The guy cycled across Vietnam and ran

Tran Viet Duong (27 years old) cycled from Lung Cu (Ha Giang) to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping in Hue to participate in the VnExpress Marathon, 21km distance.

More than a month ago, Tran Viet Duong (from Dong Nai) took a train to Hanoi. His plan was to cycle across Vietnam, starting with exploring the northeastern routes of the country, ending in Ho Chi Minh City. On this journey, Duong spent 3 days in the ancient capital to attend the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2023, on April 16.

This is the third time this young man has cycled across Vietnam. Duong made his first trip across Vietnam in 2014, when he was only 18 years old. Last year, he made his second trip. The third trip was made with the purpose of raising funds for heart surgery for disadvantaged children with congenital heart disease.

"Each trip gives me different experiences. The previous two times I went from the South to the North. This time I went the opposite way. This is also the trip I stayed in Hue the longest," Duong said.

Tran Viet Duong (Bib 83995) on the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2023 running track. Photo: VM

Loving running but not having a Bib because he found out about VM Hue too late, Viet Duong shared his story on Facebook groups with the hope of finding a "dropped Bib" (a Bib of someone who dropped out of the race for personal reasons). Luckily, just a few hours later, a runner sponsored him a Bib.

"I don't run often and have never participated in any races, but I think I have a good physical foundation thanks to cycling, so I'm quite confident. But when I entered the race, I felt the harshness," Duong said. On the race track in Hue on April 16, there were times when the young man had to stop and rest, limping, but when he saw the will and determination of his fellow runners, he did not give up.

Duong finished VM Hue with stiff legs and soreness for three days afterwards. This somewhat affected his cross-country cycling journey, but the 27-year-old man has no regrets. "I gained more experiences, met runners with strong will, especially those who ran 21, 42km. It's not a physical race. It's a mental race. I have a lot to learn from them," Duong shared.

As a travel blogger, Duong does not focus on achievements when participating in VM Hue. He prioritizes experiencing the beautiful scenery along the way and feeling the rhythm of life of the local people. "Before, I often came and left Hue very quickly. This time, I stayed longer, had time to visit the royal tombs, go to the lagoons, beaches and admire Hue on the run, fell in love with the land and people of the ancient capital, and fell in love with my homeland Vietnam even more," Duong said.

Tran Viet Duong captures moments on his journey across Vietnam. Photo: NVCC

After VM Hue, the young man from Dong Nai plans to join VnExpress Quy Nhon in June. "Each trip like this is an opportunity to travel , stay longer in the localities, explore the natural scenery and immerse himself in the life of the local people," he said. That is his plan for the near future, but now, he has set off, continuing his journey across Vietnam, helping children with congenital heart disease.

"For every kilometer I complete, 3,000 VND will be donated to the fund. At the same time, after each trip, I auction the bike and use the money to support children with congenital heart disease," Duong said. The amount of money is not large, but it is enough to make the young man feel that he has done something useful for the community.

This is also the end of the 27-year-old man's journey of discovering Vietnam by bicycle. In July this year, Duong began a new journey - a cycling journey from Vietnam through many countries. He plans to cycle from Ho Chi Minh City, through Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, then to Asian and African countries, bringing the image of Vietnam to international friends.

Thanh Lan

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/chang-trai-dap-xe-xuyen-viet-ket-hop-chay-bo-4595546.html