Looking at the images of Vu Minh Dinh cycling across Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and finally arriving in Singapore with the Vietnamese flag in his hand, few would imagine that all those journeys began with an unfortunate event. That was the day he unexpectedly learned he had stage 3B lung cancer.
A health event becomes the starting point.
“My first feeling was shock. Then fear. Then emptiness,” Dinh recalled. Like many others facing a health diagnosis, he wondered, “Why me?” But then he realized that question wouldn’t change anything.
The turning point came when he realized that if he continued to live in fear, he would have already lost before the disease decided what would happen next. “I simply thought I needed to do something to feel alive.” That thought came quickly, without any long-term plans or detailed projections. It led him on seemingly unbelievable journeys. Before cycling across five Southeast Asian countries, Dinh had cycled alone across Vietnam. Then came his trek from Mong Cai – the northernmost point of the Northeast – to the Lung Cu flagpole at the northernmost point of the country. These journeys gave him not only physical strength but, more importantly, mental resilience – something that would later become his most valuable asset on every path he took.
Vu Minh Dinh said that the idea of undertaking a solo bike trip from Vietnam to Singapore wasn't something he'd planned months or years in advance. "I only had the intention about two weeks before departure." At that time, his health wasn't ideal. After surgery and treatment, his body still showed unusual symptoms, making him feel even more strongly that he shouldn't postpone what he wanted to do. His family worried. Friends objected. Many people tried to dissuade him. Not only because of the long distance, but also because of the unique nature of the journey. After researching long-distance cycling communities, Dinh realized that almost no Vietnamese person had ever completed this route alone.
But ultimately, his family chose to respect his decision. He planned his route based on Google Maps' road and rail directions. However, in reality, the journey constantly changed due to weather conditions, traffic, and unforeseen circumstances along the way. His luggage was surprisingly minimal: a few sets of clothes, a thin blanket, a spare tire and three inner tubes, a repair kit, rain gear, a yoga mat, a small jar of sesame salt, and a box of nutritional cereal given to him by his sister while passing through Hanoi . Two phones, a small video camera, batteries, identification, a Visa card, and some cash.
Many believe the biggest challenge of a long-distance cycling trip of thousands of kilometers is physical endurance. But for Vu Minh Dinh, the answer is different. "The hardest part is the mental aspect." Experience from previous journeys has taught him that discipline is more important than inspiration.
Every morning he wakes up and sets off, rain or shine. “If I waited for the rain to stop, I don’t know how long it would take. Usually, I only need to cycle for one or two hours to get out of the rainy area.” On hot, sunny days, he starts earlier to take advantage of the cool morning air. His schedule is almost fixed. He wakes up around five in the morning, spends an hour preparing his gear, checking the itinerary and places to eat and rest. He cycles for four to five hours in the morning. He rests for about an hour and a half to two hours at lunchtime. In the afternoon, he continues for another three hours or more, depending on the stops. In the evening, after reviewing the route for the next day, he takes the opportunity to edit the videos recording his journey if he still has the energy. A special time during the day is spent in online meditation sessions with nuns and friends. Between long journeys, this is how he keeps his mind at peace.
Childhood memories unexpectedly resurfaced in Laos.
Throughout his journey across Southeast Asia, what Vũ Minh Định remembers most isn't the modern cities or famous landmarks. It's Laos. He spent over eight days cycling through the country and constantly encountered a familiar feeling that's hard to put into words. There were moments when he had to stop just to look. A school with rows of single-story buildings facing each other. A dusty dirt courtyard. The sound of children reciting their lessons. Women bending over washing clothes by the stream. Children splashing in shallow puddles, their laughter echoing clearly. "I felt like I was seeing the Vietnam of my childhood." This feeling made him love Laos especially more than any other place on his trip. Despite his basic English skills, plus a few simple conversational phrases in Lao and Thai, Định managed quite well thanks to body language and translation apps.
In Laos, he met quite a few people who spoke Vietnamese. While in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, he mainly communicated with locals in English and using translation tools. In his opinion, most people were friendly and open. Only in northern Malaysia did people seem to smile less than elsewhere.
One of the most memorable experiences occurred when he arrived in Laos. There, Dinh met Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, 73 years old, from Hanoi. Mr. Phong was also undertaking a solo cycling journey from Vietnam to Bangkok (Thailand). However, after entering Thai territory, the elderly man decided to turn back due to difficulties related to the climate, weather, language barrier, and traffic rules. He advised Dinh to consider stopping before it was too late. The two spent a long time discussing the matter thoroughly. In the end, Dinh decided to continue. Mr. Phong wished him success and said he would wait for news of his completion of the journey to use it as motivation to finish his own trip. To this day, they remain in contact.
The red flag with a yellow star in Singapore and what remains after the journey.
Throughout his journey, Vu Minh Dinh posted short videos on his personal Facebook page. They were simple, without elaborate editing techniques. Most were filmed spontaneously along the way and edited during short breaks. “I just wanted to tell the story in the most authentic way.” It was this authenticity that attracted thousands of followers, who eagerly awaited his arrival in Singapore. At the end of his journey, the image of the Vietnamese man carrying his bicycle on his shoulder, proudly waving the national flag in the heart of Singapore, evoked special emotions. The person filming those scenes was simply a passerby he asked for help. The flag had been with him since the beginning, and the flagpole was actually the stick he used to film the video. “Of course, it was very enjoyable,” he said briefly when recalling that moment.
For Vu Minh Dinh, the trip wasn't about conquering a record. It was a journey of self-dialogue. It was a way for someone who had faced illness to learn to live more fully each day they still had. If he were to send a message to those struggling, he would say: "Don't wait until everything is alright to start living." And to those who are healthy: "Don't take health for granted." He doesn't think everyone needs to cycle across the country or undertake the same challenges as him. But according to him, everyone should have their own "journey." "I have many friends my age who are working day and night. I want to tell them that outside of work time, they should make time for their own emotions."
Interestingly, these trips didn't negatively impact his business. On the contrary, he believes they helped him manage his business better and provided opportunities for his staff to grow professionally.
When asked if he would return to the countries he had visited, Dinh answered with a resounding yes. And the place he most wanted to return to was Laos. He wanted to rediscover the peaceful landscapes that reminded him of his childhood, to see a country that felt similar to Vietnam ten or twenty years ago. More importantly, his next trip wouldn't be a solo journey. "I'll bring my wife and children along."
“For me, the most wonderful moment wasn't arriving in Singapore, but when the plane landed at Noi Bai airport, where my wife and three children were waiting,” Dinh shared. “When we reunited, all five of us shared the joy of overcoming the challenge.”
Therefore, Vu Minh Dinh's journey is not just a story of traveling 3,572 km across five countries. It is a journey of pushing one's limits, overcoming fear, and rediscovering the meaning of being alive. Because sometimes the most memorable thing is not the destination, but how a person chooses to move forward when life unexpectedly takes a different turn.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/tu-na-sam-den-singapore-hanh-trinh-di-de-song-5092833.html
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam presides over the meeting to approve the draft report on the results of the second inspection by the Politburo of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/26/1779789811432_a2-bnd-4430-9620-jpg.webp)
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