After witnessing their children's cramped living conditions at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Vietnamese couple have converted a 16-seater van into a motorhome to travel around Vietnam with their children for the past year.

Luong Lam Son used to work in tourism, which was one of the worst-affected industries when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Vietnam in early 2020.

He was forced to close his homestay rental service, and his kids were cooped up in the house with nowhere to play on top of it all.

His dream of having a motorhome with beds and a kitchen, as seen in American movies, resurfaced at that time, prompting Son and his wife to build their own recreational vehicle (RV).

To create their first RV, Son and his wife had to consider the idea and complete it in two months, despite never undertaking any projects like this previously.

"The most difficult aspect of making this car is designing it to comply with traffic safety laws in Vietnam and ensuring the safety of family members as well as other commuters," Son explained.

"We decided to turn the 16-seater car into an RV after a month of deliberation.

"Everyone in the family will wear seat belts and sit in the cockpit.

"The back section includes a bed and a kitchen."

Following that, the young father spent another two weeks ordering specialized equipment for mobile homes such as smart dining tables and batteries to design an independent electrical system from domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms.

Finally, the car renovation project was completed in 14 days.

The total cost of making the motorhome was around VND300 million (US$13,119), which included the cost of purchasing a van, maintaining and overhauling the vehicle, and the equipment that fit the design.

Son's family trips have increased since he got a car. The family's trip from Hanoi to Sa Pa, a popular tourist destination in northern Lao Cai Province, is the most memorable.

"Our family drove all the way to Ta Van Village because the car had everything we needed, from food and drink to a place to sleep," Son said.

“At that time, there were no coronavirus cases in the village, so we chose to camp there for four days.

“My children engaged in a variety of exciting activities during this trip, including exploring terraced fields, bathing in streams alongside local children, and learning about animals at a farm.”

Following each trip, Son and his wife noticed a change in their children's skin, as it became darker and they got more insect bites.

However, the most significant factor is that the children have gained new knowledge and had unforgettable experiences.

"The first time, it took nearly two hours for our children to adjust to the strange environment because they were afraid of everything: mud, insects, and strangers," Son shared.

“However, the more they travel, the more positive changes they gain.

“My children require only 10-15 minutes to acclimatize to a new environment following some trips.

“Additionally, they are more courageous, engage in active communication with strangers, value nature, and develop a habit of exploration, all of which are beneficial habits for children.

“Their resistance is also significantly greater.

"My family have been infected with COVID-19, but Kay, 5, showed almost no symptoms, while Kem, 7, had a fever but was able to run and jump normally after two days."

Son records his family's entire journey and experiences on each trip to share on his YouTube channel in order to share insights on traveling independently in a motorhome.

Son is currently developing an idea to connect families with motorhomes so as to establish a rental service.

Thus he hopes to introduce many families to this unique tourism model while also contributing to the growth of the RV movement in Vietnam.

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