Vietnamese craftsmen create mini-home for pickup trucks

Vietnamese families are increasingly converting pickup trucks and minibuses into mobile homes for travel, spending from 1.5 to 2 billion VND. However, such modifications require strict compliance with the law: unauthorized structural changes can lead to a fine of up to 150 million VND, revocation of the vehicle inspection certificate, and an order to restore the vehicle to its original condition. If the module is attached without altering the body and does not exceed dimensions/weight, it is considered cargo; otherwise, an official conversion procedure with certification is required.

A Hanoi resident, Trinh Quang Huy, together with his wife, invested about 1.1 billion VND (approx. $45,000) in purchasing and converting a 3.4-ton truck into a motorhome. Since 2022, the couple has spent most of their time in this vehicle, traveling across northern Vietnamese provinces. The interior includes solar power and water filtration systems, enabling off-grid living. The truck's structure remains unchanged, and while driving, the couple stays only in the cabin, complying with traffic regulations.

The vanlife trend is growing among young people who abandon traditional housing and office jobs to live in vehicles. According to People, a US couple converted a van into a mobile home with a bed, mini-kitchen, and workspace. The #vanlife hashtag has garnered tens of billions of views on TikTok. Sociologists warn that social media romanticizes this lifestyle, hiding loneliness and financial pressures.

Volkswagen brought the ID. Buzz back to the United States — complete with a mattress and curtains. A wildfire in Arizona burned down a dozen motorhomes, and Lake Tekir in Turkey flooded just as many. While Ibiza fines illegal campers up to €30,000, a retired couple from Mallorca has been living in 10 m² for five years and saving €1,400 a month. Plus: the largest campsite in the US at 607 pitches, a closed naturist beach on the North Sea, and Dolby Atmos in a trailer — all in this edition.

Nissan and Overland Expo unveiled the expedition version of the Frontier Pro-4X — Ultimate Build 2. It features a 3.8L V6, reinforced suspension, and a Tune Outdoor M1L camper. Will be auctioned this fall.

Nguyen Ngoc Thang's family from Hanoi invested over 2.3 billion VND in building a motorhome based on a truck chassis. Their first attempt, converting a 16-seat minibus, cost 600 million VND but proved insufficient for long journeys. In 2023, they completed a 13 sq. meter motorhome with solar power, 600 liters of water capacity, and sleeping space for 5-6 people. The family now takes 3-5 cross-Vietnam trips annually, each lasting up to a month. A 60-day journey from Hanoi to Phu Quoc and back is planned for June 2025.