Describe a long journey you have taken that you would like to take again

Người kể chuyện chủ động

Người kể chuyện cảm xúc

How you travelled?

Travelled from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, crossing many provinces

A journey across the country that helped me understand Vietnam better

Where you went?

By train instead of plane

Chose the train to slow down and enjoy the journey

Why the journey was long?

• Long North–South distance

• Train stops at many stations

• Travel time over 30 hours

• Time felt slower

• Many quiet moments to think and observe

Why you would like to take this journey again?

• A unique way to see the country

• More memorable than flying

• Helped me escape daily stress

• Made me feel grateful and connected

Ver. 1

Người kể chuyện chủ động

Ver. 2

Người kể chuyện cảm xúc

Well, I’d like to talk about a long journey that I’ve taken and would really like to take again. It was a train trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Actually, instead of flying, I chose the train because I wanted to experience the whole journey. I mean, I planned it quite carefully, and I knew from the start that it would take more than one day.

The journey was long because the distance between the two cities is very far, and the train, you know, stops at many stations along the way. In total, it took over 30 hours. During the trip, I watched the scenery change from busy cities to quiet countryside. I also ate meals on the train and talked with other passengers. It was a bit tiring, but everything went as planned.

Well, I want to describe a long journey that left a strong impression on me. It was a train journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Actually, I chose the train instead of a plane because I wanted to slow down and enjoy the trip. I mean, even though it was long, I felt calm and quietly excited at the beginning.

The journey took more than 30 hours, and the train stopped at many places, so time felt slower. But, you know, that wasn’t a bad thing. I looked out of the window and saw beautiful countryside views. I kind of felt peaceful and relaxed. There were many quiet moments when I could think about my life and enjoy the simple things around me.

Ver. 1

Miêu tả đoạn kết

Ver. 2

Rút ra bài học

In the end, when the train finally arrived in Hanoi, I felt quite satisfied. To be honest, finishing such a long journey made me feel proud. It was a complete and memorable experience, and that’s why I would like to take this journey again when I have more time.

To be honest, this journey taught me that slowing down is sometimes really important. It helped me escape daily stress and feel more connected to my country. That’s why I’d love to take this journey again. I mean, it showed me that the journey itself can be just as meaningful as the destination.

Ver. 1

Người kể chuyện chủ động

Ver. 2

Người kể chuyện cảm xúc

Well, I’d like to describe a long journey that I have taken and would definitely like to take again. It was a train journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, which I planned quite deliberately. Instead of flying, I decided to take the train because I wanted to experience the journey from start to finish. Actually, I set aside enough time, knowing in advance that it would take more than thirty hours.

The journey was long mainly because of the distance between the two cities and the fact that the train stopped at many stations along the way. From the very beginning, I followed a clear plan, from boarding the train early in the morning to managing my time on board. During the trip, I watched the scenery gradually change, moving from crowded urban areas to wide stretches of countryside. I also organised my meals, read a book, and spoke with a few passengers sitting nearby. Although the trip was physically tiring, everything went smoothly. Step by step, the journey unfolded exactly as I had expected, which gave me a strong sense of control and satisfaction.

Well, I want to talk about a long journey that left a lasting emotional impact on me. It was a train trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Actually, I chose the train over a plane because I wanted to slow things down and truly feel the journey. From the moment I got on board, I knew it would be long, but I also sensed that it would be meaningful.

The journey took more than thirty hours, and as the train moved steadily north, time seemed to slow down. You know, instead of feeling bored, I felt strangely calm. I spent long moments looking out of the window, watching villages, fields, and rivers pass by. The gentle rhythm of the train gave me space to think and breathe. At times, I felt completely disconnected from daily stress, as if the outside world no longer mattered. Simple moments, such as sharing a quiet meal or listening to the sound of the tracks, became surprisingly powerful. Looking back, it wasn’t the destination that stayed with me, but the emotions I experienced along the way.

Ver. 1

Miêu tả đoạn kết

Ver. 2

Rút ra bài học

In the end, when the train finally pulled into Hanoi station late at night, I felt a quiet sense of achievement. To be honest, completing such a long journey made me realise that patience really pays off. As I stepped off the train, tired but content, I felt that the experience had come full circle. That clear ending, combined with the memories I made along the way, is exactly why I would gladly take the same journey again.

