1-1-2024 (HANOI) Phan Vu Minh, a member of Check In Viet Nam, the largest Vietnamese travel community group on Facebook, is capturing the attention of fellow travel enthusiasts for his extraordinary journey. Despite being a wheelchair user, Minh refuses to let his disability hinder his passion for exploration.
Born in 1991 in Vinh Long, a province in the Mekong Delta, Minh’s life took a challenging turn at the age of 12 when he was diagnosed with spinal vascular malformations, a rare condition causing chronic back pain and walking difficulties. He became only the second known case in Vietnam.
Tragedy struck when Minh was a 20-year-old university student in Ho Chi Minh City. During an operation, his spinal cord swelled, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and unable to walk. Overwhelmed by despair, Minh initially believed his life was over.
Returning to his hometown, he fell into a deep depression, fearing an uncertain future, despising his wheelchair-bound existence, and dreading the stares of others. However, he soon realized that the way he was living was more terrifying than his physical condition. Determined to bring about positive change, Minh decided to transform his life for the sake of his happiness and his parents’ well-being.
With the support of his family and friends, Minh ventured into gardening, caring for the small garden around his house. He started growing ornamental plants as a business, which provided him with a comfortable income. “I believe that people with disabilities are often afraid of how others perceive them,” Minh shared with Viet Nam News. “When I started earning money from gardening, it had been a long time since I could go out and shop for myself.”
View this post on Instagram
Despite his health challenges, Minh maintains excellent physical shape by exercising daily with dumbbells, covering over 10 kilometers in his wheelchair each week, and adhering to a healthy diet. “I am more confident because I don’t have to rely on anyone anymore,” he asserted.
Minh also discovered that most people around him regarded him with sympathy and warmth, not pity. Emboldened by his newfound self-assurance and financial stability, he decided to pursue a long-dormant hobby: exploring the captivating landscapes of his country and socializing with friends.
In 2017, Minh embarked on his first trip to Bac Lieu province, accompanied by a friend who also had a spinal vascular malformation. Together, they built a three-wheeled scooter that Minh could drive while in his wheelchair. This 140-kilometer journey helped him conquer his fears and ignited his love for travel.
Since then, Minh, sometimes accompanied by his nephew, has traversed 45 provinces across Vietnam. Undeterred by his paralysis, he remains independent on his journeys, relying on himself to navigate new destinations. “Even though I am paralyzed, I don’t want to depend on others. If you drive yourself, you can take charge of your trip and travel wherever and whenever you want,” Minh declared. By exploring on his scooter, he immerses himself in local customs, cultures, cuisine, and marvels at breathtaking scenic spots.
View this post on Instagram
With each trip, Minh becomes more daring. His most recent and longest expedition took him from his hometown in the south to Lung Cu Town in Dong Van district, Ha Giang, the northernmost point of Vietnam. Even for experienced off-road motorcyclists, the Ha Giang journey presents challenges, let alone for Minh and his scooter. “I had to brake constantly due to steep passes, twisting bends, and hairpin turns in Ha Giang, and my brakes broke,” he recounted. “A stranger recognized me and helped fix the brakes while I was in town.”
While his wheelchair sometimes limits his exploration, Minh has encountered extraordinary kindness from the people he meets along the way. “A fellow traveller assisted me by carrying my wheelchair up the stairs so I could explore Meo King’s Palace,” he recalled. The most rewarding aspect of his travels has been the words of encouragement and warm support he receives from those he encounters. “Surprisingly, my trips inspire others in some way. They appreciate my optimism in the face of adversity, and it motivates them to overcome their own difficulties and bring more positivity into their lives,” Minh shared.
Despite his incurable and progressively worsening condition, which may lead to paralysis in his hands at any time, Minh remains undeterred in pursuing his dream: visiting all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam.
