Two Dutch men cycled to Vietnam with a special invitation to Vietnamese people.

Starting their cycling journey from their home country in March 2024, Dutch best friends Rick Keijzer and Sven Broekhuizen have completed their goal of 'going to the other end of the world ' with the final destination being Vietnam.

Rick Keijzer (right) and Sven Broekhuizen come to Vietnam - Photo: NVCC

Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of February 16, more than 400 amateur cyclists and cycling enthusiasts joined two young Dutch men on a short bike ride around the city named after Uncle Ho.

Freedom on the bike

Rick Keijzer and Sven Broekhuizen's journey is a testament to the never-give-up spirit and is inspiring cycling around the world. The duo's trip also raises funds for COOP Africa, a charity that supports people in Africa.

As two best friends with a love for cycling, Rick Keijzer (21 years old) and Sven Broekhuizen (25 years old) have been dreaming of a big trip, with the goal of "going to the other end of the world".

"Intrigued by this idea, we immediately opened Google Maps to see where the other side of the world we could cycle to was and we chose Vietnam," Broekhuizen told Tuoi Tre about the opportunity to come to Vietnam.

So on March 10, 2024, the two Dutch men set off on their cycling journey. Although it was a cross-continental trip from Europe to Asia, Keijzer and Broekhuizen prepared for the trip with the spirit of "having fun is the main thing", when there was no need to race anyone or pedal as fast as possible.

According to Keijzer, cycling is an opportunity to move slowly to take in the beautiful scenery and not miss out on the warmest local experiences from the places they visit.

"We pedaled slowly to enjoy the countries, meet people here and there, and immerse ourselves in the local life," he shared.

Before coming to Vietnam, the two were most impressed by their time in Türkiye and Nepal. Broekhuizen said many people recognized the couple in Türkiye thanks to the pictures they shared on social media. People there invited them to rest, eat, and some even invited them to stay overnight.

Keijzer argues that, speed aside, the bicycle is a pretty free form of transportation. It doesn't cost much since it doesn't need gas, and users don't have to worry too much about maintenance since it doesn't have an engine. "What it needs is your own motivation. You can go wherever you want, up mountains and hills," Keijzer says.

When it comes to mountain climbing, Broekhuizen remembers most of all the time he cycled through Nepal’s famous Annapurna route. Annapurna is considered by climbers to be one of the most beautiful mountain routes on the planet. The duo chose to cycle through this route, challenging themselves in terms of strategy and endurance.

Experience Asia

During their 343-day, 20,000km journey to Vietnam, Keijzer and Broekhuizen cycled from city to city, from country to country on many major traffic routes. The duo always prepared carefully on their journey to find the best routes.

As in Türkiye, Keijzer said people here do not seem to be too familiar with bicycles on the road. However, drivers here are always very careful and leave a large distance on the road for the couple when they need to overtake.

"In Georgia it's different, the cars pass us very close. So if I had to judge, I would choose Türkiye as a bike-friendly country," Keijzer said.

In Asia, the two experienced crowded streets with both cars and motorbikes. Keijzer said that Indian streets were chaotic with many types of vehicles, honking loudly.

"This experience is also quite cool. You have to cycle through traffic, have to find the fastest way. Like the roads in Vietnam, there are a lot of motorbikes," Keijzer said.

Keijzer added that other countries could also learn from a country with a bike-friendly transport infrastructure like the Netherlands. In the land of tulips, the bike lanes are not integrated into the main road but are separated by a natural “eel” of grass, making them very safe.

In response to concerns about the difficulty of long-distance cycling, Broekhuizen insists that it is necessary to simply get on the bike and pedal first: "Start with a short distance, then gradually increase the distance. You will find your way. This world is big but not scary."

Invite Vietnamese people to cycle to the Netherlands

Safely completing the journey 20 days ahead of schedule, Keijzer and Broekhuizen hope that their trip will further encourage the cycling spirit in Vietnam and many people around the world.

The two also invite cycling enthusiasts in Vietnam to make a return trip to the Netherlands. Keijzer said he would definitely invite cyclists from Vietnam to stay at his home.

"The cycling community is very close-knit and shares a lot in common. Many of us are a bit unusual. How can you be normal when you come up with an idea like this to cycle? We really invite everyone to cycle to the Netherlands," Keijzer said wittily.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hai-chang-trai-ha-lan-dap-xe-sang-viet-nam-gui-loi-moi-dac-biet-den-nguoi-viet-20250218090838186.htm