Viet
Nam is undergoing a revolution of a different kind – more and more elderly
people with time on their hands are discovering, perhaps for the first time, the
joys of travel.

Broadening the mind: An elderly couple visit an orchid garden in Da Lat. Elders are finding that travelling helps broaden their outlook and invigorate their health. (Photos: VNS)

On a
recent bus trip from HCM City to Nha Trang I was flabbergasted to see that the
coach was half full not of teenage Western backpackers, but elderly Vietnamese,
many of whom were over 60 I later discovered.

Many of
the greying holiday makers were accompanied by their grandchildren, some were
travelling with their life-long partners, but more than a few of these
adventure-seekers were on their own – perhaps for the first time in their life.

Nguyen
Van Quy and his wife, who reside in District 3, HCM City, have been planning
their trip to the beach for months.

“Both of
us used to be teachers. We earned a meagre salary,” Quy said. “When we retired,
my children were just getting married. Then we had to help with looking after
their children. We had no time for ourselves. We are now both 63. For the first
time we are able to travel on our own, on a trip paid for by our children.”

And they
are not alone. According to travel agencies throughout the country, over the
last two years more and more elderly people are finding the time to go on
holiday and see the country of their birthplace. Some are even venturing
overseas.

Ha Van
Minh, 68, and his wife, Le Thi Bich Lieu, from Bien Hoa City, booked a tour to
visit the revered Ganges and many temples in India.

“We both
joined a yoga club near my house,” Lieu said. “After a long time, we decided
that it would be nice to see the rest of the world.”

Their
dreams did not come cheap. They or their children had to pay about VND50 million
(US$2,500). But they say the experience was worth it.

“We feel
happier and stronger, 10 years younger,” they say excitedly.

North of the border: An elderly man takes a photo of a couple on a tour to China.

Lieu can
barely contain her excitement when reliving her time in India. She said she rode
an elephant for the first time. The Madurai Temple was enchanting, and bathing
in the Ganges “magical”.

Meanwhile, Tran Van Hien and Thai Thi My from the southern province of Long An,
left their farm in the hands of their son while they went travelling.

They
spent two weeks in Cambodia. Bitten by the travel bug, they are now planning a
trip to Melbourne.

“I am
told that the scenery there in summer is wonderful,” Hien said, beaming. “I have
to take my wife there before we die.”

However,
sometimes the children are not too keen on their parents straying too far.

Hien
said her daughter was opposed to her travel plans. “Look at the people around
us. They are all saving money to buy land. No one sells land to travel.”

But when
they returned, Hien said her daughter was delighted to see how well she looked.

“This
time, ahead of our trip to Melbourne, they were very supportive. They even
insisted we have a health check first,” Hien said.

Health
consultant Hoang Duong, from the Hoang Nhan Psychology Consulting Centre, said
it was quite normal to see more and more elderly people travel as they become
more prosperous.

“I think
this is an encouraging trend,” he said. “Travelling helps to broaden the mind.
It’s healthy and invigorating.”

Lua Viet
and Saigontourist were among the first travel agencies to respond to this
growing trend.

Nguyen
Chung Thuy, from the Lua Viet travel agency, told Viet Nam News that her firm
first started offering tours to the elderly in 1999 – mainly as a perk to the
company’s staff on its anniversary.

She said
her firm now offers tailor-made tours for the elderly. “For such a tour, our
company chooses specially selected guides. Doctors also accompanythe
holiday-makers,” she said. “Normally, the tour group consists of no more than 25
travellers. That means the schedule is not too busy. We have to pay attention to
the small details. Car trips, for example, should not be longer than three
hours. Also too much walking should not be involved. We are also careful with
the cooking. Meals should be soft and easily digestible. Hotels should also have
lifts.”

Tran Thi
Nhan and her friend, Nguyen Thi Thuc, who are nearing 90, have been going on
annual holidays for the last 10 years.

“I have
travelled throughout the south with Lua Viet,” said Nhan. “Their tours are well-organised.
A doctor travels with us. The guides are also very knowledgeable and
enthusiastic.”

Nhan
said the director of Lua Viet even sometimes gives piggyback rides to
holidaymakers when they are tired.

Nguyen
Thanh Tra, who works for Saigontourist, said her firm had also seen growing
numbers of elderly holidaymakers booking tours in the last few years.

She said
about 10,000 elderly travellers used her firm last year – a 20 per cent increase
on the previous year.

She also
said the company had begun to offer tours to more distant locations for the more
adventurous tourist, such as holidays to Beijing, Seoul and Europe –
particularly in autumn. Domestically, she said old favourites such as Nha Trang,
Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Phan Thiet and tours to Con Dao, Hue city and Lam Dong were as
popular as ever.

But she
said no matter how exotic the destination, travellers always enjoyed coming
home. “I guess, home is where the heart is, she said.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News