International travel, particularly to nations like Singapore, is typically not a budget-friendly choice. Queue, a 16-year-old Thai student, meticulously planned his grandfather's first-ever trip to Singapore, opting for a frugal approach.

Queue's family lacked the financial means for air travel. Consequently, they covered the 2,000 km journey from Thailand to Singapore by land and rail over two days, from 2/10 to 3/10. The pair began their trip in Nakhon Pathom province, traveling to Su-ngai Kolok district in Narathiwat province, Thailand, before crossing into Malaysia.

The student revealed they opted for third-class train travel, the most affordable ticket on the route. According to the State Railway of Thailand's pricing, a third-class train ticket for the Nakhon Pathom - Su-ngai Kolok stretch cost about 230 baht (approximately 160,000 VND) per person.

Queue and his grandfather pose for a photo in front of the famous Merlion statue at Merlion Park. *Photo: AsiaOne*

Arriving in Kelantan, Malaysia, the duo boarded a bus to Pasir Mas train station. From that point, each spent about 390 baht (approximately 280,000 VND) on train tickets to Johor Bahru, a border city near Singapore. Subsequently, they took another bus to Singapore, which cost 50 baht (approximately 35,000 VND) per person.

"I truly achieved this at 16. Once in Singapore, all the exhaustion disappeared", he remarked.

While it was his grandfather's inaugural trip abroad, Queue had previously visited Singapore in 2022, including Merlion Park. During this journey, the student brought his grandfather back to the park for commemorative photos before the Merlion statue.

To minimize expenses during their journey, the duo opted for an overnight stay in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, costing 2,000 baht per night (approximately 1,400,000 VND), rather than staying in Singapore. An older brother also contributed to the room expenses.

Queue's journey captivated the online community. One of his social media posts amassed over 792,000 likes and 4,000 comments. Many users lauded Queue's filial piety, commending the 16-year-old's self-reliance and spirit.

"You are incredibly fortunate to have the chance to take your grandfather traveling", one commenter wrote. Another added, "You accomplished something wonderful. Even when I travel solo with everything pre-arranged, I still feel anxious. It's truly commendable."

Numerous Singapore residents, hearing their story, extended invitations for the pair to visit their homes or share meals, but Queue had already returned to Thailand before their journey gained widespread notice.

Hoai Anh (According to Asia One, Thaiger)