In one April afternoon, an American-Vietnamese couple named Vu and Ngoc guide their three offspring across Devil’s Bridge, a natural sandstone formation spanning two steep cliffs located in Arizona, United States.
They had trekked over three kilometers to arrive at the location. Vu has their one-year-old daughter in a baby carrier, while their elder girls, Zoey who is nine and Evee who is six, frolic ahead.
Following a two-hour hike, the bridge came into view, hanging over a steep ravine much like a hammock. Crimson peaks shimmered under the setting sun. Nervously, but determined, the pair clutched their children’s hands and walked across as one, stopping for a group picture along the way.
This is what led us to choose this lifestyle,” explains Vu, who is 34 years old. “We wanted to travel the globe with our family without being burdened by financial obligations, time constraints, or early wake-up calls.
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In April 2025, Vu and Ngoc posed for a photo with their one-year-old daughter at Devil’s Bridge in Arizona, United States. The image captures the family standing together near the bridge. |
Up until a few years before, their life had been different.
followed a conventional path
He was employed in the automotive sector, making between $20,000 and $30,000 per month. By 2019, they had purchased a house with an area of 300 square meters and possessed three vehicles.
However, this easy lifestyle came with a price: He wasted many hours commuting every day, often arriving home to find dinner had gone cold and his family asleep. His time off amounted to just one day for his wedding and one for each of his children when they were born. “While I contributed to my company’s success, I wasn’t aiding my own family,” he remarks. The COVID-19 pandemic led him to reflect deeply, particularly on his wife Ngoc’s longstanding desire for a more straightforward existence—a modest house complete with a veggie patch where she could be accompanied by her husband and kids.
In May 2022, he left his employment, and she shut down her nail business. They put their home up for sale along with many possessions, condensed their belongings into three bags, and embarked on a journey with the mindset: “This is our opportunity. Let’s travel till we run out of funds.” Disregarding advice and skepticism from those around them, they adopted an itinerant lifestyle, starting their adventure in Vietnam.
Born in Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, he relocated to the United States when he was five years old. Her family embarked on their journey from Dong Nai Province—also located in the south—when she was just nine years old. Their objective was for their offspring to maintain ties with their roots. Throughout their travels across various regions—from the Mekong Delta to the northern mountainous areas—their explorations took them through numerous parts of the nation, often staying longest in Da Lat within the Central Highlands. Zoey and Evee swiftly formed friendships and became proficient in Vietnamese.
After spending half a year in the U.S., they went back to Vietnam when Ngoc, who was expecting their third child, expressed a strong desire for Tet festivities and traditional Vietnamese cuisine. She remarks, “We learned that making our dreams come true wasn’t as costly as we imagined.”
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The family including the parents and kids during their first visit to Vietnam in 2022. Picture taken by the family. |
In the United States, they initially purchased a six-meter trailer before moving up to a larger, 10-meter version. By the close of 2024, they decided to invest in a spacious 13-meter recreational vehicle priced at $100,000 to comfortably house their family of five along with their pet dog.
In the United States, the infrastructure for RV living is top-notch. For just $8,000, they obtained a lifelong membership within a vast network encompassing more than 200 campgrounds throughout both the US and Canada. Additionally, paying an annual charge of $700 grants them the privilege to remain at each site for as long as three weeks; these sites often feature amenities such as swimming pools, play areas, round-the-clock security, disposal facilities, and communal zones. Furthermore, they enrolled in another scheme costing $100 annually, permitting overnight stays at various locations including farms, wineries, and personal residences. During their journey, this family found themselves camping near mature grapevines on multiple occasions, where they acquired knowledge about fermentation processes from nearby growers and participated in tasting sessions of locally produced wines.
Based on the North American Camping Report, as of 2020, there were approximately 13 million homes in the United States owning an RV, with 22% of these being from the age group of 18 to 34 years old. Since the onset of the pandemic, these figures have kept increasing.
She works from the road as a remote travel agent, whereas he handles financial investments and picks up freelance gigs. Their daughters participate in an online education program and turn in their assignments through the web. With a thirst for knowledge, they constantly seek guidance from their parents who are readily available to address their queries.
In July 2024, the couple celebrated the arrival of their third little girl. This time around, he was there for every moment. Just one month following her birth, they restarted their journeys across different climates. The family moved from sultry southern regions to chilly northern areas as their newest addition thrived during these travels.
Since then, they’ve encountered various wandering clans. Among them was a household led by a father who only put in three-hour workdays in the tech sector, bringing home an annual salary of $100,000. There was also a gentleman whose occupation revolved around the petroleum business; he would be away at drilling locations for fortnights at a time before heading back to his traveling lifestyle. These households, being economically stable, opt for a more liberated existence for their offspring rather than opting for lavish residences and vehicles.
Four months back, Vu’s clan set up camp alongside another two families at an isolated shoreline devoid of electricity and running water. During those two memorable days and evenings, the grown-ups shared tales beside the campfire as the kids joyfully frolicked in the sand. “A highlight of our wandering existence is regularly encountering new individuals and listening to their fascinating narratives,” remarks Ngoc.
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In March 2025, Vu’s family sets up their camp along the coastline together with other nomadic groups. The image was provided by the family. |
While life on the road certainly presents certain difficulties, Vu became adept at managing essential RV upkeep. During their drive from Canada to Alaska, though, they found themselves stranded in an unpopulated area spanning about 200 kilometers when their vehicle ran dry of gasoline. Trapped within the dense woodland for approximately three hours, assistance finally arrived via a kind stranger passing by. Vu shares this reflection: “The children have stumbled numerous times throughout our treks, sustaining scrapes and contusions. Yet each injury has mended over time. The true takeaway is fortitude, along with invaluable teachings not covered in conventional schooling.”
The family arrived in California last weekend, marking the 32nd state they have visited during their trip. This was their inaugural visit to the U.S. state home to the biggest community of Vietnamese people, which added to their enthusiasm as they traveled in their recreational vehicle. The pair stated, “We aim to see all 50 states before continuing our exploration across the globe.”
When questioned about her aspirations, Zoey shares with her parents, “Once I’m all grown-up, I plan to purchase an RV and follow right after you.” Meanwhile, Evee frequently queries, “Tonight shall we rest close to a mountain or beside the sea?” As their recreational vehicle continued moving forward, both of them erupted in laughter, recognizing that indeed, they possessed a home everywhere they traveled.
