Thanh Son has left the busy Hanoi centre to live in the suburbs
In 2019, feeling suffocated by Hanoi's crowded streets, polluted air, and hectic lifestyle, Thanh Son and his wife, Phuong Mai, made a bold decision: they left the city to embrace a slower, nature-filled life in the suburbs.
Their decision felt even more justified recently, as air quality levels in Hanoi have consistently ranked among the worst in the world, posing serious health risks.
Thanh Son, 38, and 34-year-old Phuong Mai live with their three children in Son Tay Town, about 40km from downtown Hanoi.
From city hustle to countryside serenity
Years ago, Son and Mai met at a gym in Hanoi. After getting married, they focused on investments and business ventures instead of purchasing a house, choosing to rent apartments across Ba Dinh and Dong Da districts.
However, frequent relocations became frustrating. "Every time we settled in, the landlord would sell the property, forcing us to move again," Mai recalled. By their final move in 2019, exhausted by the city's pollution and relentless pace, they decided to relocate to Son's parents' home on the outskirts.
The choice wasn't easy. Son, then a director of an interior design company, and Mai, a fashion designer, knew it meant giving up their city jobs. Their friends and family were shocked by the decision.
To adapt to suburban life, Son shifted to landscape design, creating ponds, gardens, and plant pots, while Mai transitioned to remote work, selling flight tickets and travel packages. This career shift allowed Mai more flexibility to care for their children and support her husband's projects.
Initially, adjusting was difficult. With few friends around, nights fell silent by 8 pm. But over time, they grew to love the tranquillity.
A dream home in the countryside
Today, Son and Mai's home sits on a 3,500-square-metre plot surrounded by lush greenery. Although Son's parents built the house, the couple personally designed and landscaped the property over the past six years.
They gradually transformed the space with limited funds, preserving fruit trees while planting new flowers and crops from seeds to cut costs.
"We invested more effort and sweat than money into this garden," Mai shared.
Their simpler lifestyle means lower expenses. "We no longer spend on movies, cafés, restaurants, or shopping malls. Instead, we enjoy community activities and village events," Mai said.
"For years, I dreamed of a home with a lush garden and a fish pond, a place to relax after a long day. We're making it a reality through years of hard work," Son added.
Raising children closer to nature
Since moving, their children transferred from private schools to public schools just 5-10 minutes away. While they now have less access to premium education and healthcare services, Mai sees this as an opportunity.
She guides her children's learning, encouraging self-study and online education tools.
Beyond academics, the children enjoy hands-on experiences, such as playing football in the yard, riding bikes, feeding fish and geese, growing vegetables, and watering plants.
"These are valuable life skills they'd never have in the city," Mai noted.
Another massive relief for the family is health, with cleaner air, their children rarely fall sick.
For Son and Mai, leaving the city was more than a lifestyle change; it was a step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
