Asked by his wife about his health and the trip, Van confidently replied, "I feel bit tired, but it is not serious. The trip was very enjoyable, still exciting and full of memorable experiences like the first two trips."

This was the third consecutive year that Van did not spend New Year's holiday at home but chose to travel through the holiday instead. In the previous two years, Nhung accompanied him during the trip, but she decided to stay at home this Tet because of the recurrence of arthritis.

Two years ago, the family had a memorable trip which lasted 14 days, during which they traveled 5,500 kilometers with the goal of conquering the Ta Xua 'Dinosaur Spine'. At that time, Van, then 80, together with his two sons followed a 1.5 kilometer trail to Ta Xua Mount on rented motorbikes. Many sections of the road clung to the cliffs, all rocky and rugged, without barriers. Many other sections were very narrow, less than 1 meter wide.

"My spouse and I once traversed Vietnam and even traveled to Cambodia by motorbike. We closed our eyes from fear sitting behind local riders. But my father remained brave and never complained of fatigue. His optimistic spirit, resilience and love for travel impress us deeply," said Duong Dinh Thinh, Van's son-in-law, 43, a photographer in HCM City.

In 2024, the 7-member family took the second trans-Viet trip, 5,000 kilometers long. Unlike the previous trip, they visited fewer points, but spent more time at each destination to discover local landscapes and specialties.

This year, they had a 10-day trip with visits to Quy Nhon, Hue, Nghe An, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam and Dak Lak. They spent time to discover Cao Bang.

"We once traveled to Cao Bang in 2023 and spent time at the New Lunar Year Eve in the border city. Cao Bang is extremely beautiful. Its pristine and majestic beauty prompted us to come back. This year, my children took me to two main spots: Ba Quang grass hill and Mat Than mountain," Van recalled.

Recently, Ba Quang burning grass hill (Vinh Quy hill) in Ha Lang in Cao Bang has become a popular destination for tourists seeking its untamed beauty that changes each season.

From May to October, the hill is green, offering a fresh and cool atmosphere. From October to January, the grass turns yellow, painting a romantic scene that's perfect for photography from any position.

However, it is difficult to reach the Ba Quang hill peak because travelers have to travel a difficult section. It takes young and healthy people 15-20 minutes to reach the peak. Van could manage to reach the peak without any difficulty.

"Contrary to our worries, Dad met no trouble when climbing the hill. He moved slowly, rested when tired, and continued without any help from us," Thinh explained. 

"While young people need 15 minutes to reach the peak, I need 30 minutes and everything is okay,” he said, explaining that he keeps up with daily physical exercise, including 30 minutes of walking.

Though it was a bit gloomy on that day and there was little sunshine, the family was still impressed with the beauty of Ba Quang burning grass hill. It was a wonderful experience for Van and his children and grandchildren on the first day of Tet. They stayed at a homestay on the grass hill and enjoyed local dishes.

"Cao Bang is not only beautiful but also has a very unique culture, attractive cuisine and friendly people. On the way, we passed a Nung ethnic people’s village. The people were excitedly celebrating Tet. When I stopped the car and greeted them, everyone warmly welcomed me. It felt so cozy. I think this is a great opportunity for my children to learn more about the cultural diversity of 54 ethnic groups," Van said.

Given his extensive experience with cross-country trips, Van's journey with his family went smoothly. 

Reflecting on their adventures, he recalled: "During our first New Year trip across Vietnam, there were moments when we had to eat instant noodles as many restaurants were closed. This year, we found many service establishments open throughout the New Year, which made our journey much easier.”

“In the second trip, we had a memorable incident when our car got stuck in the sand in Tuy Phong (Binh Thuan). This year, equipped with more experience, our journey was very smooth," Van added with satisfaction.

Linh Trang