113-year-old woman still likes to live "independently"
(Baonghean.vn) - "A life of seventy years is rare in ancient times." Nowadays, living to 70 years old is no longer rare, but living to 113 years old like Mrs. Phan Thi Hai in Hamlet 7, Thanh Chi Commune, Thanh Chuong District is very rare. What's more special is that at this age, she still likes to live independently and doesn't want to bother her children and grandchildren in daily life.
With Mr. Nguyen Van Ty - Chairman of the Elderly Association of Thanh Chi commune, Thanh Chuong district, we visited Mrs. Phan Thi Hai (also known as Mrs. Dao) who is currently living with her youngest son, Hoang Van Suu, in Thuong Hoa hamlet.
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| The ID card of Ms. Phan Thi Hai (Ms. Dao) was established in 1973. Photo: Dinh Ha |
According to the citizen identification card number 147808/XP issued in 1973 by Thanh Chuong District Police, Mrs. Hai was born on March 7, 1906, and is 113 years old this year. Although she is old and her movements are a bit slow, her eyes are still bright, her ears are very clear, and she especially has an independent lifestyle, not wanting to bother anyone, including her children and grandchildren.
In the spacious house of the youngest son, the life story told by her, supplemented by her children and grandchildren, is clearly pieced together: She was born into a poor farming family in the alluvial area of Thanh Tan commune (now Vo Liet). From a young age, she followed the profession of growing mulberry and weaving, at the age of 19 married Mr. Nguyen Van Dao in Thanh Chi commune and gave birth to 3 sons.
Mr. Dao died early, she married a second husband, a man named Hoang who lived in the same village, and had two more sons. All five children grew up, joined the army and fought in the battlefields, and returned home safely. Now four have died of old age and illness. The eldest son, if still alive, would be 93 years old. She has 28 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren.
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| Mrs. Phan Thi Hai still cleans the house every day. Photo: Dinh Ha |
According to Mr. Hoang Van Suu - the youngest son who is currently living with her, she eats very simply, likes vegetables, occasionally eats meat and fish. Always stays up late and wakes up early and is diligent and hard-working.
Before she was 100 years old, she still worked in the fields with her daughter-in-law and rarely got sick. When she was sick, she only used traditional medicine and never took a single western medicine pill. Most importantly, she loved to live independently. Even though she was 113 years old, she still bathed and washed herself, swept the house, picked vegetables, and gathered firewood.
In daily life, she also likes to comb her hair and wrap a scarf without needing help; when walking, she also does not want to be helped like many other elderly people.
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| Ms. Phan Thi Hai with her youngest son and Mr. Nguyen Van Ty (far right) - Chairman of the Elderly Association of Thanh Chi commune, Thanh Chuong district. Photo: Dinh Ha |
Mr. Nguyen Van Ty - Chairman of the Thanh Chi Commune Elderly Association said that in the commune, there are currently 5 elderly women over 100 years old. Besides Mrs. Hai, there are 2 other elderly women who have passed the age of 104 and are still healthy and clear-minded. This is not only the joy of the children and grandchildren but also the pride of the association, of a simple countryside, although there are many difficulties but peaceful and happy.
