it thoroughly with his wife and children. Fortunately, the whole family not only agreed but also enthusiastically participated.

"My wife used to object, saying I was crazy. But ever since the car was finished, she's made up her mind: We'll only sleep in the car, no more homestays!", he laughed.

He brought his wife and children along to contribute ideas to every design detail. The whole family went on many test drives, sitting in the car imagining what their future "home" would look like. That was also part of the journey of creating their dream living space together.

This third vehicle is the largest and most satisfying version for him. Unlike many camper enthusiasts who usually start with a small vehicle and gradually upgrade, he confidently believes this is the "ideal version"—spacious, easy to operate, not bulky, and more fuel-efficient than larger models.

The vehicle is fully equipped with electrical systems, air conditioning, air fresheners, a refrigerator, and sleeping berths.

All the switches, windows, electrical systems, refrigerators, etc., were imported and installed by Mr. Son himself. Only the interior furniture was completed by a company in Hung Yen. Based on the experience accumulated from previous car models, he only needed a few hours to sketch out the entire design. However, the construction process lasted for 6 months because he did almost everything by hand.

"With a professional workshop and a few extra workers, it would probably only take a little over a month. But I prefer to do it slowly and meticulously, because this is a place where the whole family will be together for a long time," he shared.

In terms of technical systems, he divided the car into two parts: electrical and interior.

The electrical components, including lithium batteries (20-30kWh), a solar charger, solar panels on the roof, and a 48V-12V inverter, are powerful enough to operate two air conditioners, two refrigerators, a lighting system, and a separate washer-dryer.

"Even imported cars worth tens of billions of dong would struggle to have electrical systems suitable for Vietnam's climate like the ones I built myself," he said proudly.

The interior is meticulously designed like a miniature apartment: induction hob, gas stove, toilet imported from the US, washbasin, kitchen sink, and a three-compartment water system (clean water - grey water - black water). Since his family has five people, the vehicle is designed with two separate beds, along with a sofa – all fixed beds, not convertible beds or tables because "it's both inconvenient and cumbersome for long trips."

"The interior of the vehicle is 10 square meters wide and 3.3 meters high," Mr. Son said.

Mr. Son designed a toilet on the vehicle, fully equipped to serve his family's trip.

The most unique feature is that both the washing machine and dryer are integrated into the vehicle. After showering, anyone can put their clothes in to wash and dry them seamlessly, just as conveniently as at home. "To achieve that, the electrical system must be extremely powerful and stable," he emphasized.

Most of the equipment in the vehicle is specialized, even though at first glance it resembles household furniture. From the washbasin and toilet to the air conditioner and refrigerator, everything is imported, lightweight, vibration-resistant, and heat-resistant. The interior wood is handcrafted by him in Vietnam, while the specialized accessories are mainly imported from China – even American goods are often sourced through that country because of the more reasonable costs.

The cost of repairing the vehicle – from materials, interior, electrical system to labor – amounted to approximately 600 million VND. He believes this is a "worthwhile" price because he received a true mobile home in return.

Since completing the vehicle in December 2024, his family has made dozens of trips, almost every week. His passion is so strong that he bought a plot of land over 1,000 square meters in the Deo Da Trang area to park the vehicle, relax on weekends, and host gatherings for friends.

"Before, my wife preferred staying home, cooking, and cleaning; she wasn't interested in traveling. Now, she just wants to get in the car. The kids are thrilled, and all I need to do is start the engine and I'm ready to go," he said excitedly.

For Mr. Son, the car is not simply a means of travel, but has become a part of his lifestyle. This small house helps his family become closer, connecting through moments spent wandering amidst nature.

On weekends when they have free time, Mr. Son's whole family goes on trips together to experience new things.

One thing he really likes about mobile homes is that you don't need to prepare so much every time you go somewhere. Previously, when using a pickup truck, each trip was a whole day of preparation – from tents, blankets, pillows, toothbrushes, water, air conditioning, to flashlights… But now, you can just go whenever you want.

Regarding food, Mr. Son never brings ready-made meals from Hanoi. Whether he's going back to his hometown, to the mountains, or to the beach, he always finds much fresher and tastier food there. He only brings spices, because everything else is already in his car.

From someone once considered "eccentric," Mr. Son has now become the "captain" of endless journeys of discovery. For him, the car is not just a means of transportation, but a true home – a place to live, love, and be free. Such trips not only bring new experiences to the children, but also help the whole family bond.

At home, the family sometimes argues, but every trip is filled with joy. It's not just for travel; sometimes the family changes things up by sleeping in the car instead of staying in the apartment as usual.

Photo: Nguyen Ngoan - Thanh Ha

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/nguoi-dan-ong-ha-noi-chi-ca-ty-dong-bien-o-to-thanh-nha-di-dong-20250416081815365.htm