Phan Vu Minh travelled to Ninh Thuan Province in 2021 in a three-wheeled scooter. - PHAN VU MINH
HANOI: On Check In Viet Nam, the largest Vietnamese travel community group on Facebook, Phan Vu Minh is considered by many travel fellows to be a most special wanderer.
This is not because of the number of kilometres he has travelled, but because he does not let being a wheelchair user stop him from pursuing his passion.
Minh was born in 1991 in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.
At the age of 12, after days of suffering chronic back pain and walking difficulties, he was diagnosed with spinal vascular malformations – a rare condition.
He said he was the second case diagnosed in Vietnam.
His dreams were fully dashed while he was a 20-year-old university student in Ho Chi Minh City. During an operation, his spinal cord swelled up, paralysing his legs and rendering him unable to walk.
“When the doctor said the only way out was to wait for a miracle, I was desperate because I knew everything was over,” Minh said.
He slipped into depression after returning to his home town. He worried about his future, hated being stuck in a wheelchair, and was terrified of people staring at him.
But he later realised that the way he was living was scarier than his condition. “I thought I needed to make changes in my life for the sake of my parents and my happiness,” he said.
With encouragement from his family and friends, the young man put aside the sad days, and started spending his time taking care of the small garden around his house.
He began growing ornamental plants as a business. The income from selling the plants helped him live comfortably.
“I believe that the disabled are constantly afraid of others’ perceptions of them,” he told Vietnam News.
“When I first started earning money from gardening, it had been a long time since I could go out and go shopping for myself.”
Despite his health problems, Minh is in great shape as he works out with dumbbells daily, rides more than 10km in his wheelchair each week and maintains a healthy diet.
“I am more confident because I do not have to rely on anyone any more,” he said.
He also realised that most people around him were gazing at him with sympathy and warmth, not pity.
Having a steady income improved his self-confidence and allowed him to consider a hobby he had not been able to pursue for a long time: Going outside to hang out with friends and exploring the awe-inspiring landscapes of the country.
Minh’s first trip took place in 2017. He travelled to Bac Lieu province to see a friend who also has a spinal vascular malformation. The friend, who studies mechanical engineering, assisted him in building a three-wheeled scooter that he could drive while in a wheelchair.
This 140km trip helped him overcome his fears and sparked his interest in travelling.
Since then, he has visited 45 provinces across Vietnam, alone or with his nephew.
“Even though I am paralysed, I do not want to depend on others. You can be proactive on your trip and travel anywhere whenever you want if you drive yourself,” Minh said.
“I can immerse myself in local customs, cultures and cuisine, and contemplate breathtaking scenic spots by travelling on a scooter.”
After each trip, he dares to do even more. His latest and longest journey was from his home town in the south to the northernmost point of Vietnam – Lung Cu Town in Dong Van district, Ha Giang.
The Ha Giang journey is tough for anyone with an off-road motorcycle, let alone for Mr Minh with his scooter.
“I kept braking because of the steep passes, twisting bends, and hairpin turns at Ha Giang, and the brakes broke,” he said. “A stranger recognised me while I was in town and helped fix the brakes.”
He has been unable to explore some places due to his wheelchair. However, the people he encountered on the journey were exceedingly generous.
“A traveller helped me by carrying my wheelchair up the stairs, so that I could explore Meo King’s Palace,” he recalled.
The most rewarding achievements on his trips have been the words of encouragement and warm support from people he met.
“My travels, surprisingly, encourage others in some way. They appreciate my optimism in the face of adversity, and it inspires them to overcome their difficulties and bring more positive energy into their lives,” Minh said.
Though his condition is incurable and gradually worsening – he faces the possibility of paralysis in his hands at any time – this does not deter him from pursuing his dream: Setting foot in all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam. - Vietnam News/ANN
