A colorful journey across Vietnam with a Gen Z girl.

Nguyen Thi Yen (Yen Vi Vu), a travel content creator, decided to embark on a solo motorbike trip across Vietnam from the beginning of 2023 until now. To date, Yen has visited 46 provinces and cities across the "S-shaped land" of Vietnam. After exploring all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam, she plans to experience other countries in Southeast Asia.

"Thanks to this trip, I've become stronger, and things aren't as difficult as I thought. With goals, a plan, and determination, you can achieve them. I can say that I'm now gradually moving towards 'Independence - Freedom - Happiness'," Yen Vi Vu shared.

Inspiration comes naturally.

In early 2020, a trip to An Giang with a group of friends completely changed Yen's life. This journey not only introduced her to new lands but also gave her strong inspiration to embark on a challenging adventure: a solo cross-Vietnam trip.

Staying at a homestay in An Giang, Yen had the opportunity to meet and interact with the owner. Unexpectedly, the story behind this owner became the greatest inspiration for Yen to decide to undertake her own cross-Vietnam project. "She and her daughter traveled across Vietnam for 5 months by motorbike, starting from An Giang in 2018. The photos pasted on the wall, arranged according to the map of Vietnam in the shape of the letter S, and the stories she told, drew me into that journey without me even realizing it," Yen recounted.

The biggest motivation for Yen to embark on this journey was her family. Yen always longed to be her family's pride. In a conversation with Travellive, Yen shared: "When I go to work, my mother often brags to the other ladies that she has a daughter who travels a lot and makes YouTube videos, then she plays my videos for everyone to watch. I will travel to more places and film more clips for my parents at home to watch. When I have more resources, I will take the whole family along."

What are difficulties when we are always full of...

Before embarking on her cross-Vietnam journey, Yen faced many challenges. One of the first difficulties was learning to ride a motorcycle. Yen dedicated time and effort to practicing, test-driving on routes in the North such as Hanoi - Bac Giang, Ba Vi, and Moc Chau. This helped her gain more confidence in controlling a motorcycle and also served as good preparation for the upcoming journey.

The second challenge Yen faced was convincing tourism businesses and related sectors to cooperate in media coverage and sponsorship. Before embarking on her journey, Yen created a highly dedicated "Solo Vietnam Trip" profile, conveying her determination, passion, and capabilities. Prior to her trip, she had already received cooperation agreements from 2-3 organizations.

Throughout her journey across Vietnam, Yen faced a series of difficulties. The weather changed constantly, from the cold of the northern mountains to the scorching heat of the central region, and even the rainy season in the Central Highlands. These difficulties challenged both Yen's physical and mental strength. In addition, bad roads, rocky terrain, and rough landscapes also created significant challenges for her driving.

Furthermore, the varying culinary tastes in different regions also presented challenges for Yen. On some days, she experienced indigestion or discomfort due to the different flavors. In addition, Yen's motorbike encountered problems such as a nail puncture in Hue, a burnt spark plug in Da Nang, and a broken clutch lever before climbing the Violak Pass. However, thanks to her optimistic spirit and determination, she overcame these difficulties with great strength.

Unforgettable memories make for a wonderful journey.

"I don't have one place that impressed me the most because every place I've been to has its own unique beauty and story. If I were to talk about each province or city, I would have something to tell. But there are some memories that I will definitely never forget," Yen recalled.

That day, Yen drove from Dien Bien City to Bac Yen, Son La, a distance of 250 km, which, according to Google Maps, would take about 6 hours of continuous driving. After having lunch in Dien Bien, she set off at 11 am, planning to arrive around 7-8 pm, which wouldn't be too late. However, because she was busy taking photos along the way and occasionally browsing social media, she didn't arrive in Son La City until 5 pm, by which time it was already getting dark.

The road from Co Noi intersection to Bac Yen was steep and deserted, with only a few houses here and there. Yen drove nervously. When she was about 5 km from Bac Yen, going uphill, her tire suddenly swerved. All she could think about was a flat tire. She quickly stopped, her mind racing with options: calling for roadside assistance (she had acquaintances in Bac Yen), or turning around and going back down the hill to find a house and ask for a place to sleep… When she turned on her phone's flashlight, she saw that the tire was fine, but there were tire tracks on the road. It turned out that Yen's motorbike had swerved into the tracks of an oil tanker, causing it to slip and swerve. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and continue on to Bac Yen.

Another memorable experience was in Ba To, Quang Ngai, where Yen stopped to rest and escape the midday sun. Around 1 PM, the woman selling drinks advised Yen to leave before it started raining. During the rainy season in the Central Highlands, thunderstorms often occur in the afternoons. Seeing dark clouds gathering, Yen quickly set off.

Upon reaching Ba Tieu, she stopped to buy a phone tripod. Just as she put down the kickstand, her motorbike tipped over, breaking the clutch lever. She asked a local at a nearby repair shop, but when she arrived, the mechanic said they didn't have that lever and offered to go look for it elsewhere. That's when Yen remembered she had a spare clutch lever. So she asked him to replace it for her. She had only gone a short distance up the pass when it started raining heavily. Wearing a thick raincoat, she sped through the torrential downpour. Reaching Po E commune, the heavy rain and thunder forced her to pull over at a roadside stall for shelter. The rainwater flowed like a flood, muddy and murky. It wasn't until around 3:30 PM that Yen was able to continue her journey.

Continuing the story, Yen recounted: “One day at Bai Xep beach in Quy Nhon, while walking along the rocks to take pictures, my camera fell into a puddle of seawater. Electronic devices get corroded by salt, so I had to say ‘goodbye’ to the camera that had accompanied me on my trips for over three years.”

The memorable moments from her solo journey across Vietnam are not only interesting stories but also valuable lessons. Recalling these experiences, Yen realizes that optimism and determination were two crucial factors that helped her overcome all obstacles. Each memorable moment is like a brick contributing to the meaningful and exciting journey of this young woman traveling alone across Vietnam.

When a girl travels alone, she should always keep this in mind: Safety comes first!

- No more traveling at night or in the late afternoon; I need to find a place to rest for the night.

- Always stay alert and avoid using stimulants.

- Be wary of strangers. When driving on deserted roads, pay attention to see if anyone is following you. - Only stop your vehicle in crowded places. Only accept help or guidance from people you feel are genuine.

- Avoid overly deserted roads, anticipate potential risks, and don't take risks if you can't handle them yourself.

- Take care of your health by eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and drinking enough water. Instead of sugary drinks or carbonated beverages, drink plain water.

- Further develop survival skills, life skills, communication skills, financial management, and time management skills.

Here are some photos from Yen's journey:

Ha Mai Trinh - Photo: Yen Vi Vu