To be honest, this journey taught me an important lesson about life. It showed me that slowing down can help us reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. Instead of always rushing from one place to another, sometimes it is better to enjoy the process. This trip reminded me that meaningful experiences are often found in simple moments. That is why I would love to take this journey again, not just to travel, but to regain that sense of balance.

Từ vựng chủ đề: LONG JOURNEY & TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Chủ đề

Từ / Cụm từ

Phiên âm – Loại

Nghĩa

Ví dụ

TRAVEL

take a train journey

/teɪk ə treɪn ˈdʒɜːni/ (v. phrase)

đi một chuyến tàu

I decided to take a train journey instead of flying.

long-distance trip

/ˌlɒŋ ˈdɪstəns trɪp/ (n. phrase)

chuyến đi dài

It was a long-distance trip across the country.

board the train

/bɔːd ðə treɪn/ (v. phrase)

lên tàu

I boarded the train early in the morning.

pull into the station

/pʊl ˈɪntuː ðə ˈsteɪʃən/ (v. phrase)

tàu vào ga

The train finally pulled into Hanoi station.

travel from A to B

/ˈtrævəl frɒm… tuː…/ (v. phrase)

đi từ A đến B

I travelled from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.

JOURNEY

take over 30 hours

/teɪk ˈəʊvə θɜːti ˈaʊəz/ (v. phrase)

mất hơn 30 tiếng

The journey took over 30 hours.

stop at many stations

/stɒp æt ˈmeni ˈsteɪʃənz/ (v. phrase)

dừng nhiều ga

The train stopped at many stations.

from start to finish

/frɒm stɑːt tuː ˈfɪnɪʃ/ (idiom)

từ đầu đến cuối

I experienced the journey from start to finish.

step by step

/step baɪ step/ (idiom)

từng bước một

Step by step, the journey unfolded naturally.

at the very beginning

/æt ðə ˈveri bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ (adv. phrase)

ngay từ đầu

At the very beginning, I knew it would be long.

EXPERIENCE

watch the scenery change

/wɒtʃ ðə ˈsiːnəri tʃeɪndʒ/ (v. phrase)

ngắm cảnh thay đổi

I watched the scenery change along the way.

crowded urban areas

/ˈkraʊdɪd ˈɜːbən ˈeəriəz/ (n. phrase)

khu đô thị đông đúc

We passed many crowded urban areas.

quiet countryside

/ˈkwaɪət ˈkʌntrɪsaɪd/ (n. phrase)

vùng quê yên tĩnh

The train moved into quiet countryside.

simple moments

/ˈsɪmpl ˈməʊmənts/ (n. phrase)

khoảnh khắc giản dị

I enjoyed simple moments on the train.

everyday stress

/ˈevrideɪ stres/ (n. phrase)

áp lực hằng ngày

The trip helped me escape everyday stress.

Từ vựng chức năng: Sử dụng để chuyển ý

Từ / Cụm từ

Phiên âm – Loại

Nghĩa

Ví dụ

to be honest

/tuː biː ˈɒnɪst/ (discourse marker)

thành thật mà nói

To be honest, I didn’t want the trip to end.

looking back

/ˈlʊkɪŋ bæk/ (discourse marker)

nhìn lại

Looking back, it was a meaningful experience.

in the end

/ɪn ði end/ (discourse marker)

cuối cùng

In the end, I felt satisfied with the journey.

Ví dụ: take a long-distance train journey

→ thực hiện một chuyến đi tàu dài

Người đọc tự đặt các câu hỏi cho bản thân, ví dụ: 

• Why did I choose the train instead of flying?

• What did I notice while watching the scenery change?

• How did this long journey make me feel different from my daily life?

• At what moment did I feel proud or satisfied during the trip?

 → When the train finally arrived, I felt a strong sense of achievement after such a long trip.

Ví dụ: 

Tình huống: Ví dụ vấn đề: Muốn nói: “Chuyến đi giúp tôi cảm thấy nhẹ đầu và cân bằng hơn”

→ nhưng không chắc dùng từ nào cho “nhẹ đầu”, “cân bằng”

Ví dụ: 

Tra từ điển / AI với câu lệnh:

• “English expressions to describe feeling relaxed during a journey”

• “How to say a journey helps me slow down in IELTS Speaking”

Gợi ý từ/cụm từ:

• feel more balanced → cảm thấy cân bằng hơn

• mentally refreshed → đầu óc được làm mới

Câu hoàn chỉnh áp dụng cho bài nói:

This long train journey allowed me to slow things down and step out of my daily routine.