15-Year-Old Boy Cycles 800km from Da Nang to Hanoi

Tháng 12

15-Year-Old Boy Cycles 800km from Da Nang to Hanoi

One spontaneous morning, after cycling 60km from Da Nang to Hoi An (Quang Nam) and back, 15-year-old Hoang Quoc Anh (nicknamed Bo) living in Da Nang, thought to himself, “Why not cycle to Hanoi?”

Table of Contents

The First Day: Almost Giving Up Three Times

15-Year-Old Boy Cycles 800km from Da Nang to Hanoi

Hearing this, his father, Hoang Quoc Quyen, was surprised but still fully supported the idea. However, he did warn his son that such a journey would be long and require strong determination and stamina. Quoc Anh named his adventure “Bo visits the capital, not by car.”

Seeing his parents discuss the trip seriously, Quoc Anh realized that this couldn’t be just a joke. He decided to challenge himself.

At the beginning of 2022, after deciding on his cycling companion for the trip to Hanoi, Quoc Anh began training seriously. He named his journey “Bo visits the capital, not by car.”

Every day, he cycled around 40-50km to build endurance and flexibility. A week before the trip, his father took the time to teach him some essential skills like bike maintenance in case of any mishaps.

On the morning of June 24th, the boy bid farewell to his parents, carrying just a simple pack: a bicycle, two sets of clothes, a pair of gloves, shoes, and sandals. Joining Quoc Anh was his close friend, Do Manh Cuong, from Gia Lai, who had previously walked across Vietnam twice.

The Challenge on the First Day

The 15-year-old boy and his companion, Mr. Do Manh Cuong. (Photo: H. Q. Q)

Recalling his first moments on the bike, Quoc Anh said his emotions were mixed. Though he had mentally prepared himself, after only 20km, he wanted to give up because of exhaustion and drowsiness. However, thinking it would be a shame to stop after starting, he pushed himself onward toward the Hai Van Pass.

The steep, winding roads of the Hai Van Pass proved to be a huge challenge. Midway up, he cramped up and had to walk the bike. The thought of turning back crossed his mind.

Seeing Quoc Anh feeling disheartened, Manh Cuong encouraged him, saying, “Once you reach the top, it will be all downhill.” Conquering the Hai Van Pass gave Quoc Anh a burst of energy and renewed confidence in his ability to finish the journey.

Overcoming Exhaustion and Fear

The weather in Central Vietnam was extremely hot in the late June days. (Photo: H. Q. Q)

Despite his determination, Quoc Anh, as a 15-year-old, sometimes felt nervous and uncertain when faced with challenges.

“By the end of the first day, I cycled to Hue. It was getting quite dark, and it was the first time I’d been cycling on a busy road full of large vehicles. I was really scared. I felt tired and frightened, and I told Uncle Cuong, ‘Let’s turn back.’ He just smiled and said, ‘Keep going, we’re almost there.’ Knowing he wouldn’t change his mind, I kept going. When I reached Hue and cycled along the Perfume River, I felt so refreshed,” Quoc Anh shared.

As the journey continued, the weather in central Vietnam became incredibly hot. The hot winds from Laos felt like blasts from a furnace, exhausting him, and sweat stung his eyes, making it hard to see. His bike tire punctured several times.

From Dong Hoi to Ha Tinh, recognizing the extreme heat, Quoc Anh suggested switching from daytime cycling to night rides to conserve energy. In the days that followed, he began cycling from 3-4 PM until midnight.

Special Encounters Along the Way

Throughout his journey through Da Nang, Hue, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, and Ninh Binh, Quoc Anh received encouragement from his family, friends, and even strangers.

He fondly remembered meeting a group of three cyclists from Bac Giang who were cycling from the North to Ho Chi Minh City. The youngest member of their group was just 11 years old. “He shared many cycling tips and experiences on the road. I thought it would be shameful if I, being older, gave up halfway,” Quoc Anh said.

In addition to testing his physical limits, the trip also helped Quoc Anh overcome his fears.

Manh Cuong recalled that when cycling from Ha Tinh to Nghe An, they encountered a funeral procession. Quoc Anh became emotional, crying and wanting to stop. However, after Manh Cuong’s encouragement and thinking about how far he had already come, Quoc Anh continued, cycling through Thanh Hoa well past midnight. As he got closer to Hanoi, Quoc Anh cycled with increasing energy. Finally, after many efforts, he arrived in Hanoi early in the morning on July 2nd.

The Journey’s End and Future Goals

In the early morning of July 2nd, Quoc Anh arrived in the capital city. (Photo: H. Q. Q)

On average, Quoc Anh cycled about 100km each day. Throughout the trip, Manh Cuong stayed close, reminding him to focus and stay alert because of the heavy traffic on National Highway 1A. He regularly updated the family back in Da Nang.

In the beginning, Manh Cuong led the way and found places to eat and sleep. However, after a few days, he trusted Quoc Anh more and allowed him to take charge of leading the way, finding meals, and even dealing with bike repairs on his own before asking for help.

Whenever Quoc Anh felt like quitting, Manh Cuong would share stories from his own two Vietnam crossings. From these stories, Quoc Anh realized that 800km was nothing compared to many other journeys. If he couldn’t finish this one, he wouldn’t be able to handle future challenges.

Speaking with Dan Tri, Quoc Anh’s father, Hoang Quoc Quyen, shared: “After completing the 800km ride, Quoc Anh arrived safely, healthy, and happy. The most important thing is that he learned many lessons from this special trip, like how to find accommodation and food, and how to handle different situations.”

During his journey, Quoc Anh visited General Vo Nguyen Giap’s tomb, visited Ho Chi Minh’s birthplace in Kim Lien, Nam Dan, and stopped to learn about famous historical and cultural sites. He also brought along two shirts to get autographs from special people he met along the way.

At the end of his meaningful summer journey, Quoc Anh felt confident that he had surpassed his limits. Now, he plans to conquer the route from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City or explore other expansive routes in foreign countries when the opportunity arises.