Experience and share

(Baonghean) - "Happiness lies not in the destination, but in the journey we take," shared a member of the Nghe An backpacking club. More than just passion, dedication, and experience, members of all ages and professions in this club are increasingly demonstrating their responsibility to the community through charitable work, sharing, and love…

Our meeting took place right in front of the motorbike repair shop of Mr. Ngo Dai Duong – the leader of the Nghe An backpacking group. After several failed attempts to arrange a meeting due to everyone's busy schedules, the conversation had to be postponed until after work. It was already getting dark, the streetlights reflecting the glint of weariness on each person's face, highlighting their strong and angular features. Mr. Duong, now 50 years old, is hailed by the younger members of the group as the member with the most "firsts": oldest, most traveled, and of course, most experienced! "Apart from age, you have so many 'firsts' that almost every backpacker would want to have?" I asked. He replied with a youthful smile: "I'm just a travel enthusiast. Trips are in my blood; if I can't arrange two or three trips a year, I miss it, I regret it, I feel like I'm wasting my life!"

That "love of adventure" spurred Ngo Dai Duong to embark on his travels, and each year he makes more than just two or three trips. From Vinh City, connections with like-minded individuals have allowed him to indulge his wanderlust throughout the country, and even abroad. Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, China… and all in the form of "backpacking," budget travel – the first and most important criterion for "backpackers." He says that budget travel, whether solo or in a group, has its own unique joys: "If you join a tour with a travel company, you have a pre-planned itinerary, and your accommodation and meals are carefully taken care of. With budget travel, you're not tied to any travel agency, you have no time constraints, you can freely detour and explore, and countless experiences will be life lessons that no one can teach you."

Of course, according to Mr. Duong, backpacking is not an easy or impulsive choice. Countless difficulties, challenges, and even dangers are always lurking along the way. The simplest things are flat tires, blown tires, or getting lost; more complex issues include a lack of understanding of local customs and traditions, and language barriers leading to many unfortunate consequences. “Many years ago, when backpacking boomed among young people, many groups were hastily formed, leading to unfortunate incidents during their journeys and leaving many negative impressions of this form of travel. Therefore, I think that if Nghe An established an open group for people passionate about travel, well-managed by fostering cohesion, responsibility, and a high level of awareness, it would be better than spontaneous movements,” shared Mr. Ngo Dai Duong.

That idea received the support of young people in Nghe An who share the same passion and interests. In September 2011, the Nghe An Backpacking Club was established, and it has now been three years. The club has made significant progress in both the number of members and the spread of community activities. Mr. Tran Hoai Nam (1986) - a veteran member of the club, currently an accountant at Trung Do Brick Factory - Hoang Mai, shared: “The members of the Nghe An Backpacking Club are diverse in age and occupation, and everyone is busy with their own families. Before each trip, we have to hold very thorough meetings, balance the budget, research information about the destination, and make all the necessary arrangements before deciding to set off. The more we travel, the more we understand and love the life and people of Vietnam in general, and Nghe An in particular!”

Members of the Nghe An trekking group carry gifts into Huoi Moi 1 village, Tri Le commune (Que Phong district). Photo provided by the participants.

This understanding and love naturally led them to their later charitable activities. The association organized many visits and gift-giving trips to children, lonely elderly people, and poor households in many difficult areas of western Nghe An province such as Tuong Duong, Ky Son, and Que Phong… “The most memorable trip was to Huoi Moi 1 village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district. Although the members of the association are all skilled drivers with much experience in mountainous terrain, they were still terrified by the road to the village,” recalled Tran Hoai Nam. It was raining, the road was muddy and slippery, with a sheer cliff on one side, and each member was carrying heavy loads on their vehicles and shoulders. In the end, the members had to abandon their vehicles at the top of the slope, load the goods onto their shoulders, and… walk nearly 7 km. “At that time, the most stressful thing was struggling with my own thoughts: Should we move forward or turn back? If we turned back, perhaps we would never know the joy and happiness of giving practical and meaningful gifts to the villagers – those who truly needed the attention not only of the Party and the State but also the sharing and cooperation of the community,” confided Ngo Dai Duong.

At the time of our conversation, the members of the association had just finished a preliminary trip to Huu Khuong commune (Tuong Duong district), preparing for the upcoming "Warm Winter" gift-giving event. Before each charitable journey, they meticulously plan their budget, then mobilize benefactors to contribute, and all contributions and expenses are publicly disclosed on social media. Group leader Ngo Dai Duong affirmed: "The gifts for people in remote areas may be a blanket, a warm coat, a few notebooks, a few pens... but above all, we want to convey to them the warmth of brotherhood and the sharing of the community. Therefore, every small contribution is precious, and each trip, despite countless difficulties, brings valuable lessons to the members of the association." Perhaps that is the true meaning of each trip, the memorable experience that motivates them to set out on their journey?!

Phuong Chi