Taking my U60 mother on a motorbike trip to Cambodia

“The whole trip, my mother smiled because she was always curious, exploring everything like I was when I first went backpacking. She asked questions that I didn't know how to answer.”

For Huy, going out with his mother is not boring at all, but it is an opportunity for the two of them to understand each other and become closer - Photo: NVCC

That is what Huynh Hoang Huy (28 years old), living in Ho Chi Minh City, shared when talking about his journey of more than 1,000km with his mother to explore Cambodia.

Travel by motorbike to freely explore

After short trips to Vung Tau, Phan Thiet or Ca Mau..., Huy made a bold decision to invite his mother (56 years old) to accompany him on a trip of more than 1,000km to Cambodia. Cambodia is where Huy's mother spent her youth, and returning to this country is also her dream.

Once decided, let's go. The plan for the long trip was quickly carried out by Huy and his mother. The only thing that worried Huy was his mother's health.

"In 2021, my mother had a motorbike accident so her health was weaker. She sat on a motorbike for a long time, I was also afraid of the impact, especially her collarbone was broken due to the accident, and there were screws and splints inside the bone to fix it.

Although I know that driving a motorbike with my mother for more than 1,000km is quite dangerous, with many years of experience driving motorbikes on backpacking trips and taking safe driving courses, I try to drive and handle the situation as safely as possible," Huy confided.

Huy divided the routes into small sections to make them easier to explore and less tiring for mom - Photo: NVCC

Instead of going all the way, Huy and his mother divided the route into small stages and constantly asked about his mother's condition. Not only did Huy choose the time to make the trip when his mother was in the best health and spirit, he also carefully prepared to bring all the necessary medicines for his mother.

This special trip lasts for 4 days and 3 nights with the following route: Ho Chi Minh City - Hiep Binh international border gate (Long An) - Phnom Penh capital - Kampot - Battambang and vice versa.

Huy and his mother chose motorbikes as their means of transportation because they wanted to have a more complete experience during the trip, to be able to enjoy the sun and wind, stop anywhere and go to places that cars cannot go.

What impressed the mother and daughter most in Cambodia were the majestic religious architecture and the affection of the local people - Photo: NVCC

"My mother and I were most worried about the route, because we followed Google Maps 100% of the time, so we were afraid of getting lost. Luckily, my mother also knew a little Cambodian, so communication was easy at the Cambodian border and during the days we wandered around," Huy said with a laugh.

To have more time to explore, Huy researched delicious dishes for the mother and son in advance such as: Phnom Penh specialty Nam Vang noodles, spicy Cambodian fried noodles, fish curry noodles, Cambodian family rice and super unique Cambodian Thai hot pot.

"I have also traveled across Vietnam before. Especially when conquering the four great mountain passes in the Northwest, I felt "wow, the mountain scenery is so majestic!". But on this trip, I received peace and gentleness with the sparse stilt houses and vast fields of Cambodia", Huy shared.

Backpacking is also an opportunity for mother and child to enjoy delicious food at each destination - Photo: NVCC

Go to understand mother better

"The whole trip, my mother smiled because she was always curious, exploring everything like me when I first traveled: "There's so much land, why is no one here?"; "The road is so deserted, will you ever get robbed?"

"The questions that I didn't know how to answer either, so the mother and son both laughed happily," Huy recalled.

Before, Huy had never taken his mother on a motorbike trip that was more than 100km long. But after the trip, when he saw his mother's smiles, Huy realized that he needed to change to understand his mother better. Remembering when he was young, Huy was taken by his mother to the places he wanted to go, no matter how far. Now it was time for him to give back those feelings to his mother.

Taking his mother on a backpacking trip is Huy's way of showing his love and sharing his passion with his mother - Photo: NVCC

The 4-day, 3-night journey was not a long time, but it was enough for this 9X guy to put aside all the pressures of life and open up more to his mother. He thought that telling his mother about everyday matters would not solve them, but during the trip, his mother became a friend who listened to Huy's "normal" stories.

"Taking my mother on a backpacking trip is also something I want to inspire young people to do. Going with my mother, the nature of the trip is also much different than going with friends or a lover.

People often think that traveling with the elderly will be difficult because of many differences, but I find it wonderful. You guys should try taking your parents on a motorbike trip once. I believe you will like it," Huy confided.

The next journey that Huy wants to experience with his mother is to explore the "land of a million elephants" through Bo Y border gate (Kon Tum) with a 6-day, 5-night journey.

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