Hong Nhat and his wife Kieu Phuong, both from Hanoi, have shared a passion for travel and road trips for years.
The couple first embarked on a cross Vietnam driving journey in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when organised tours faced heavy restrictions.
“At first, we simply thought driving ourselves would give us more flexibility,” Nhat said.
“But after that first trip, the whole family completely fell in love with this way of travelling.”
Since then, the family has made annual cross country journeys together. This year, however, marked a different experience as the couple and their children spent eight days travelling through central Vietnam in a specially designed mobile home.
This was the first time Nhat's family travelled in a "mobile home" (Photo: Provided by the family).
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Nhat said he became fascinated with mobile homes after repeatedly spotting them on the road during previous trips.
The vehicle was essentially a pickup truck fitted with a foldable living module mounted on the cargo bed, transforming into a compact living and sleeping space when opened.
During the April 30 holiday period, Nhat decided to turn the idea into reality. The family rented the mobile home for VND 13 million (approximately USD 500) for their eight day journey across central Vietnam.
“With a mobile home, we no longer had to worry about booking accommodation or sticking to fixed schedules,” he said. “Wherever we liked, we simply stopped and stayed.”
Nhat's family spent eight days on the road in central Vietnam (Photo: Provided by the family).
The vehicle was designed like a compact apartment, featuring a sleeping area with a large bed measuring roughly 1.75 metres by 1.9 metres, along with a small table and seating area for reading or working.
Despite its limited size, the vehicle also included a private toilet, multiple storage compartments and enough space for clothing, daily necessities and photography equipment.
“What impressed me most was how intelligently everything had been designed,” Nhat said.
“The vehicle had air conditioning, a refrigerator, a rice cooker, lighting systems and ventilation fans, almost everything needed for a family of four.”
Outside, the vehicle was equipped with a water hose for washing or rinsing off after swimming, along with an automatic awning that quickly created an outdoor camping space.
Nhat admitted he initially struggled to drive the large vehicle.
“My biggest concern was whether it could handle steep slopes or difficult terrain,” he said.
“But once I got used to it, the feeling became incredibly exciting because I was carrying both my house and my family everywhere.”
Wherever they stopped, the family of four ate, relaxed and played there (Photo: Provided by the family).
Eight days living on the road
According to Nhat, daily life inside the mobile home felt completely different from conventional tourism.
Whenever the family stopped, the vehicle instantly became a small house surrounded by nature. They often chose quiet beaches for overnight stays.
“In the mornings, I would visit local markets or fishing docks to buy seafood, then cook it right beside the vehicle,” he said.
“We would swim, come back and eat together. At night, we slept inside the vehicle and woke up to the sunrise right outside the door.”
Within just two days, the family had fully adapted to life on the road.
“Whenever it was time to stop, everyone automatically knew their role, setting up tables and chairs, preparing food or cleaning up,” he said.
“In just 15 minutes, we could turn an empty patch of land into a complete living and dining area.”
The "mobile home" had enough facilities to make daily life convenient for a family of four (Photo: Provided by the family).
One of the family’s most memorable nights came while camping on Cu Vo Peak in Quang Tri.
The family had dinner beneath the moonlight beside giant wind turbines, surrounded only by the sound of wind and late night conversations.
The entire trip cost around VND 23 million (approximately USD 885), including the mobile home rental, fuel, tolls and food expenses.
Although more expensive than traditional travel, Nhat said the experience was worthwhile because of the freedom, flexibility and deeper connection it created.
“The greatest thing these trips bring us is memories and stronger family bonds,” he said.
From inside the vehicle, the family could admire the scenery through the windows (Photo: Provided by the family).
Children growing up through travel
Nhat said his two children had joined family road trips since they were aged three and five.
Initially, the couple worried long journeys might be exhausting or inconvenient for young children, but the children adapted more quickly than expected.
“At first, we packed far too many things because we were afraid of forgetting something,” he said.
“But after several trips, everything became natural. The children now absolutely love travelling.”
The children especially enjoyed reading books and drawing while lying on the bed inside the vehicle, with sea views visible directly through the windows.
“They say being inside the vehicle feels like home, except more exciting because the scenery changes every day,” Nhat added.
At times, when the vehicle reached a beautiful stretch of coast, the family would stop for a swim without any prior plan (Photo: Provided by the family).
Rather than trying to visit as many destinations as possible, the family preferred travelling spontaneously.
“If we liked a place, we stayed longer. Sometimes we even changed our plans completely,” he said.
“That kind of experience is impossible to find on package tours or flights between destinations.”
Nhat hopes his family will take a "mobile home" trip to the mountains of the north-west (Photo: Provided by the family).
After five years of road trips stretching from northern to southern Vietnam, the family still has no plans to stop exploring.
“Vietnam’s landscapes are incredibly diverse,” Nhat said.
“Every region has its own colours, its own people and its own stories. Wherever we go, we always feel there is still so much more left to discover.”