5 years cycling to work in Ho Chi Minh City: gains and losses
In bustling Ho Chi Minh City, where motorbikes dominate the roads, one man has quietly taken a different path—cycling to work, embracing both the gains and losses along the way.
How did it start?
Mr. Hung packs all his work essentials neatly into a small bag hanging on his bike
In 2017, when Mr. Luong Quang Hung moved from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for work, he noticed some younger colleagues cycling to the office. “If they can do it, why can’t I?” thought the 57-year-old sports enthusiast.
At the time, Hung worked in District 7. His commute was 17 km, so he set off at 5:30 a.m. With a flexible schedule, he often added 23 km of cycling before heading to the office. In the past four years, since the company moved to a new location, his commute has been shortened to 10 km. To maintain his fitness routine, he now wakes up at 4 a.m., runs 10 km, then showers and cycles to work.
Hung admits that cycling to work in HCMC isn’t common. The biggest challenge, he says, is dealing with sweat. His solution: keep clean clothes and a towel at the office to freshen up before starting work. Although this routine sometimes causes minor issues, like building security not allowing cycling attire, he insists that everything has a workaround. “Cycling to work lets me combine commuting and exercise—two goals in one trip,” he explains. Over five years, he has logged about 22,000 km on his bike.
Nguyen Hoang The Duy, a former colleague who inspired Hung to take up cycling, said: “I admire Hung’s perseverance. While others invest in better bikes, he chose to improve himself on the same bike. He not only rides daily to work but also joins us on weekend rides of 100–200 km.”
Gains and losses
On weekends, Mr. Hung often joins his friends for long cycling trips ranging from 100 to 200 kilometers
With HCMC’s traffic dominated by motorbikes, cycling comes with risks. Hung minimizes danger by strictly following traffic rules, sticking close to the sidewalk, and staying highly alert. This focus, he says, has unexpected benefits. “I call it mindfulness. I stay present in the moment, focusing on my breath and the road ahead. It clears my mind of stress from work or life.”
Building the habit wasn’t easy. At first, it was a major challenge. His secret: small victories. Waking up early, getting on the bike, and starting the ride. “Little efforts build up over time and create positive energy. I’m happy because I’ve overcome my greatest rival—myself.”
At nearly 60, Mr. Hung lives by the motto, “A sound mind in a strong body.”
He believes regular exercise has helped him offset the downsides of aging.
Thanks to cycling, Hung has picked up new skills like patching and replacing bike tubes and has experienced the challenge of riding through flooded streets during the rainy season. Alongside many “gains,” there have also been a few “losses”—like shedding 5 kg, from 65 kg down to 60 kg, and not needing to use his high-quality health insurance card.
A helmet and reflective vest are two essential items Mr. Hung never forgets during his daily commute by bike. Photo: Phan Diep
Since April 2023, his company’s union has supported a wellness initiative: 1,000 VND per kilometer of running or every 2 km of cycling. With his routine of 10 km running and 20 km cycling daily, he receives 20,000 VND a day, on top of the health benefits.
“I truly hope that one day Ho Chi Minh City will have dedicated bike lanes so more people can ride to work, or just for fun,” he adds.
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