According to her ID card, Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyen in Thua Thien – Hue city province in central Vietnam is 120 years old. Relevant agencies are verifying her age to recognize Nguyen as the oldest Vietnamese person.

Mrs. Nguyet lives in Thuy Dien village, Phu Xuan commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien – Hue province. The locals call her “treasure” or “odd man” of their village because she is the only person who has lived through three centuries.

According to her ID card, which was issued on September 19 1979, Mrs. Nguyet was born in 1890 in Phu An commune, Huong Phu district, Binh Tri Thien province.

At the age of 120, Mrs. Nguyet can still walk around her home, chew betel and take care of herself. The trace of time is shown in her white hairs and wrinkles on her face, neck and hands.

Mrs. Nguyet has five children, including four sons who died and a daughter. She also has 11 paternal grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-great grandchildren. Her greatest wish is that her all her descendants be able to go to school.

Mr. Dao Van Doan, 44, Mrs. Nguyet’s grandson, said both Mrs. Nguyet and her husband, Mr. Dao Diet, are over 100 years old.

In his ID card, Mr. Dao Diet, born in 1909, is nearly 20 years younger than his wife. “My grandfather declared an age less than his real age to not have to join the army. Actually, he is only 5-6 years old younger than my grandmother. My grandmother is healthier than her husband,” said Doan.

According to the village chief, Tran Van Kham, Mrs. Nguyet often plays with children so children love her very much. Previously, she used to walk to visit her neighbors. Now neighbors go to visit her.

Everyday, Mrs. Nguyet’s four-generation family gathers for the dinner. Tran Thi Nguyen, 45, Mr. Doan’s wife, said Mrs. Nguyet takes two bowls of rice each meal with fish. Nguyen said Mrs. Nguyet only takes fish, which is netted from the Tam Giang lagoon.

“Fish from the lagoon is very delicious. I’ve eaten natural fish for years so I’m healthy. Frugal eating habits and living simply is my secret of long life,” Mrs. Nguyet said.

Local officials said that Mrs. Nguyet’s four sons died in the war. Her only daughter, Dao Thi Ly, is now over 80 years old.

Nguyen Bac, Phu Xuan commune’s chair, said according to documents archived by the local government, Mrs. Nguyet was born in 1890. The oldest people in the commune also confirmed that Mrs. Nguyet has lived through three centuries.

“We call her the treasure of our village because her four sons died for the country. She also a living history book of the village because she was born and grew up here. In 1994, the President presented her the title of “Vietnamese Heroic Mother”. We are proud of her!” Bac said.

Ngo Hoa, Vice Chair of Thua Thien-Hue province, said that if her age is verified, the province will propose the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to recognize Mrs. Nguyet as the oldest Vietnamese person.

Besides Mrs. Nguyet, Thua Thien-Hue province has Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chay who was born in 1897 in Phu Duong commune, Phu Vang district.

According to News Sky, one week before her 115^th birthday, Mrs. Kama Chinen, the world’s eldest person, passed away on Okinawa Island, Japan.

A French woman, Mrs. Eugenie Blandchard, 114 years old and 75 days, is now the world’s oldest person, followed by a British woman named Florence Emily Baldwin, 114 years old.

If Mrs. Nguyet’s ID card is verified, she will be the world’s oldest person because she is 120 years old.

PV