Though his salary of VND5 million is very modest, Doan lives reasonably well in the big city of Hanoi and has time to travel, which is his passion.

“I spend half of my salary on tourism, and the other half for savings. In addition to my fixed monthly salary, I also get VND2.4 million in travel, food and accommodation allowances, as well as bonuses for special events and Tet holiday. That money is used to cover basic needs and for long-distance and long-term trips,” he said.

Doan told VietNamNet that before "falling in love" with mountaineering two years ago, he took many journeys through all the provinces and major cities of the country, including four trans-Vietnam trips on his motorbike. 

His latest trans-Viet journey was in early 2024. During the trip, Doan spent time climbing 20 hills and mountains in the south, raising the total number of mountains he has conquered to 60. He has climbed some of them several times, such as TaXua (five times), Lung Cung (three times), Ta Chi Nhu and Ky Quan San (twice).

After reaching the top of Pha Luong in Moc Chau and seeing the wonderful landscape, he vowed that he would climb even more.

“Every mountain has its own beauty. I am impressed by the majestic landscapes that God has bestowed on us,” he said.

Of the 60 mountains Doan has climbed, many are well-known, such as Fansipan in Sa Pa, Lao Cai (3,143 meters); Pu Si Lung in Muong Te, Lai Chau (3,080 meters); Pu Ta Leng in Tam Duong, Lai Chau (3,049 meters), and Ky Quan San in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province (3,046 meters). 

Of his many trips, he most remembers Ta Chi Nhu Mountain in Yen Bai in late 2022 when he brought medicine to a sick friend.

“My friend fell sick after he set foot on the mountain, and he couldn’t find any medicine. It was dark and I had originally planned to stay overnight in the town and climb the mountain the next morning. However, after I received a call from my friend, I decided to bring medicine to my friend at night,” Doan recalled.

Doan says he especially likes climbing on the weekends. If he has a long holiday, he plans several climbs during the trip.

Ha Nguyen