Biked from Hanoi to Saigon in 16 days for the April 30 parade
To mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification, Quang Ha, a 24-year-old from Thai Binh, set off on an extraordinary journey — cycling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in just 16 days to witness the historic April 30th parade with his own eyes.
16 days, 1 dream: Witnessing the grand parade
Biked from Hanoi to Saigon in 16 days for the April 30 parade
Quang Ha plans to cycle for about 16 days from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to witness the April 30th military parade with his own eyes. During his trip, he intends to stay overnight by asking for shelter from local families.
Joining in the nation’s excitement to commemorate 50 years since the reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025), Dao Quang Ha, 24, from Thai Binh, made the bold decision to cycle from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to witness the celebration in person.
On April 5, he set off from Hanoi with nothing more than a refurbished old bicycle and a fluttering national flag proudly attached to it.
A journey of resilience and personal meaning
A journey of resilience and personal meaning
Ha has pedaled through provinces such as Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An. By April 9, he had reached Ha Tinh and said that if everything went according to plan, he would arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on April 21.
During the first three days, Ha experienced knee pain due to the sudden physical intensity, and he even thought about giving up. However, after some rest and medication, he recovered and continued his journey.
He devised the idea to cycle to Ho Chi Minh City just two weeks before departure. The preparations were minimal — just some clothes, essentials, and a tune-up of his grandfather’s old bicycle.
“The bicycle I’m riding belonged to my late grandfather. Many people would choose a mountain or touring bike for such a trip, but I chose this one because it loved me dearly.
He passed away when I was in the 7th grade, and I never got the chance to do anything for him. Riding this bike feels like I’m bringing him along, like he’s right beside me,” Ha shared.
A familiar face in Vietnam’s long-distance travel community
A familiar face in Vietnam’s long-distance travel community
Quang Ha is no stranger to long solo journeys. His family and friends support this adventure because he’s already traveled across Vietnam by motorbike and even spent over half a year walking across the country.
In his 2024 walk across Vietnam, Ha arrived in Dien Bien just in time for the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954 – May 7, 2024). There, he not only witnessed the joyful crowd celebrating the parade but also contributed by helping transport the music speakers for the event.
“In Dien Bien, I used my motorbike to help carry speakers during rehearsal. People jokingly called me the ‘mobile loudspeaker unit,’ and my role brought lots of laughter,” he said.
“This time, many friends said they’ll meet up in Ho Chi Minh City to take pictures with me – the ‘loudspeaker guy’ (laughs). It’s heartwarming to be remembered and loved.”
Ha says he is enjoying this journey and looks forward to participating in commemorative activities in Ho Chi Minh City.
“When I arrive, I’ll continue asking for shelter from local households, just like I did in previous trips. I believe this highlights the unity of our people and spreads the kindness and hospitality of the Vietnamese spirit,” he shared.
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