Korean father and son jogged across Vietnam to wish their Vietnamese friend a speedy recovery.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Kim Byeong Sam (59 years old) confirmed that he and his son, Kim Taewoo (14 years old), had been in Vietnam for a jogging trip for 20 days. They departed from Hanoi on June 8 and planned to finish on August 30.

A Korean father and son ran across Vietnam to wish their friend a speedy recovery - Photo: NVCC

"Initially, I planned to travel with my son and some friends in Vietnam to three countries: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. However, at the end of May, my friend suddenly had to undergo surgery in Ho Chi Minh City. My son and I decided to come to Vietnam and start the journey to wish him a speedy recovery," he said.

Last year, his father completed a marathon from Ca Mau to Hanoi and back to Ca Mau from January 1 to May 29. When hearing his father tell stories about his exciting journey in Vietnam, Kim Taewoo felt very excited and expressed his desire to try the challenge once.

The father had experienced a journey across Vietnam so he felt that this return was not too difficult. He said that Vietnam is developing rapidly, the infrastructure is very good, the people are very friendly, and it is also an opportunity for his son to explore.

"I wanted to go with my son as a tourist so there was no special preparation or training. We simply prayed a lot for the recovery of our Vietnamese friend and went with my son to see him," he said.

And so the father and son set out with the slogan "Together's strong". He hoped that together they would overcome the challenges, that his son would be stronger physically and mentally, and that they would become a more loving family.

Kind Vietnamese people on the road across Vietnam

They took souvenir photos with Vietnamese people they met on the street - Photo: NVCC

Passing through Thanh Hoa, the father and son walked 8km to find a hotel in a situation where there were no houses or shops around. It was a hot day, and they had no drinking water.

"A Vietnamese man suddenly came by on a motorbike and gave us two bottles of cold water before driving back the same way. His warm gesture touched us deeply. I think that is the spirit of the Vietnamese people," he recalled.

In Nghe An, in very hot weather, an old woman invited a father and son to drink coconut water. When asked the price, she told them not to worry, and repeatedly invited them to sit down and rest. Then, he asked again the price, the old woman said 2 glasses was 10,000 VND.

The father revealed that his son has many happy memories in Vietnam. He seems to like a girl who is 4 years older than him, whom he met at an ice cream shop in Ha Tinh. "Vietnamese girls are very friendly and hospitable," he shared.

And in Quy Nhon, the marathon club is great. This city has a lot in common with Busan, where they live in Korea.

Don't want your son to see you give up

Last year, it was his first time crossing Vietnam, so he found the geography unfamiliar and difficult. But this time, he remembered the cities and the countryside clearly. From then on, finding the way, restaurants and hotels was easier.

However, the father and son still face barriers in communication when going shopping. The father’s feet are always sore and swollen from carrying a backpack weighing over 15kg, containing most of his son’s belongings.

He shared that although the journey was difficult, he would not give up because he did not want his son to see him give up. He also wanted to bring motivation to those who are going through difficult times.

"I will complete the race with my son to repay everyone's support and warm affection. Don't hesitate or back down, just boldly challenge yourself," he said.

With temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius and the scorching sun, the running route left them exhausted. However, the father and son did not give up. They decided to buy ice packs at the store and keep them with them while running to cool down. The father also reminded his son to remember to eat 3 meals a day and drink plenty of water to cope with the heat.

On the boy's backpack is the line 'From Hanoi to Ca Mau 2,358km' - Photo: NVCC

Currently, he is also studying history and Vietnamese language to facilitate communication with people. He started this difficult journey to bring his son from a small well to the big world.

Regardless of the sunny or rainy day, the image of a Korean father and son with backpacks on their shoulders, hats on their heads, and extraordinary determination on the running track made netizens very impressed. They sent them thousands of wishes, encouraging them to soon overcome this journey.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hai-cha-con-nguoi-han-chay-bo-xuyen-viet-chuc-nguoi-ban-viet-nam-nhanh-khoe-20240629205220905.htm