14-Day Cycling Journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi Capital
Two months after completing his 14-day cycling journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Nguyen Tien Dung’s skin was still deeply tanned from the intense summer sun.
For Dung, the most memorable part was not only the distance he had covered, but also the pride of completing such a meaningful journey before starting university.
“The journey taught me to appreciate the value of family more deeply. Travelling alone along distant roads made me truly understand the warmth and love my parents have always given me,” Dung shared.
A gruelling 14-day journey filled with challenges
With VND 17 million in hand, Tien Dung embarked on a 14-day solo cycling journey across Vietnam (Photo courtesy of the subject).
Tien Dung had enjoyed cycling around his neighbourhood and exploring new routes since childhood. When he entered secondary school, he began dreaming of cycling across Vietnam. By Grade 11, he had started seriously planning the journey.
He replaced the bicycle tyres and installed additional components so the bike could carry more luggage. The trip cost approximately VND 17 million, which Dung saved by selling clothes and second-hand bicycles.
Before setting off, Tien Dung trained by cycling 50–60 kilometres every weekend. His Muay Thai training at the Tuyen Quang Provincial Sports Training and Competition Centre had given him a solid level of fitness. Rather than worrying about endurance, he spent more time preparing for situations he might encounter along the way.
Three days after completing the national high school graduation examination, Dung took his bicycle on a train to stay with relatives in Ho Chi Minh City, intending to cycle north from there.
“I only called my family to tell them after I had been cycling for two days. Fortunately, they did not object. They simply told me that if I became too exhausted, they would travel down to pick me up,” Tien Dung recalled.
On 20 June, he began the first leg of his journey, cycling 120 kilometres from central Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau Ward.
Waking up at 3 a.m., Tien Dung loaded his luggage, tent, cooking equipment and other essentials onto his bicycle before setting off. Unprepared for the intense heat and strong coastal winds, he quickly became exhausted and at times felt unable to continue.
After a long day on the road, Dung’s skin began to tan. With little experience in managing his energy and daily distance, he cycled continuously for nearly ten hours and soon became physically drained.
“After dinner, I had to take medicine to reduce my fever. Even after completing that first stage, I did not feel discouraged. I was excited and looking forward to the next day’s journey,” Dung shared.
The next stage covered approximately 130 kilometres, from Vung Tau Ward to the coastal area of Lam Dong Province. Tien Dung cycled tirelessly beneath the blazing sun until late afternoon. Along long, deserted stretches with no shops or restaurants, he could only eat a few compressed food bars he had brought with him to replenish his energy.
The most difficult part for the young man from Tuyen Quang Province was the route through the red dunes in Phan Thiet Ward, Lam Dong Province. The landscape was vast, dry, and scorching, with only a few isolated cactus bushes along the roadside.
Strong gusts of wind, combined with one hill after another, made every turn of the pedals exhausting. At times, Dung had to slow down and conserve his strength to climb the slope ahead.
The bicycle that accompanied the young man on his 1,700-kilometre journey (Photo courtesy of the subject).
After several days, Tien Dung became accustomed to cycling continuously. He divided the distance into manageable stages. Taking advantage of the cooler hours, he began cycling at 4 a.m., stopped at around 10 a.m. to rest and avoid the intense midday heat, then continued in the afternoon.
He budgeted VND 800,000 per day. Of this, approximately VND 250,000 was spent on overnight accommodation and another VND 250,000 on food. The remainder was reserved for possible bicycle repairs.
“Before going to sleep, I marked the following day’s route on the map and searched for accommodation and places to eat in advance. On such a physically demanding journey, proper food and rest are essential,” Dung shared.
Spending many hours cycling under the scorching sun also took a heavy toll on his body. The skin on his arms and thighs, which was frequently exposed to sunlight, became blistered. The blisters eventually burst, and his skin peeled away in patches, leaving painful, red, and darkened areas.
Despite carefully preparing for each stage, the journey did not always go according to plan. On some days, darkness had already fallen while Tien Dung was still struggling to find accommodation.
Tien Dung recalled that while passing through Tuy Hoa Ward, formerly part of Phu Yen Province, he had planned to cycle through a deserted area to reach a more populated place. However, his strength gradually ran out, leaving him unable to complete the planned route.
He turned back several times but still could not find a guesthouse. Although increasingly anxious, he tried to remain calm. With the kind assistance of residents, he eventually found a place to stay 10 kilometres away.
“As night fell, the road became increasingly deserted. Fewer and fewer people passed by, and darkness surrounded me. After that experience, I never took accommodation for granted again and always made sure to find somewhere to stay early,” the young man shared.
The Warmth of Human Kindness
Dung shares a memorable meal with a family in Ca Na, Lam Dong Province (Photo courtesy of the subject).
Throughout his 14-day bicycle journey from southern to northern Vietnam, Tien Dung experienced the kindness and warmth of strangers.
Seeing the young man struggling to carry more than 40 kilograms of luggage while cycling under the scorching sun, many local people stopped to ask how he was doing and offered to help. Some hurried to buy bottles of water and handed them to him, leaving Tien Dung deeply moved and lost for words.
“When people learned about my journey, they all encouraged me. Whenever I felt exhausted, even a bottle of water or a few kind words from a stranger gave me renewed motivation,” he shared.
Tien Dung would never forget a simple meal in the coastal area of Ca Na Commune, Khanh Hoa Province. Seeing that he was travelling alone, the restaurant owner warmly invited Dung to join the family for a meal, offered him food and chatted with him as if welcoming a relative home after a long absence.
Impressed by the young man’s determination, the owner charged him only a small amount and generously offered him drinks and fruit.
On another occasion, while crossing Hai Van Pass, Dung’s bicycle suddenly suffered a punctured inner tube. Although he had experience repairing bicycles, he still struggled because he was unfamiliar with removing and reinstalling the large tyre designed for long-distance journeys.
A man cycling past noticed Dung drenched in sweat and stopped to help him replace the inner tube. The stranger’s timely assistance allowed the young man to continue his journey sooner than expected.
“Before the trip, I thought I would be travelling alone on a long journey. I never expected to receive so much companionship and support from people I had never met before. Even after returning home, I still remember their friendly faces and kindness. They are memories I will never forget,” Tien Dung shared.
Rather than choosing faster and more convenient means of transport, Tien Dung wanted to experience the journey at the slowest possible pace. Travelling by bicycle allowed him to stop whenever he wished, admire the scenery along the way, talk with local people and learn about daily life in each region he passed through.
Dung was most impressed by the winding coastal roads, with mountains and hills on one side and vast stretches of deep-blue water in the distance. The landscape remained wild, open and unspoiled.
“Leaving my familiar surroundings allowed me to witness Vietnam’s magnificent landscapes with my own eyes. The experience has inspired me to undertake more journeys, with my next plan being a cycling trip from the Northwest to the Northeast,” the young man said.
While travelling through the North Central region, Tien Dung pushed himself to cycle 500 kilometres in three days, reaching Hanoi before the mainland was affected by heavy rain and strong winds in early July.
Returning home to a warm welcome from his family, the young man felt that he had become more mature after the long journey. He is now preparing to begin university and work as a Muay Thai coach, with many exciting experiences awaiting him.
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