Every year, on the anniversary of her husband’s passing, Ty eagerly welcomes her family of over 100 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

This year, though many members could not be present, Ty’s yard still buzzed with people coming and going, filled with laughter and chatter. When taking souvenir photos as usual, it took Ty’s family members 15 minutes to arrange the formation so that it was complete and most beautiful.

From the man with gray hair to the 3- to 5-year-old children, all had to line up in four to five rows, stretching from one corner of the yard to the other to have enough space.

The photo of Ty’s five-generation family has been posted online, receivinng hundreds of thousands of likes. At the center was Ty, the center of the family who helps unite the great family.

Ty now lives with her eldest son, Ngo Cong Thuc (born in 1944), his wife Tuyen (born 1949), and their eldest grandson’s family.

Tuyen, Ty’s eldest daughter-in-law, told VietNamNet that Ty was from Chi Dong village, Kim Anh district, now Chi Dong town, Me Linh district, Hanoi.

In 1935, Ty married and moved to QuangHoi village in Quang Tien commune of Soc Son district, where she has lived ever since.

Ty’s family includes five siblings, with one sister over 90 still alive.

The documents provided by the family show that Ty is 114 years old. She had 10 children, including four sons and six daughters. One died at age three, another fell in the Quang Tri battlefield, and her second daughter passed away at 83. Her eldest daughter is 88, while the youngest child is over 60.

Tuyen, emotional and proud, described Ty as skillful, gentle, and deeply caring for her family. 

“My mother-in-law loves cleanliness. A few years ago, she still cleaned tirelessly, from the house to the yard and even the village lanes. Now, she enjoys shelling peanuts and can still manage personal hygiene.”

At 114, Ty eats rice daily, rarely needing porridge. She eats few vegetables, with family supplementing her diet with fruits and salangane bird’s nest drinks.

Though less sharp and hard of hearing due to age, Ty still can bathe and use the restroom independently, preferring not to rely too much on her family’s care.

“I’m overjoyed to live in a five-generation family where everyone loves and supports each other,” Tuyen said. 

She said she has learned many virtues from her mother-in-law. She reminds siblings and descendants to uphold family values, live lovingly, and stay united to keep Ty happy and long-lived.

Thao Trinh