9x from Nghe An and 28 days of backpacking across Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) - 24 years old, Tran Dinh Quan lives in Hung Dung ward, is a cadastral officer of Nghi An commune (Vinh city) and also has a passion for backpacking and photography. A year ago, Quan made a cross-country backpacking trip with all his passion and desire to conquer.

Tran Dinh Quan (left) and his friends at Quang Tri Citadel

28-day journey across Vietnam

While studying geodesy at Hanoi National University, Quan traveled with friends to the northern provinces to satisfy his passion for experience and to love his homeland more. The more he traveled, the more his passion grew, he cherished a long trip from North to South to express his personality and satisfy his desire to conquer.

Those dreams continued to grow until Quan graduated and worked at a company in Hanoi. During a conversation and meeting two younger brothers with the same "aspiration", Quan invited them to join him on a journey across Vietnam.

The three of them carefully planned the long trip, including the routes they would take, how to save money in the most optimal way, and even anticipated any incidents that might happen along the way. After arranging the time and everything, the trip was carried out on July 2, 2015. Following the route from Hanoi - Vinh - Da Nang - Ly Son Island - Nha Trang - Saigon - Ca Mau.

Tran Dinh Quan at Hien Luong bridge (Quang Tri)

The 28-day journey for Quan and his group of friends had many memories. Quan recalled: “Once, the three of us went from Sa Ky port (Quang Ngai) to the Central Highlands. When we reached Ba To district, it was dark but we still decided to continue. When we reached Vi O Lac pass, it started to rain, the road was slippery and dark. We couldn’t stop because the surroundings were deserted, only mountains and forests, so we had to keep going. But we kept going and going, but we still couldn’t see any houses, and the rain got heavier and heavier.

When we reached the slope, a car suddenly had a flat tire that could not be patched, so the whole group had to push it on foot. Hungry, tired, cold, the road was deserted, and in the distance we could hear the howling of gibbons and the chirping of birds. It was past 11 p.m. when we arrived at Po E commune (Kon Plong district), and fortunately we met two commune officials, including Mr. Hoang from Dien Chau. After explaining, they invited us to eat and rest at the commune committee. When he learned that we were from the same hometown, Mr. Hoang took the initiative to guide us, contacted his friend in Dak Lak to help us, and prepared some food for us on the way.

Tran Dinh Quan at the landmark of Ca Mau cape.

The most impressive thing was when we arrived in Saigon, everyone's finances started to run out, Quan had to post on the pages of the Southern region's backpacking groups to ask for information and advice on prices and routes to save money. Unexpectedly, the Saigon backpacking group proactively contacted us and offered to backpack with everyone to exchange and help.

During the 2-day, 2-night journey from Saigon to Mui Ne, from strangers, the 3 people completely integrated into the group. Everyone shared experiences and joys on the backpacking routes. Understanding the difficulties on the backpacking journey of their friends from the North, the Southern backpacking team showed hospitality as hosts. Quan was truly impressed by the enthusiasm, friendliness and solidarity of the group.

Quan and his companions ended their backpacking trip in Ca Mau on July 29, 2015. After calculating the cost of food and accommodation during the 28-day backpacking trip, the total cost was exactly 10 million VND per person.

Fate from passion for backpacking

Not long ago, the internet was abuzz with the wedding of a couple in Vinh with a wedding procession that had a strong backpacking feel. It was none other than the wedding of Tran Dinh Quan and his wife Mac Thi Quyen (24 years old, from Hai Phong).

Quan and his wife also met through backpacking trips. They studied together in the same university class, but it was only through backpacking trips that their hearts were in sync with each other.

Tran Dinh Quan and Mac Thi Quyen became husband and wife because of their passion for traveling.

Mac Thi Quyen is a companion on Dinh Quan's backpacking trips.

Quan shared: “We don’t know when we started liking each other, we only started to feel our feelings for each other when we both overcame difficulties on our journeys, and together enjoyed the beautiful scenery of our homeland on our own journey. Only those who share the same passion can feel those happy things. Only in times of hardship, difficulty or extreme happiness can you understand the personality and nature of the other person.”

Dinh Quan also shared an interesting thing that the motivation to help him determined to make the trip across Vietnam was thanks to his wife. Because at that time Quyen was working in Saigon, Quan wanted to use his sincerity to propose to her, and succeeded. After that long trip, he and his wife transferred their jobs to Nghe An.

Thanks to the cross-country trip, Quan understood that the connection between passions is very necessary. He and some young people in Vinh organized meetings to share experiences and joys of backpacking. Then he went to scout locations in advance, planned to organize backpacking trips in and out of the province, and led the group safely and happily.

Tran Dinh Quan (far right) and his friends at the northernmost point of Ha Giang.

“For me, backpacking is not a form of entertainment but an experience and growth from life values. It is a school, the people I meet on the road, the difficulties I encounter all teach me to learn, improve and try harder,” Quan confided.

In addition to his work and his love of backpacking, Dinh Quan also spends time taking care of a backpacking shop, specializing in selling and supplying gear to backpacking enthusiasts - one of his dreams during college. Quan said that after stabilizing his time and work here, he and his wife and young people in Vinh will continue to pursue their passion for exploring and conquering the roads of their homeland.

Wang Yun