Vietnamese young man cycles 1,870km across country in 14 days to push his limits

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Dung said the idea of cycling across Vietnam first took shape when he was in ninth grade.

By 10th grade, his love for his homeland had grown through T-shirts he designed himself featuring maps and historical images of Vietnam, and he began preparing for the trip in 11th grade.

Three days after completing his high school graduation exam on June 12, Dung left Tuyen Quang for Hanoi before taking a train south.

His original plan was to spend 28 days cycling from the southernmost province of Ca Mau to the northernmost province of Ha Giang. 

However, he later changed the plan to a 14-day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi so that he could return to the capital in time to complete enrollment procedures at the University of Technology and Management.

The trip began on June 20 in Go Vap Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

"At 18, I wanted to do something that would create a memorable milestone in my life. My dream of seeing the country with my own feet also motivated me to take on this challenge," Dung said.

Despite preparing physically and mentally, Dung soon faced difficulties.

He had a history of fluid buildup in his knee joint and worried that the old injury might flare up again.

To make matters worse, the scorching heat caused him to suffer nosebleeds five or six times a day.

On his second day, while traveling from Vung Tau to Lam Dong Province, Dung suffered from low blood pressure after cycling 30 kilometers along a deserted stretch, where he became thirsty but could not find a roadside shop to stop for water.

Luckily, he came across an ice cream vendor and, after eating a leftover ration bar, was able to keep going.

The challenges continued as he headed north, with early-morning departures in darkness and thick fog, a flat tire at the foot of Hai Van Pass, which lies between the central cities of Da Nang and Hue, and nights when he had to seek help at local police stations because he could not find a place to stay.

The toughest stretch came in Thanh Hoa Province, when Dung learned that a storm was approaching.

To beat the storm, he spent three days cycling 145-160 kilometers a day.

Recalling the most exhausting moments, Dung said, "There were times when my whole body was aching and the roads were completely deserted. I would encourage myself with a familiar saying: Keep going a little longer, rest when you're tired, and never give up."

Yet physical endurance was not the only thing that carried Dung through his 1,870-kilometer journey.

He said complete strangers often treated him like family.

He still remembers Hung, the owner of a small family-run eatery.

When Dung stopped there to buy dinner, Hung's family insisted that he join them at the table, then gave him a watermelon and a bottle of water for the road.

On another occasion, several motorcycle taxi drivers accompanied him for 30 kilometers along an isolated road to make sure he was safe. Drink vendors also offered him cold water along the way.

At home, Dung's family remained his strongest source of support.

His father, Nguyen Van Vu, 49, and mother, Nguyen Thi Hang, 48, were worried about their son but continued to encourage him. 

Every one or two hours of cycling, Dung would call home to reassure them.

Dung finally completed his 14-day trip in Hanoi, returning home with what he described as a priceless collection of lessons from the road.

Reflecting on the journey, he said, "I've realized that life is much like a long-distance cycling journey: the better prepared you are, the better the ride will be. Some burdens are not worth carrying and should be left behind, otherwise they will slow you down.

"Life also has steep climbs, but if you persevere and get through them, the sense of fulfillment and the rewards will be well worth it."