The guy carrying 15 kg of luggage walking across Vietnam arrived in Nghe An

Departing from Ho Chi Minh City on July 1, 2018, Hung went North along National Highway 1A. After visiting all the provinces and cities of the Northern Delta, the Northern midlands and mountainous areas, he followed Ho Chi Minh Road to the South to the Central Highlands and the Southwest.

What's special is that the young man went on a long "adventure" to explore the country with only a backpack containing clothes, a raincoat and other small things, no means of transport and only a small amount of money.

Hung said: “On the way, people helped with everything, from eating to sleeping. Eating and drinking to ensure nutrition on the road was quite difficult. For me, hunger and thirst were daily occurrences. There were days when I could only find a place to rest at 1-2 am.”

Hung's luggage is a 15 kg backpack. Photo: NVCC

Up to now, Hung has spent 6 months traveling the country's roads, exactly 167 days, "because I had to stop there for quite a while because I had to go to Bac Ninh". In the past time, Hung has set foot in many localities and famous historical sites across the country.

Hung confided: “I am a person with a history of many diseases in my body, poor health, and pustular psoriasis, which I have had to deal with for 10 consecutive years. Even so, I still tried to make a cross-country walking trip to explore and learn about the lands, customs and practices of people across the provinces and cities of the country. I am not afraid of difficulties or hardships, as long as I can go, come and experience.”

Ngoc Hung next to Lung Cu flagpole - Ha Giang. Photo: NVCC

Working as a salesman in Ho Chi Minh City, weighing only 44kg, carrying a 15kg backpack on a journey across Vietnam on foot was a big challenge for Hung. When he first heard that his son intended to cross Vietnam on foot, Hung's family did not support him, but also "did not strongly object", and his friends always cheered and encouraged him.

The memory that Hung remembers most in the past few days is the time he crossed the rain forest from Yen Bai to Son La, walking for 7 hours on mountainous, slippery roads with many dangerous steep passes. Then one late night in Hue, he knocked on the doors of 30 houses to ask for a place to sleep… On the journey across Vietnam, he encountered many difficulties that “made him want to give up”, but thanks to his strong will and determination, Hung overcame them.

Hung visits Uncle Ho's hometown. Photo: Huy Thu

In addition to the purpose of discovery, Hung's "no money" cross-country journey also carries the charity message "1,000 wishes", directly surveying and calling for the cooperation of benefactors in helping poor students, families in difficult circumstances, and remote villages in localities with charity programs such as giving gifts, building charity houses, building bridges for people...

Hung said: "Through the journey across Vietnam, I want to grasp the especially difficult circumstances in every countryside and connect kind hearts, hoping to contribute to helping people in difficult circumstances."

Ngoc Hung said that the first time he visited Uncle Ho's hometown, he was very emotional. Photo: Huy Thu

Arriving in Nghe An on the first leg, Hung stopped at Cua Lo Town to see the sea and returned to Nam Dan District to visit Uncle Ho's paternal and maternal hometowns. Hung confided: "The first time I visited Uncle Ho's hometown, I felt very emotional, especially when standing in front of the simple thatched roof house where Uncle Ho lived during his childhood."

On the return trip via Ho Chi Minh Road, Hung went to Cau Cau tea island in Thanh Chuong district to stay overnight. Visiting the tea island near Tet, the young man from the Central Highlands said: "There are many places with tea hills, but such beautiful mountains and rivers can only be found here. However, the services to meet the needs of visitors are too few and too simple."

Hung added: “I only stayed in Nghe An for a short time, but I was very impressed with the character of the people here. Nghe An people are quite open, sincere, straightforward and emotional. The nature is beautiful, the tourism potential is great...”.

Ngoc Hung and foreign tourists at Thanh Chuong tea island. Photo: Huy Thu

Since leaving last summer, Hung has been to many places, met many people, each locality has left him with new and attractive feelings. He has received enthusiastic help from many people, many new friends, thanks to them his journey across Vietnam has been smoother and has given him more motivation to continue. At first, Hung's journey across Vietnam was expected to take 3 years, but when entering the actual experience, it was shortened to 1 year.

Leaving Thanh Chuong for Ha Tinh in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year with lingering feelings, the cheerful young man from the South shared: “The trip has not ended yet but has given me a lot of things, from understanding to will and courage to rise up, thank you for everyone's help. There will be many difficulties ahead, but I will overcome them. This Tet, I will probably celebrate Tet with the ethnic people of Kon Tum or Quang Ngai provinces and will depart for the Southwest region in the first days of Spring”.