Minh traveled by tricycle through 32 provinces and cities before his birthday as a gift to himself after a long battle with an illness that left him in a wheelchair.
At the age of 12, Phan Vu Minh (32 years old, Vinh Long) was diagnosed as the second case in the country with spinal vascular malformation, which currently has no cure. At the age of 20, the disease became more severe, Minh could not walk and has been using a wheelchair since then. He had to put his studies on hold, leave Ho Chi Minh City and return to his hometown so that his parents could support him.
After more than 10 years in a wheelchair, Minh has gotten used to his current life and is selling ornamental plants to earn an income. In 2017, he took his first long trip since being in a wheelchair to Bac Lieu and then to other provinces and cities. "If I have a short trip, I go for a week, if I have a longer trip, it can be a month. I want to go to see and explore many new lands, to make up for the long time I was tied down by illness," Minh said.
Phan Vu Minh and the three-wheeled motorbike used for traveling.
Minh’s vehicle for each trip is a three-wheeled motorbike made by a friend from his mechanical engineering class. Initially, his parents were worried when they learned that he intended to travel far away alone. However, understanding the difficult times their son had gone through, they agreed to let him fulfill his long-delayed wish. After Minh returned home safely many times with a positive mental state, his parents completely trusted and supported his decision to travel.
In early July this year, Minh took a 20-day cross-country trip (July 3-23) before his 32nd birthday, passing through 32 provinces and cities. This was the longest and farthest trip of Minh's life. Because he needed someone to help him with his daily activities and transportation, his nephew was Minh's companion. However, throughout the journey, he was the driver.
Minh had planned the trip 3 months in advance, from the detailed itinerary, accommodation, clothes, personal belongings to vehicle maintenance. Health is especially important when traveling. Minh exercised regularly every day to have the strength to fight the disease and complete this special trip.
Starting from Vinh Long, Minh traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, followed the coastal route to Hanoi. Then, he went to the northern mountainous provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen before returning home.
"Perhaps because I spent many years confining myself to my own limits, when I go out, I love all the places I go through. Mountains, seas, rivers, sun and wind in the highlands or plains all have their own beauty. The cuisine is also extremely rich and has the typical flavors of each region," he said.
What touched Minh was that wherever he went, he received a lot of love and help from the locals. There were meals where the restaurant owner did not charge, and some people gave him take-away drinks.
A memorable event for Minh was when he encountered a serious accident while going downhill in Ha Giang. The pass was steep, with a deep abyss on one side, and the car was going downhill at a high speed, so Minh had to continuously apply the brakes, leading to brake failure. With many years of experience in backpacking, Minh was able to handle the situation. To go downhill safely, after driving a short distance, he stopped the car, used a bottle to collect water flowing from the mountain crevice to pour into the engine and brake assembly to cool it down before continuing.
When Minh arrived in Dong Van town, a person who recognized him through news and social networks helped him build a tank of cool water to run down to the brake cluster to dissipate heat and prevent brake failure. Thanks to that, Minh traveled more comfortably and safely the following distance. "Although they were just strangers, their affection and enthusiastic help made me feel warm," he said.
Minh also encountered some difficulties such as drowsiness when driving long distances, and fatigue when traveling for a long time in the sun and rain. In particular, he could not sit for long to avoid ulcers on his lower body, so he had to calculate the appropriate travel time and find a place to spread out a carpet to rest temporarily.
The cost of the trip is about 30 million VND. Since the main purpose is backpacking, eating and sleeping are quite simple. Minh often chooses restaurants along the way to avoid having to move around much, staying at hotels and motels where he can enjoy the natural scenery the next morning. He limits driving at night, especially when he has to go through mountain passes or bumpy roads.
When he set foot on new lands, seeing the majesty of the Northwest mountains and forests or the romantic beauty of the coastal strips, he felt that his efforts and determination to make the trip were well rewarded.
Minh hopes to spread positive energy to people in similar situations, giving them a different perspective on life. "I don't sit still and accept the disadvantages. I want to prove that despite my disability, I can still do anything as long as I have enough passion and courage," Minh said.
Minh has visited 45 provinces and cities across the country. He aims to get an international driving license so he can drive himself to Cambodia to visit a friend who was in rehab with him. "But first, I will continue to explore the S-shaped strip of land of Vietnam," Minh said.
Quynh Mai
Photo courtesy of NVCC
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