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They are mostly young men and women in their twenties, full of youthful enthusiasm. For them, these cross-Vietnam trips are not only about fulfilling their desire to explore new roads and lands, but above all, about experiencing and accumulating valuable life experiences. Some choose to travel across Vietnam by motorbike, others by bicycle, and many opt for walking.
Running across Vietnam
While many people choose to travel across Vietnam by motorbike or bicycle to avoid the hardship, some choose to walk, like the hearing-impaired young man Vo Huu Phuc (born in 1991). Phuc walked from Ha Giang to Ca Mau, a distance of over 2,000 km. For Phuc, this journey was quite difficult because communication was very challenging as he had lost his hearing at the age of 7.
Huu Phuc, a deaf young man, is undertaking a solo walking trip across Vietnam.
Two young men in their twenties, Cao Duc Thai and Le Tien Dung, have also been undertaking a cross-Vietnam running journey with the hope of encouraging people to read books to enhance their individual value in society. Their incredible journey has inspired many young people, leading to the establishment of over 200 book clubs in universities and high schools nationwide.
Nguyen Tien Dung.
Cycling Across Vietnam
Most young people choose to combine cycling across Vietnam with contributing their time and effort to help their compatriots in disadvantaged areas. The Hai Dang group is one of the cycling groups that has many volunteer activities such as environmental cleanup, helping the poor, visiting and offering incense at war memorials, etc.
A group of five young people from the Lighthouse group at Ca Mau Cape.
Viet Duong (born in 1996) cycled through all 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam within two months to collect books for underprivileged children in schools. Immediately after his high school graduation exams, Duong conceived the idea for a trip from North to South Vietnam with the goal of delivering 180,000 books to as many children as possible. Remarkably, Viet Duong postponed his university studies for a year to dedicate time to preparing for and undertaking this journey at the age of 18.
18-year-old Viet Duong is inseparable from his bicycle on every journey.
Similarly, Ta Quang Minh, a graduate of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, was working as an office employee with a dream salary, but he quit his job just to cycle through provinces and cities from South to North. Determined to complete his solo cycling journey called "Wings of Dreams," Minh donated more than 80 gifts to elementary school students in the provinces he passed through.
Ta Quang Minh's journey across all 63 provinces and cities.
Traveling across Vietnam by motorbike.
Traveling across different regions on motorbikes is a favorite pastime for many young backpackers. When time is limited, young people often choose to explore routes that reach remote, less-known mountain peaks. But when they have more time, every backpacker would surely want to take a trip across the entire S-shaped strip of land that is Vietnam.
Nguyen Thi Tung, born in 1993, recently completed a month-long solo trip across Vietnam. However, Tung doesn't want to stop there. Currently, this 21-year-old plans to explore Ho Chi Minh City for two months, then return to Hanoi, and very possibly embark on a trip to conquer three Indochinese countries in the near future.
Conquering completely new routes alone, like Tung did, is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience in life. Success doesn't lie in the starting point or the destination, but in the entire journey of facing challenges, hardships, and even dangers to grow stronger.
The Cub 50 motorcycle was Tùng's companion on his journey.
A journey of determination to overcome challenges.
Making the bold decision to give up opportunities that came their way, young people born in the 80s and 90s like Duong, Minh, Tung, Phuc… faced considerable opposition from family and friends. The cross-Vietnam journey certainly didn't bring Duong a university degree or a high-paying job for Minh… And it didn't prove anything too extraordinary, but it was an opportunity that helped many young people mature and understand life better.
Everyone has dreams, hopes, and beliefs to prove themselves, especially when we are young, those beliefs and aspirations are stronger than ever. The journeys of discovery to new lands undertaken by the young men and women mentioned above are concrete evidence of this daring spirit.
These journeys, though undertaken for different purposes, all share the same passion and love for their homeland among young people. One journey follows another, and many more steps will be taken that we haven't yet witnessed. Let's encourage these meaningful journeys of youth.
