Wang Dong, a student studying in France, recounts his experience traveling across Europe solely by bus. He had been planning this trip for two years and officially set off in January 2022, amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Travellive, Wang Dong expressed his excitement as he recalled his time traveling across Europe. He found it hard to believe that he had explored 15 countries by bus. Wang Dong is currently pursuing a master's degree in tourism in France and lives and works there.

"It's a very difficult feeling to describe – joy and pride for completing the trip, mixed with a little sadness because I miss those days of wandering from place to place," Vuong Dong shared.

Reportedly, Wang Dong had been nurturing this idea for two years, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was only able to realize it this year. Unable to wait any longer, in January 2022, Wang Dong decided to travel to his first country amidst the still complicated pandemic situation. He meticulously planned and budgeted for the days when Europe was under lockdown.

Below is Wang Dong's itinerary with illustrative images. Itinerary: Paris (France) - Brussels (Belgium) - Amsterdam (Netherlands) - Berlin (Germany) - Vilnius (Lithuania) - Riga (Latvia) - Talinn (Estonia) - Warsaw (Poland) - Prague (Czech Republic) - Bratislava (Slovakia) - Budapest (Hungary) - Ljubjana (Slovenia) - Venice (Italy) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Madrid (Spain) - Lisbon (Portugal) - Paris (France).

Wang Dong used Flixbuses as his mode of transportation. This is a low-cost service with connections to many European countries. He could also spend the night on the bus, saving money on accommodation. Furthermore, riding the bus allowed Wang Dong to admire the panoramic views of Europe. Sipping coffee while looking out the window and watching the beautiful European scenery change from country to country was an unforgettable experience.

Traveling continuously by bus through 15 countries like that inevitably leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Wang Dong plans that after passing through two countries, he will stay a little longer in the third country to rest and regain his strength for the next leg of the journey. In places like Poland and Hungary, where the cost of living is quite low and the food is delicious, Dong will stay longer. For some smaller cities with fewer attractions, he only needs to visit for two days and one night, such as Bratislava in Slovakia or Ljubljana in Slovenia…

"I researched the route quite carefully to make it as close as possible and to see as many places as possible. If a place was too far, I skipped it; I didn't focus too much on visiting every single spot. Wandering around and admiring the streets was quite enjoyable, discovering many small, charming, peaceful streets with fewer tourists – a different rhythm within the bustling city," Vuong Dong told Travellive.

Having traveled through 15 European countries, Vuong Dong realized that each place had its own unique charm and appeal. He enjoyed the feeling of being immersed in the snow under the bone-chilling -6°C cold while walking in the snow-covered city of Tallinn, Estonia. He wandered through the romantic city of Venice, Italy, and strolled along the sunny seaside streets of Lisbon, Portugal. Besides these three cities, if he had the chance to return, Vuong Dong would definitely choose Budapest, Hungary, because it's a beautiful city with very affordable prices and delicious food.

Regarding culinary experiences, in each city, Wang Dong would visit a restaurant to try a local specialty. However, most restaurants in Western Europe are expensive, so he had to think carefully before choosing. On the other hand, many Eastern European countries are more affordable and budget-friendly. For example, Warsaw in Poland and Budapest in Hungary offer delicious and inexpensive food. In Western Europe, even in expensive places, Dong spends around 18-20 euros, while in Eastern European countries it can be as low as 10 euros. Notably, to save money, Wang Dong often buys fresh ingredients from the supermarket and cooks his own meals.

"I usually book hostels or homestays on Booking.com. I find many of the cheapest options that are very clean and close to bus stops," said Vuong Dong.

Throughout the trip, Wang Dong only used buses; for the rest of the time, he walked to explore every nook and cranny. Therefore, Dong had to pack as compactly as possible, with all his belongings fitting into a single backpack. He learned how to pack minimally and efficiently through YouTube videos.

Specifically, Vuong Dong shared that travelers should bring a small, foldable backpack inside their main backpack. Upon arrival, Dong would leave his belongings at the hostel and only carry essential items in the second foldable backpack. In addition, to be able to travel for 5-6 weeks and travel an average of about 20km/day, Vuong Dong had to train and practice running every day before his trip.

"I also downloaded offline maps just in case I don't have 4G. The app I'm using is called Here," Vuong Dong said.

Starting his trip during a time when the Covid-19 pandemic was escalating, Wang Dong had to consider many factors. Fortunately, he had received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and January was also the time when many countries began reopening. However, Wang Dong constantly monitored and updated himself on news related to vaccinations, PCR testing, etc., in each country almost daily so that he could adjust his itinerary accordingly.

When traveling, he always wears a mask, maintains social distancing, washes his hands frequently, and limits conversation. For Wang Dong, testing positive for Covid-19 and being quarantined means his trip will be canceled. Many hostels and homestays in Europe explicitly state in their terms and conditions that they will cancel bookings if guests test positive for Covid-19.

"Usually, once you've received all three doses of the vaccine, you're allowed to board the bus, but I remember seeing a group of foreign friends in Switzerland being denied boarding a bus to Germany even though they had received all three doses because they lacked a negative Covid-19 test certificate," Vuong Dong shared about the difficulties of traveling during the pandemic.

Traveling during the pandemic allowed Vuong Dong to see the cities he visited from a very different perspective. Two weeks before his departure, Dong heard that the Netherlands would be under lockdown. Although he felt apprehensive, he decided to stick to his original itinerary. Upon arriving in the land of windmills, he found Amsterdam to be gentle, beautiful, and peaceful, not as noisy and bustling as usual.

"There were quite a few tourists like me strolling around the city. It was a rather interesting experience for me personally," Dong commented.

After the trip ended, Wang Dong felt he had learned many new things. He connected with many new people, heard many interesting stories from wonderful friends, and had many new experiences. Wang Dong felt more confident because he had stepped out of his comfort zone and dared to challenge himself.

When asked about his next planned trip, Wang Dong revealed that his 15-country bus tour was just preparation for a more special journey. Currently, Wang Dong wants to keep his upcoming plans a secret.