A Japanese girl traveling alone across Vietnam fell off her motorbike on the road and was helped by an entire village.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Thailand was the first place Japanese girl Yuki Nakatani rode a motorbike, but Vietnam is where she truly took control of her journey.

A 70-day solo backpacking trip across Vietnam.

Recently, images of Yuki Nakatani (born in 1996, from Nagasaki), a Japanese girl, traveling alone across Vietnam on her old motorbike, have impressed and intrigued many people.

Yuki's cross-Vietnam motorbike trip began in Ho Chi Minh City and ended in the former Ha Giang province, now part of Tuyen Quang province. She shared that Thailand was the first place she tried riding a motorbike, but Vietnam was where she truly took control of her journey using this two-wheeled vehicle.

Yuki Nakatani left her stable job in Japan to travel to many countries (Photo: Provided by the subject).

“In Thailand, I went with a friend; he drove from Chiang Mai to the Malaysian border, and I drove from there back to Bangkok. It was my first ever motorbike trip,” she recounted.

Yuki spent a total of 70 days in Vietnam, starting in late July. Of those, 40 days were dedicated to traveling across the country on a motorbike borrowed from a friend. She traveled alone, had a few falls, but in each place, she received enthusiastic help from the people around her.

“I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City with only a small 28-liter backpack – so light that I thought it was only for a short trip. But then, it accompanied me across the country, from the sunny South to the cloudy mountains of the North, for dozens of days without rest.”

"I was worried at first, but I gradually got used to Vietnamese traffic. The traffic police only stopped me once, and they were very friendly. In Japan, cars drive on the left, so I was a little confused when turning left in Vietnam," she recounted.

One of Yuki's most memorable experiences was when she accidentally crashed her car into a wall in a small town – a place she still can't remember the name of. “People rushed out to help me. They tied up my damaged car with ropes and asked if I was hurt. I was really touched by their kindness,” she recalled.

A Japanese girl travels solo across Vietnam by motorbike (Photo: Provided by the subject).

Although safety is always her top priority, Yuki isn't afraid of challenges. She particularly enjoys mountain passes, winding roads, and forest trails where she can truly experience nature and the local way of life. On one occasion, she had to drive alone for over 50km through a landslide-affected, muddy area in torrential rain, without any phone signal.

"It was very risky, but I learned a lot from those moments. During my travels, if there were steep slopes, I would ask young people nearby to help me drive across. I also listened to the advice of locals, avoiding dangerous sections of the road," she recounted.

During her journey across Vietnam, what touched Yuki the most was the friendliness and hospitality of the Vietnamese people. She said that many people stopped to chat, asking her where she was going and where she came from, and expressing surprise when they learned she was Japanese, because she looked quite similar to a Vietnamese person.

When the locals learned she was a foreign tourist, they readily showed her how to eat local dishes, recommended places to stay, and even helped her find a repair shop. Once, when her car broke down in the middle of the road, a local driver stopped and gave her a ride for a considerable distance.

"He was very kind and an extremely professional driver. It's one of my fondest memories in Vietnam," she recalled.

For the girl from Nagasaki, Vietnam also impressed her with its diverse and accessible accommodation options, ranging from charming homestays to comfortable hotels. Because of this, she easily found a place to rest every night.

"Vietnam - The most interesting country in Southeast Asia"

Yuki shared that she has always been curious and eager to explore lands and landscapes she had never been to. In March 2023, after graduating from university and working for two years, she decided to leave her stable job in Japan, closing the door on her safe daily life to travel alone to Europe with a one-way ticket.

Yuki teaches a friend how to write calligraphy (Photo: Provided by the subject).

During her four months in a foreign land, Yuki practiced calligraphy—an art form she had pursued since the age of seven—and sold her work on the streets to make a living. This journey helped her realize a simple yet profound truth: the world is full of love.

Not long after, she embarked on another adventure around the world with just a small backpack, a few changes of clothes, a brush, and ink. Yuki hitchhiked, slept in strangers' homes, and lived in remote lands, where each day unfolded a new story.

Having already traveled to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, in May 2024, Yuki traveled by land through China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, then back to Thailand, across Cambodia, and finally to Vietnam – where she spent 70 days exploring and rediscovering herself.

Yuki wants to travel everywhere to rediscover herself (Photo: Provided by the subject).

Previously, Yuki had hitchhiked over 400 times during her travels. When she tried cycling in China, she realized that the climate and terrain of Southeast Asia made exploring by bike too strenuous. Therefore, she chose a motorbike – a vehicle that is both flexible and allows her to be independent in her journeys.

After a successful trip across Thailand, Yuki felt confident enough to continue a similar journey in Vietnam, where, amidst the sunshine, wind, rivers, mountains, and gentle people, she found a rare sense of harmony.

"When I write the word 'love' on small pieces of paper and give them to strangers wherever I go, I feel like I'm receiving love in return, multiplied many times over. Perhaps that's why I keep going," she said with a smile.

Yuki admitted that before the trip, she didn't know much about Vietnam, so she didn't have any specific expectations. But after just a few weeks, the country had captivated her.

“What impressed me most was the strong patriotism of the Vietnamese people. They are very kind, and the cuisine and culture in Vietnam are incredibly rich. Honestly, Vietnam is the most interesting country I have ever visited in Southeast Asia,” she shared.

For Yuki, her trip across Vietnam was not just a journey of discovery but also a moment of quiet reflection. "I chose this trip to go alone because it's the final leg of my Asian journey, and I wanted time to look back at myself," she said.

Japanese female tourist captivated by Vietnamese cuisine (Photo: Provided by the subject).

Throughout her long journeys, what captivated Yuki the most was Vietnamese cuisine. She loved the small roadside eateries and the simple yet flavorful meals that evoked the taste of home. At the end of her 70-day trip, Yuki brought back not only photos and memories, but also a sense of healing, connection, and a feeling of living life to the fullest.

“From South to North, I got to try so many delicious dishes – that was one of the most memorable parts of my journey. I love the countryside and the mountains, so I had some slightly adventurous experiences. But if you choose a coastal or highway route, I believe that even women traveling alone can explore Vietnam safely and fully,” she expressed.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/co-gai-nhat-di-xuyen-viet-mot-minh-nga-xe-giua-duong-duoc-ca-lang-ra-giup-20251028190832893.htm