Send youth to thousands of miles of homeland

How beautiful is peace

“The flag was so big that it blocked the wind and was very heavy to pedal. However, I still did not take the flag down even for 1 minute,” Quang Ha shared after completing a nearly 1,700km cycling journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Starting in early April with his grandfather’s Thong Nhat bicycle, a speaker weighing about 10kg, a few personal items and a red flag with a yellow star, after 22 days of hard work, Ha arrived in the city named after Uncle Ho on the occasion of the April 30 anniversary.

Although he has traveled across Vietnam by motorbike and even on foot, Quang Ha still has many special emotions on this journey. He said: “I chose to ride a bicycle not only because I had never tried it before, but because it was fast enough for me to complete my goal, but also slow enough for me to feel and admire the beauty of each land I set foot on.”

Every day, he cycles about 100km, from early morning to late afternoon, then takes the opportunity to learn and experience the place he is staying at and share it with his followers on social networks.

Quang Ha and Viet Quan met by chance when they were about to reach Quy Nhon.

Ha confided that when he was young, he heard stories and watched many films about war, those fierce images always made him feel heartbroken and tormented. Therefore, when cycling, his mind was filled with continuous thoughts: this peaceful place was once trampled by bombs, the people were poor in the past but now every day "have" to have a headache choosing delicious food... While cycling and watching life, Ha said: "I understand that this is peace".

More than the desire to conquer and challenge himself, Ha embarked on this journey with a strong patriotism in his heart. The flag fluttering on the car was not to create a highlight, but a strong motivation to push him forward step by step.

Recalling the times when she was tired and confused while cycling, Ha said: “I told myself that I must not think about giving up, that is a failure of thinking. I know that I have to be responsible for myself, for everyone’s expectations, and most of all, for the promise I made to the country.”

When disability is no longer a barrier

Also heading to the South is the touching journey of Nguyen Viet Quan. Starting from Nghe An at the end of March, it took Viet Quan nearly a month to complete the journey to Ho Chi Minh City by three-wheeled motorbike.

Throughout the journey, he made many people choke up when he strongly overcame adversity and eliminated his own limitations. Due to the consequences of cerebral palsy at the age of 5, he had many difficulties in walking and talking. However, with the determination to prove that: "What normal people can do, disabled people can do too", he successfully arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in time to witness the grand ceremony.

Before leaving, Quan brought a large speaker, personal belongings, a red flag with a yellow star, and some goods to sell along the way. In each province, he stopped a little to sell small items such as cotton swabs, key chains, candy, etc. to earn extra income for the trip. Knowing that Quan planned to go to Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the big festival, people from every province enthusiastically bought goods to support him. No journey was without challenges, such as the section from Phu Yen to Nha Trang, when Quan's car ran out of gas in the middle of the bridge.

“At that time, I wasn’t scared, but I really wanted someone to help me. I kept calling, but it was dark so everyone seemed shy,” Quan recalled. Luckily, a moment later, a local saw him and helped him, helping him get to the next destination in time.

The emotions and experiences he received throughout the trip were precious memories. Quan said: “After going, I realized how beautiful the country is. I still remember climbing Hai Van Pass, hearing many people stop me so I was a bit scared. But when I boldly climbed the pass, I was overwhelmed with happiness when I saw the clouds and mountains. In addition, each province is beautiful and special in its own way.”

The emotional journey of Dao Quang Ha and Nguyen Viet Quan demonstrated the passionate youth. Two young people, two stories, but shared determination and strong will. This touched the hearts of the people in the places Ha and Quan passed through.

Both were loved by their relatives, who sent them many gifts and invited them to stay at their homes. On every street in Vietnam these past days, the image of Ha's bicycle basket full of food, or Quan's tricycle hanging with many bags of goods, has become a beautiful mark in the common joy of the whole country.

GRACE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/gui-suc-tre-vao-ngan-dam-que-huong-post794055.html