Vietnam: Long Drives Remain a Dream Despite Car Ownership

Despite the growing number of households owning cars in Vietnam, the utilization of these vehicles for travel and leisure, as initially envisioned, remains limited, as highlighted by the experience of one family. For many Vietnamese, cars primarily serve as a means for returning to their hometowns and for daily commutes, with many hurdles still preventing the realization of spontaneous travel. The article describes a couple who, after years of dreaming, purchased a car. However, the vehicle is predominantly used for returning to their hometowns, commuting within the city, picking up and dropping off children, and shopping. During holidays and long breaks, the pattern is often to load the car with luggage and travel to their parents' homes before returning to the city. The wife had planned family trips to the coastal resort town of Vung Tau and the highland city of Da Lat, but her husband was hesitant. He cited concerns about traffic congestion, inflated hotel prices, and crowded restaurants during the holidays in Vung Tau. For Da Lat, he expressed apprehension about driving on mountain roads due to his limited driving experience. The husband views the car primarily as an asset that facilitates essential travel, particularly trips back home. He appears to perceive long-distance driving for leisure as carrying higher risks. The wife, who initially hoped that owning a car would grant them the freedom to travel "anytime they wished," finds herself bewildered by the current situation where travel opportunities are repeatedly postponed due to reasons such as "busy work schedules" or "not the right time," even after achieving financial stability, seeing their children grow, and owning a car. The article suggests that her husband's lack of extensive long-distance driving experience contributes to his anxiety about driving, which in turn leads to his reluctance for further travel. This situation indicates a gap between the reality of car ownership in Vietnam and the aspirations for travel and enriching experiences. The article implies that a significant disparity still exists between "owning" a car and leveraging it to gain "rich experiences." Source: VnExpress