Travelling is a passion, a dream for many. We have met so many people who defy all circumstances and make travelling a reality. So even though you have been a part of the rat race, once passion really hits, travel becomes a reality. Recently in Bolivia we met a French-Vietnamese couple – Vinh Bua and Quynh Nhu – from Paris who are on a world trip. They are travelling along with their two kids, Juliette (10) and Antoine (12). We felt so fortunate to have met them.
We stayed with Bua and Nhu in the same guesthouse in Sucre, Bolivia, for a few days and had endless discussions on many topics. Naturally we were curious. How is travelling with kids? What about the their studies? What about the school? Are the kids happy? Their answers dispelled many myths about travelling as a family.
We think their story is something that the world must know. So, here we go.
Q1: Can you please tell us about you.
Bua: My name is Vinh Bua and I am dentist. I live in France and I love travelling.
Nhu: My name is Nhu and I am a physiotherapist. I have two kids and I took one year off to travel.
Q2: When and why did you plan to take the world trip? What really motivated you?
Nhu: It is a dream, though not exactly mine. But I am very happy to come along.
Bua: The world trip is my dream. We really love travelling. We used to travel to foreign countries. The idea of a world trip evolved from those journeys. It first occurred I think 5 years back. But at that time the kids were too young. We worked a lot and saved money for the trip. So, when the younger kid turned 10, we figured out it is the right time.
Q3: How did you plan for the trip?
Bua: We planned slowly. We watched videos about countries like Brazil and Peru and showed it to the kids. We read many travel blogs, watched Discovery Channel. We also read some books. We showed the photos to the kids and told them “look, this is Brazil; this is Chile”. They had a notebook in which they draw the maps of these countries. We prepared the kids for the trip almost for a year. The kids would draw the maps and make notes about the countries we were going to visit.
But we did not want them to tell their friends about our plans. We just did not want them to show off to their friends that they were going for a world tour. We allowed them to disclose this to their friends only when we became absolutely sure of starting the trip – around three months before. They used to ask us: “Oh, Daddy, can we tell our friends now?” It was difficult to make the kids keep the secret!
Only our immediate family had known of our plans. Largely, we kept it as a secret.
Nhu: But when we tried to rent out our house, people began to think there is something unusual. Some even might have thought that we were going to get divorced! We can’t keep such a secret for too long anyway.
Q4: How long did it take you to save money?
Nhu: It is the savings we made from our professions. I worked for 15 years. We don’t splurge. We spend only what we need.
Bua: We had enough time to save money for the trip because we had been thinking about this for a long time. We saved quite a bit for the trip. We had not found anything about the cost anywhere. We just earmarked an amount. Expenses increase, especially with the kids around, so we spend our money wisely.
Nhu: In the middle of the trip, now we don’t know exactly how much it will cost when we finish the trip. We do have a budget. Only when we finish the trip will we come to know the exact amount.
Q5: Why now?
Bua: First: The kids are of the right age now. They are strong enough to withstand the rigours of travel. And it is the right time in their school also. Now we are able to teach their subjects, which may not be possible at a later stage. An earlier time would not have suited the kids.
Secondly, I managed to find a replacement doctor to take care of my business.
Q6: Where all do you plan to travel?
Bua: In South America we plan to visit Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru. After South America, we go to Oceania, Australia and New Zealand. We also plan to visit French Polynesia. Then we go to the Pacific Islands: up to Haiti. After that we travel to South East Asia. We plan to conclude our trip at Beijing, China. Beijing to Paris will be the final flight of this trip.
Q7: How is it with travelling with kids?
Nhu: Sometimes it is good. You can befriend with people more easily. People always pay attention to the kids.
Sometimes it is difficult too. You need to be more alert and take care of all their needs. What they will do in the free time. You just cannot move around as you like. We need to plan for it. Only then does it become easy.
We have to become somewhat choosy about selecting the destinations because of the kids. We cannot spend too much time on museums and such places. But the good thing is that the kids like the trip.
Q8. How many people have you met so far who are travelling with the family?
Bua: We have met some families. There was a family from Belgium. And there was a French family settled in Madagascar. We met them in Damascus. There is another family we are going to meet soon. We follow their blog. We think we have met four families so far who travel with their kids.
Nhu: It is possible to travel with the kids; but one needs to pay attention to them.
Q9: Do the kids miss out on the school or do they study?
Nhu: They are studying. Ideally, we would want them to study at least two hours daily. But it does not happen every day. For example, we have a long trip tomorrow. They will not get time to study for two hours tomorrow. But we have to make it up for it some other day. We try to make sure they carry on with their course although we would like them to study more.
Bua: They learn a lot about life and the world during the trip. But they have to learn the academics too. We would like them to study science and maths everyday for one or two hours. Its not possible everyday but we try to average it out.
Before the trip the kids studied extra. They used to study for five to six hours and even had to forego some of their holidays. When we return they have to clear some tests to earn promotion to the next class. Otherwise, they have one month to appear for the test again.
Q10: Was it ok with the school for kids to be out for so long?
Bua: We had to approach the school for permission to take the kids out for one year for a world tour. We wrote letters to the director of the school and the inspector of the academy. We obtained an authorization letter from them.
We took the kids away from the school system for a whole year. We had to show them that we are serious and motivated about this trip. So, we wrote letters to the teachers and directors. We spoke with the teachers to prepare a plan for the kids to learn during the trip. We got the study material from the school and from internet. We carry books and notes on the backpack too. The books alone weigh around 4-5 kg!
We get exam question papers on the internet. We need to take print-outs and send back the answer papers the kids write by ordinary post. This is why we have to search for post office wherever we go.
Q11: How do the kids feel?
Bua: I think they are happy. It is like a trip from the school. People ask them what they feel about the trip. Their answer is that Daddy and Mummy are much stricter than their teachers at school.
Nhu: I think they are on an extended holiday for one year. I know they miss their friends at school. That is why when we meet another family travelling with kids, we try to spend more time with them. So that our kids would enjoy more. We believe it is important for the kids to have contact with other kids.
Q12: What do you do for a living? Was it easy to leave your job behind?
Bua: I work as a dentist and it was very very difficult to leave my patients. I had to type a letter, informing them that I would be on leave for a year for personal reasons! I sent letters to my last 300 patients.
I had to find someone to take care of my practice and my patients. When I found that someone, we were off. In fact, we reached a point where we had to go. There was no other way. I managed to find a good dentist, who was somewhat like me, to take care of my Dentistry in my absence.
Nhu: I am a physiotherapist and I work in a hospital. I did not quit my job but I left my position and took leave for one year. I’ll get the job back when I return but it may not be my desired post. I may have to work on another position but I have a job to go back to.
Bua: May be by the time I finish the trip I will become a photographer! I have been taking photos for my blog. I hope to become a good photographer one day, if I can!
Q13: What is your advice to people with kids who wish to travel?
Bua: It is a question of how much one really wants to travel. If you want it, you can. That’s it.
It is good to travel when your kids are between eight and twelve years of age. It is the right time. But I have seen families travelling with kids who are sixteen years old. It is an individual choice. If you want to travel, nothing can stop you.
Everything comes with some advantages and inconveniences. The trick is to minimize the inconveniences and maximize the advantages.
Q14: Please share your blog with the readers.
Bua: www.tourdumondefamillebuu.com. But I must warn that it is not a great one. It is basically meant for our family and friends who want to follow our trip. Since we are travelling, we don’t get to update our blog as much as we would like to.
Alright then. Thanks for your time.
