Vietnam’s ‘non la’ stands out in French-Vietnamese couple’s 16,000km journey across Europe, Asia

The book ‘From My Home to Yours’ was presented at an event organized by Kim Dong Publishing House and the French Institute in Vietnam last weekend, when the striking image of the non la on the cover immediately captured public attention.

‘From My Home to Yours’ tells the story of a 16,000-kilometer cycling journey across Europe and Asia by a young French-Vietnamese couple: Thibault Clemenceau and his Vietnamese wife Khanh Nguyen.

Their remarkable adventure took them from France, Thibault’s homeland, all the way to Vietnam, Nguyen’s birthplace.

Traveling only by bicycle, the couple crossed numerous countries and territories throughout Europe and Asia during an unforgettable year-long journey.

Clemenceau explained that he chose bicycles for the journey because the trip was not only about testing physical endurance or traveling through different countries, but also about discovering the customs, traditions, and landscapes of each country.

He and his wife enjoyed conversations and chance encounters with people along the way.

Traveling by bicycle gave them great flexibility, without their having to worry about the limitations of other forms of transportation. They could stop wherever they wanted, talk to anyone they met, and experience everything in a simple and intimate way.

Beyond the bicycles themselves, the Vietnamese conical hat became an essential part of the couple’s journey, serving as a symbol that introduced them to people around the world.

Clemenceau said they used the conical hat because it represented Vietnam so strongly. The hat is closely associated with Vietnamese people in daily labor and production, while also reflecting kindness and humanity.

Throughout the trip, the conical hat also proved highly practical. It protected them from both sun and rain, and when they slept outdoors, placing the hat over their faces provided cool comfort for short naps.

Wherever they traveled wearing the hat, local people were curious about the 'strange hat,' often stopping them to ask questions, try it on, and take photos.

Clemenceau recalled that when they arrived in Iran, far from their starting point in France, their hats were already worn out, yet some locals liked them so much that they insisted on buying them.

Inspiring story

Clemenceau and Nguyen came up with the idea for their year-long cycling 'adventure' across Europe and Asia shortly after getting married.

At the time, Clemenceau was facing an opportunity for career advancement, but he gave it up to embark on the journey of a lifetime with his wife.

He explained that they were still young and did not yet have children, so if they did not go then, they might never have another chance.

Shortly after they completed the journey, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Today, they have a four-year-old child, and some of the peaceful regions they once traveled through have since fallen into conflict.

Had they postponed the trip, they might never have been able to accomplish it.

The author admitted that when they first decided to leave, he was not even sure they would make it all the way to Vietnam. He simply told his wife they would go as far as they could. In the end, however, they achieved their goal.

Their families, especially Nguyen’s father, initially opposed the idea. But after much persuasion from the couple, they eventually gave their approval, though they remained anxious and worried throughout the journey.

The life-changing expedition transformed the young couple’s outlook and helped them realize they could overcome their limits while gaining extraordinary experiences.

‘From My Home to Yours’ was selected as the Best Travel Book of 2022 at the Cosne-sur-Loire Book Fair and was honored with the René Caillié Prize in 2023, a French literary award dedicated to adventure narratives and exploration memoirs.

After reading the book, many readers said they felt inspired to pursue their own dreams and ambitions.

Some even attempted shorter cycling trips themselves, such as traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, by bicycle, discovering unique experiences and joys that can only be understood by trying them first-hand.