The secret to longevity of Vietnam's oldest twins.

Throughout their lives, the couple toiled tirelessly to raise their children to adulthood, then cared for their grandchildren so their children could focus on their work. It's difficult for anyone to understand what gives the twin sisters Vi Thi Dac and Vi Thi Cac (Dong Cam commune, Cam Khe district, Phu Tho province) the oldest people in Vietnam (103 years old) such remarkable vitality.

But if you meet and talk to the elderly and their children and grandchildren, you will understand that their longevity stems from a very simple philosophy: hard work, open-hearted love, and harmonious relationships with their descendants.

The two sisters, Mrs. Vi Thi Dac and Mrs. Vi Thi Cac

The house was always filled with laughter.

After numerous inquiries, we finally found Cam Chu village, Dong Cam commune, Cam Khe district, Phu Tho province. This is the village where Vi Thi Dac and Vi Thi Cac, the oldest twins in Vietnam, live. A middle-aged woman at the beginning of the village quickly directed us to the house of their youngest son, who lives with Vi Thi Dac. The house of the older twin sister, Vi Thi Cac, is a few dozen houses away. The villagers at the beginning of the village told us that no one knew the twins' names and that we should ask for their children's or grandchildren's names, or ask for the house of the oldest twin sisters, because no one knew their names.

The village of Cam Chu, located more than a hundred kilometers from Hanoi, would probably be little known if it weren't for the residence of the oldest twin sisters in Vietnam. According to local residents, the family is famous not only for their longevity but also for their long-standing tradition of filial piety. Even during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), many parents in the village bring their children along to visit the twin sisters and offer New Year greetings, hoping to hold their hands. They wish their children good health and good fortune!

We arrived at the home of Mr. Nguyen Van At, the youngest son of Mrs. Vi Thi Dac, right at lunchtime. Although there was a wedding in the family, Mr. At and his daughter were still home to prepare the meal and eat with Mrs. Dac. With the sincere and warm invitation from the whole family, we also had a small joy during our business trip: sharing a meal with them. It was a simple meal of boiled vegetables with soy sauce, fried tofu, and betel leaf rolls. But the meal was filled with gestures of care and affection among the family members.

Mr. Ất shared: "Because there was a joyous occasion in the family, my wife, son, and daughter-in-law had to go and help out. As a result, even though my daughter was home for the weekend, she still had to help with housework and sell goods at the shop. That's why, after cooking, the whole family had to tell my mother (Mrs. Đắc) to eat first. We were afraid she would be hungry, so we served her lunch first so she could rest during her midday break."

After the meal, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lien (Mr. Dac's granddaughter) happily showed us photos of the two elderly people. She showed us the photos and clearly explained the circumstances of each picture. Mr. At added: "When my mother celebrated her 90th birthday, Mr. Cac also wore a red outfit similar to my mother's. Many people who came to celebrate my mother's birthday went to congratulate her twin sister, mistaking her for Mr. Dac. Only close relatives could distinguish between Mr. Cac and Mr. Dac. Even neighbors who had known the two for a long time still made the mistake."

Two "living dictionaries" of Cam village.

We sat looking at the family photo album and waited for Mr. Dac to wake up from his afternoon nap. Around 1 PM, Mr. Dac sat up and chatted with us and his granddaughter. When asked about his life, he just smiled and said that now he only wants to live happily with his children and grandchildren, and enjoy the wedding treats from his granddaughter, whom he had cared for since she was a child. He also boasted about remembering some anonymous poems about Cam village. He recited: "The surrounding districts are high/ Only Cam Chu village is nestled in the rice paddies/ Looking through the scenery/ The population is also prosperous, the plantations are huge..." And then he concluded: "Do not scorn Cam Chu for its muddy soil/ Although it was a dangerous place in the Tran dynasty/ Although the land has only one season/ Cam village is blessed by Buddha and heaven for eternity" (The Story of Cam Village - an anonymous ancient poem about Cam Chu village).

Mr. Ất said that the elders in the village often came to ask the two elderly women to recite ancient poems from Cam Chú village. One of those poems is "The Story of Cam Chú Village." Although their eyesight is not as sharp as it used to be, their memories remain very clear.

When asked about the secret to their longevity, everyone in the couple's family affirmed that there was nothing special other than their cheerful nature and regular physical activity. Mr. Ất said: "Even though they lived to be over 100 years old, neither my mother nor my twin sister ever had a serious illness, at most just the flu or body aches due to the weather. When they were over 90, they still did quite a lot of work to help their children and grandchildren, such as gardening, picking vegetables, babysitting, and doing laundry... They weren't addicted to anything except chewing betel nut. Their diet was very simple: three meals a day. Breakfast was usually a bowl of porridge. Lunch and dinner were two full bowls of rice each. In addition, they ate mainly fruits grown at home, such as bananas and oranges..."

In the past, the couple worked hard as laborers around the village, returning home late at night to quickly plant and harvest in their own field. Yet, they still managed to earn enough potatoes and cassava to feed their children. They have maintained that hardworking and resilient nature until now. Even in their old age, they still make sure to eat two bowls of rice each day to please their children and grandchildren.

The granddaughter shared that even when they were over 80, the two elderly women never wanted their children or grandchildren to do anything for them. Although her grandmother is now over 100 years old and can only walk around the house, she still does all her personal hygiene tasks herself without needing help from her children or grandchildren. However, her twin sister, Ms. Vi Thi Cac, can still walk around, and even goes to the garden to pick vegetables and helps her children with housework during busy harvest seasons or when her children and grandchildren are away. Occasionally, Ms. Cac even goes to her twin sister's house to chat. "My whole family doesn't understand what the two of them talk about. But every time Ms. Cac comes over to visit and chat, we sometimes hear laughter coming from inside," Ms. Lien said.

We left carrying with us the warm feelings from the elderly couple and their family. I still vividly remember what Mrs. Vi Thi Dac said to us as we were leaving: "Whenever you have the chance to pass through Cam village, please stop by and visit me!" I hope that the couple will always be strong and resilient like the bamboo and rattan trees in this midland region.

Source: Nguoiduatin