64-year-old rides from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city to see Independence Palace

64-year-old rides from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city to see Independence Palace

Veteran Phung Gia Thanh (64 years old, from Thanh Binh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City) cycled over 1,800 kilometers from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City with the heartfelt wish to visit the Independence Palace on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

On March 17, leaving Dien Bien Phu City (Dien Bien Province), Mr. Thanh brought only two sets of clothes and his old bicycle, which had been with him for over twenty years. He took a bus to Hanoi to begin his southbound journey.

Cycling nearly 1,800 kilometers at the age of 64

Mr. Thanh is a war veteran who joined the army in 1980, serving in Division 1 (Vinh Phuc Province) for about nine months.

Due to family hardship, he asked for permission to return home to help support his family. In 1982, Mr. Thanh re-enlisted and served in the army in the Northwest region under Corps 678, with the task of guarding the Dien Bien airport. He now has two children and lives in Dien Bien Phu City.

He can never forget the moment he heard the news that the country was reunified, that North and South had become one (on April 30, 1975). Mr. Thanh recalled with excitement that he was still a child at the time, herding buffaloes in the fields. Around 4 p.m., he heard loud drumbeats.

“One of the kids in the buffalo-herding group shouted, ‘Saigon has been liberated!’ So we all hugged each other and shouted, ‘It’s liberated!’ My feeling at that time was truly one of joy and wonder,” Mr. Thanh recalled, adding that this very memory was also the driving force that motivated him to make the journey.

He shared that over the years, he had traveled long distances many times, but only by plane, train, or car. This was his first time doing such a journey by bicycle.

“I rode a bicycle to feel, step by step, what the soldiers went through as they marched from the North to the South on their missions. I felt very excited. That was also the motivation that helped me keep pedaling tirelessly,” Mr. Thanh said enthusiastically.

On March 30, Mr. Thành began his journey from Hanoi, cycling to Ho Chi Minh City to fulfill his wish of visiting the Independence Palace.

Traveling along National Highway 1A, Mr. Thành didn’t use any map or carry any bicycle repair tools. He calculated that if his bike broke down, he would push it and ask a motorbike rider to help take it to a repair shop.

Each day, he cycled for about nine hours, stopping to rest whenever he felt tired.

Donating his bicycle to a local in Ho Chi Minh City

Every morning, Mr. Thành set off early, buying an extra baguette to hang on the front of his bicycle. Whenever he felt tired, he would stop at a roadside drink stall to rest.

“There were days when my legs were sore, but luckily I brought a bottle of medicinal wine for massage. That helped ease the pain so I could continue the journey,” he said.

At night, Mr. Thanh looked for budget guesthouses to sleep. After showering, he would wash his clothes and hang them to dry in front of a fan overnight before setting off again the next day. On nights when he couldn’t find a place to stay, he would sleep right on the roadside.

Along the way, many people, seeing him cycling alone, kindly offered to help with tire pumping or patching, but he refused all assistance, wanting to fully experience the emotions of the journey himself.

“On bright moonlit nights, I didn’t stop early but kept riding until after 10 p.m. to enjoy the scenery and reflect. On the road, I talked to my bicycle. That was the part I found most delightful about the trip,” Mr. Thanh shared.

On April 20, after nearly a month of cycling across the country, Mr. Thanh finally arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. He said that at that moment, emotions surged, and he only wanted to quickly reach the Independence Palace.

“I didn’t feel tired, I didn’t feel sore—just completely wonderful, beyond words. I imagined that the spirit of the soldiers on April 30, 1975, must have been just like how I felt inside at that moment,” he said with a smile.

Mr. Thanh stayed in Ho Chi Minh City on April 20 to visit the Independence Palace, Ben Nha Rong, and the statue of President Ho Chi Minh before taking the train back to Dien Bien the following morning.

“When I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, the journey was complete, and I felt truly fulfilled. On this occasion, I’d also like to gift my bicycle, which has been with me for more than 20 years, to someone who truly needs it. I consider it my token of love and gratitude to Ho Chi Minh City,” Mr. Thanh expressed.

Ms. Phung Thi Dung (Mr. Thanh’s daughter) shared that she was very surprised when she heard about her father’s plan to cycle alone to Ho Chi Minh City. “At first, I thought he was just joking, but I didn’t expect him to actually do it. Throughout his journey, I was constantly worried and kept calling to check on him. But all I could sense was his joy in achieving something that many people his age couldn’t,” Ms. Dung said.

Mr. Hoang Van Ke (Chairman of the Veterans Association of Thanh Binh Ward, Dien Bien Phu City) was also surprised that Mr. Thanh, at his age, made a solo cross-country trip. According to Mr. Ke, every year around April 30, Mr. Thanh never forgets to join fellow veterans in lighting incense for fallen comrades and visiting families who have contributed to the Revolution.

 

READ MORE:

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– Quang Tri man cycled through 4 countries, slept in temples, and survived on water

– Hanoi woman swaps motorbike for cycling 10km daily amazed after a year

– Northern Vietnam Tours.